(Hybrid) Practice-Based Research Assistant Director - WV CTSI

The WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Practice-Based Research Assistant Director.

About the Opportunity

The purpose of this position is to manage specialized community research services and policy and procedure development services for clinic and community partners related to the development and conduct of community and practice-based research. This position will guide the West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network (WVPBRN) alongside the CEO (Community Engagement and Outreach), Core Director(s), and Network Co-Director(s); the candidate will lead idea generation, development, implementation, dissemination, and coordination of network research activities. Provides direct project oversight to WVPBRN project leaders to ensure objectives are met in alignment with the protocol design and principal investigator's expectations. This involves leading and guiding strategic planning, building organizational structures, managing day-to-day Network operations and fiscal support, and collaborating with institutional, state, and community partners to advance the Network's mission and goals. This position will also lead engagement activities for the WVPBRN, including site visits and annual retreat coordination. This role requires a proactive and creative individual who can collaborate with internal teams, community leaders, and other stakeholders to drive positive engagement and impact.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Responsibilities are functional in nature and performed under limited supervision. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Leads support to the WVPBRN by guiding network projects, including (a) project identification and implementation, as well as grant preparation and IRB submission, (b) project proposal and plan development, and (c) development and implementation of project management tools such as plans, schedules, and responsibilities.
• Oversees day-to-day network operations and provides necessary linkages and support to network members and staff.
• With WVPBRN co-director(s), identifies projects that align with WVPBRN and WVCTSI goals.
• Serves as liaison between the WVPBRN and the Mobile Clinical Trial Unit (MCTU) to foster collaboration on clinical trials in communities.
• Serves as WVCTSI representative on the National Practice-Based Research Network special interest group (SIG) comprised of multiple clinical and translational Science organizations.
• Fosters the generation of clinical ideas from the network, develops them into project ideas, and connects them to resources and support.
• Leads the development and strategic planning for the WVPBRN alongside the co-director(s), including vision building and fiscal planning.
• Leads WVPBRN engagement activities such as site visits and annual retreat coordination. Travel is required in this role.
• Directs site recruitment through customized strategies and targeted recruitment plans.
• Serves as the administrator for the digital platforms that serve that serve the WVPBRN and CEO Core (such as TwoPoints).
• Oversees the development of clinical translation and dissemination to network partners, communities, and patients for future uptake of new strategies.
• Works with WVCTSI communications team to develop promotional and outreach strategy and appropriate materials.
• Manages workflow of requests from investigators and prioritizes requests based on Institute priorities.
• Supervises network staff positions, delegating duties to employees to complete projects, streamline day-to-day activities, or meet new objectives.
• Maintains the WVPBRN budget throughout the year to ensure spending is within set limits and oversees Network fiscal requirements.
• Conducts project meetings with current and potential partner project leads to discuss the relevance, feasibility, and prior experience as it relates to the Network.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of network policies and procedures.
• Oversees the WVPBRN research protocols approval process.
• Provides pre- and post-award support for community and network clinical researchers seeking external funding.
• Actively participates in writing reports, journal articles, or other documentation of project/project program status and reports project plans, progress, and results.
• Represents the network in WVPBRN site visits and project meetings.
• Oversees the development of processes and events to sustain a productive network, including the WVPBRN annual meeting, and the Rural Health Association and West Virginia Primary Care Association networking events.
• Mentors the partnerships of researchers, practitioners, and community partners to further community/practice-based research WVPBRN projects and outcomes dissemination.
• Responsible for the alignment of missions and agendas of the Bureau of Public Health, WV Primary Care Association, WV Rural Health Initiative, and WV Area Health Education Centers, as well as similar centers and key programs to assist and complement the CTSI CEO and its programs.
• Identifies potential partners for engagement in practice and community research and inspires community and academic stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the WVCTSI CEO community and practice-based research infrastructure.
• Serves as the liaison to ensure appropriate information flow among scientists, CEO partners, and community members to support translational outcomes through multiple approaches, such as meetings, focus groups, and events that bring together multiple stakeholders.
• Facilitates the development and acceleration of scientific and clinical impact publications from network projects that include clinical providers and staff as co-authors to describe the contribution to health in rural communities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree in public health, health sciences, health communications, or a related field
• A minimum of seven (5) years of experience in the following:
  • Experience in public health, community outreach, and/or community/practice-based participatory research
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• High degree of creativity and self-motivation.
• Substantial ability to work both independently and cooperatively with others.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions.
• Ability to recognize when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Skilled at developing and managing relationships with diverse communities and individuals.
• Experience and skilled in standard office computing and computer software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office applications, particularly including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Skilled in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Skilled in monitoring and assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements to take corrective action.
• Skilled at building and maintaining positive relationships with faculty, staff, and administrators involved in sponsored research.
• Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements affecting extramurally sponsored projects.
• Skilled at operating effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment & meet deadlines.
• Skilled to prepare comprehensive reports and present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Proficient in the latest Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, Adobe conversions and other related applications.
• High-level oral and written communications skills necessary to explain complex guidelines to appropriate management staff, to justify recommendations, and to interact with regulatory agencies and auditors.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as program solicitations, form instructions, manuals, etc.
• Skilled in speaking effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
• Ability to perform simple calculations in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs and other representations of data.
• Ability to understand and create spreadsheets.
• Proficient in basic understanding of research design(s) and descriptive and inferential statistics, in order to interpret & communicate findings of CTSI-related research.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to interpret peer-reviewed scholarly work based on significance and approach (theoretical & analytical).
• Skilled at conducting literature reviews of existing scholarly work in areas related to the CEO mission and aims.
• Skilled at understanding and integrating the challenges and opportunities for conducting community and clinic-based research within/with community health centers.
• Ability to glean essential components of practice- and community-based research and "translating"/adapting them into community-friendly language.
• Able to identify deadlines and schedule work to ensure that deadlines are met.

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West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.