Research Manager

Req #: 241604Department: PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCESPosting Date: 12/12/2024Closing Info:

Open Until FilledSalary: $7,214 - $13,792 per monthShift: First ShiftNotes:

As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701a11y.pdf )As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine is the third largest clinical department within the School of Medicine with 330 full-time faculty members, 460 courtesy faculty members, and over 350 staff. Department faculty provide clinical services in 5 hospitals, 14 primary care locations, and several outpatient sites in addition to telepsychiatry consultations to more than 150 clinics in Washington and beyond. As the only academic psychiatry department serving the five state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), the Department’s highly competitive residency training program is largely responsible for developing the mental health workforce in the Pacific Northwest. The Department’s robust research portfolio totals $67 million in grants and contracts per year for projects ranging from clinical neurosciences to treatment development to health policy and population health. The Department is recognized as an international leader in developing, testing, and implementing Collaborative Care, an integrated care model increasingly seen as a solution for population-based mental health care. Other areas of excellence include Addictions, Autism, High Risk Youth, Neurosciences, and Trauma, and the Department is developing innovative new programs in Technology and Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Maternal and Child Mental Health, and Targeted Intervention Development. Psychiatry is the third largest department in the School of Medicine and the largest non-divisioned department. The overall annual operations funding from all sources is over $130 million.The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Manager. Seven Directions at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is the first national public health institute in the United States to focus solely on improving Indigenous health and wellness. We are committed to cultivating and sharing knowledge, connecting communities and resources, and working to achieve shared goals for future generations. Seven Directions partners to support tribal communities to increase the capacity of tribal health systems designed to prevent and respond to the opioid overdose epidemic and other preventable health disparities. Our work includes culturally tailored technical assistance, culture-centered research, evaluation, training, policy translation, convenings, and dissemination strategies. These services aim to improve Indigenous-serving organizations and systems’ data collection and epidemiologic surveillance capacity; increase implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies grounded in respecting tribal sovereignty and cultural traditions; showcase models of tribal promising practices; and utilize Indigenous evaluation approaches. As a trusted convenor and resource among tribal and urban Indian partners, we collaboratively develop and meaningfully disseminate resources among tribal and urban Indian organization partners and other key stakeholders via diverse platforms.The Research Manager (RM) is a key member of the Seven Directions team under the general direction of the Project Lead and works alongside senior team members in providing strategic leadership within a portfolio of research projects related to substance use, mental health, Indigenous culture-centered and translational research, technical assistance, convenings, and dissemination. The RM tasks include taking a lead in overseeing the research, financial, operational, and personnel functions for Seven Directions’ various projects. The RM leads the development of grant tracking and reporting systems as well as liaising with internal (UW) and external (funder) partners regarding contract management, in collaboration with the Principal Investigator. The RM may also represent the PI to federal funding partners and others as necessary. The RM organizes and leads personnel tracking processes for the center across all project tasks to ensure staffing resources are well allocated and all project deliverables are achieved in a timely manner. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized research manager with experience developing systems to streamline operations and manage budgets across multiple projects in the given organization or center. They will bring experience applying for and managing federal and private research and training grants, as well as experience navigating financial and contracting departments within a university or other large public organization. In addition, the ideal candidate will bring experience working with AI/AN communities as well as an understanding of and humility toward AI/AN historical, contemporary, and cultural contexts.Seven Directions works with a wide range of tribes and Indigenous-serving organizations representing a wide range of social and cultural environments (e.g., urban vs. rural, Northwest vs. Plains vs. Southwest) that require cultural humility, understanding, and flexibility. The frequent telephone/video and e-mail contacts as well as occasional in-person contact with American Indian / Alaska Native communities require extraordinary tact and cultural sensitivity. This also applies to regular communication with funders, as well as other tribal and institutional partners.The position bridges the often wide gap—real and perceived—between tribal communities and academia/government agencies, especially with respect to health research. By building mutually trusting relationships between community and academia/agencies, both sides will be able to address health disparities to the mutual benefit of community well-being and researchers.Seven Directions operates through a hybrid model with one in-office day per week for Seattle-area staff and occasionally if preparing for a training or trip. Staff are expected to travel occasionally, both to conferences or gatherings with project partners and for site-specific visits with tribal and urban Indian partners. Traveling to rural communities may require driving long distances in areas with minimal services.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Research and Project Management (60%)

Develop and manage financial tracking systems to ensure the center is spending down funds in accordance with grant timelines, paying vendors in a timely manner, and addressing any other financial issues that arise.

Develop and manage organization-wide project task and deliverable tracking systems. Working closely with Principal Investigators, senior staff and Research Coordinators, manage ongoing activities across multiple research projects, including monitoring project timelines, ensuring work is successfully executed and completed within time frames to meet research objectives, reallocating staffing or other resources as necessary.

Develop and manage organization-wide grant tracking systems, including developing and leading the reporting workflow to ensure all deliverables and reporting requirements are met in a timely manner.

Working closely with senior staff, organize and lead personnel planning and tracking processes for the center to ensure staffing resources are well allocated.

Serve as primary liaison with internal (UW) and external (funder, vendor) partners regarding contract management in collaboration with the Principal Investigator. The RM may also represent the PI to federal funding partners and others as necessary.

Seek out trainings and stay up-to-date with university financial system updates; distill and synthesize for the broader Seven Directions team.

Provide trainings on relevant project or financial management updates or tools to Seven Directions team members.

Lead project-related communications with external partners as requested by project teams.Supervision and Leadership (20%)

The Research Manager will supervise a group of Research Coordinators and provide high-level portfolio oversight of a group of research studies.

Work with each employee to set goals, provide feedback and coaching and foster professional growth and development.

Familiarize themselves with studies within group at a high-level in order to be able to support supervisees.

Serve as the hiring manager in filling team vacancies including defining jobs, managing recruitment, and coordinating the hiring process according to best practices.

As needed, constructively address employee performance deficiencies in a timely manner and consistent with applicable policies.Research and Project Implementation (10%)

The manager will serve as a resource to team members to provide information regarding study aims, expectations, timelines, and reporting requirements.

The manager will work closely with all project leads to assist with developing their own team progress tracking materials, as part of the larger center tracking systems developed.

They will support as needed with IRB-related activities including submissions, approvals, modifications, and renewals.?Research study design and grant preparation (5%)

The manager will work with PIs and faculty to provide grant submission support for federal, state, local and private grant opportunities.

They will develop a system to manage grant application processes and serve as the primary point of contact and project manager for external, collaborating partners during grant writing and grant submissions.

They will draft grant materials, including research strategies, budgets, budget narratives, scopes of work, and supporting documentation and submit all grant materials to funders confirming all requirements are met.?Administration and operations (5%)

Work with PI and senior staff with auxiliary project management duties as requested and anticipate additional areas for support.

Oversee FTE management across projects to ensure all staff roles are fully funded and FTE is distributed appropriately across projects.

Serve on 1-2 Seven Directions internal committees.

Support in the planning, writing and submission of conference grants (such as NIH R13, National Science Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, etc.).

Support conference planning and post-conference dissemination efforts. This includes management of contracting and invoicing for in-person convenings, conferences, or other events.Lead Responsibilities

Take a leadership role in administering and overseeing the research, financial, operational, and personnel functions for a research program, grant, or center.

Take a leadership role in developing and managing grant application tracking, project implementation tracking, personnel tracking, and reporting systems.

Independently liaise with internal (UW) and external (funder) partners regarding contract management, in collaboration with the Principal Investigator.

Manage center’s portfolio of research projects including developing timelines and ensuring work is successfully executed and completed within agreed upon timeframes to meet research objectives.

Manage contracting and invoicing for in-person convenings, conferences, or other events.

Any other duties as needed.Supervisory Responsibilities

Research Managers are expected to supervise at least two staff (2.0 FTE). Supervisors have the authority to hire staff, evaluate job performance, and take corrective action if performance is not acceptable. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Master’s degree in public health, Social Work, Public Affairs, Psychology, American Indian Studies, or related fields AND a minimum of two years of work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Familiarity with or work experience with Indigenous or other underserved populations and settings.

Experience managing research grants (federal grants preferred) and contracts at a large institution.

Experience developing tracking systems to manage financial, operational, or personnel assets across a center or team.

Ability to professionally and confidently serve as the primary liaison with external funders and internal (UW) budget or departmental contacts, including as the primary liaison to advocate for expenditures or project considerations that acknowledge the unique circumstances/needs when working with, convening, or traveling to Indigenous communities.

Meticulous organizational skills and proven ability to multi-task and work independently and effectively in large, complex, cross-functional teams.

Demonstrated problem-solving ability, flexibility, and attention to detail while working in a fast-paced, changing, deadline driven environment.

Ability to be innovative, resourceful, and creative.

Curiosity, enthusiasm, willingness and positive attitude towards learning new and diverse concepts, methods, tools, knowledge and data systems, community cultural contexts and solving problems.

Ability to work as a collaborative, cooperative, and congenial member of a close-knit scholarly research and administrative team, as well as work independently (experience in virtual team environments is a plus).

Discipline and organizational ability to work in a hybrid environment both from a home-based office and on site at 7D offices.

Ability to respond to and accommodate dynamic priorities and schedules of faculty supervisors, including ability to set project calendars, provide reminders, and step into project management roles; ability to work independently. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience working in or on behalf of tribal nations and American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in both urban and rural settings.

Knowledgeable about substance use and disorder in general and among AI/AN communities, including about programs and funding streams designed to prevent these health disparities.

Familiarity with project management tools and/or software packages, e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.

Experience or demonstrated interest in managing and supervising people and teams.

Knowledge and prior experience with human subjects institutional review processes.

Experience developing and facilitating trainings for adult learners.

Experience managing contracting and invoicing for in-person convenings, conferences, or other events. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.