Research Program Leader

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Be You.

The Department of Population Health is seeking a Research Program Leader to join The Center to Advance the Science of Complex Care: Aging, Disability and Equity (CASCADE). CASCADE aims to improve the lives of aging adults with medical complexity through actionable, rigorous, equity-focused health services and health policy research. They conduct policy and economic evaluations of long-term care and family caregiver programs and interventions. They also evaluate promising integrative care models and self-direction service delivery models for persons living with disability and intellectual disability. CASCADE includes multi-disciplinary faculty, junior faculty, post-docs, project coordinators, and graduate students.

Minimum Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree is required.

Work requires a minimum of four years of research experience (e.g., research, clinical, interaction with study population, program coordination). A Master’s degree may substitute for two years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience in aging, disability, and health systems research strongly preferred. Proficient in survey data collection software (e.g., REDCap), analysis software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, NVivo, QDA), and citation managers in addition to computing software and web-based applications (e.g., Microsoft Office products).

Be Bold.

Position Description:

CASCADE seeks a Research Program Leader (RPL) with extensive training and experience in aging, disability, and health systems research to support the development, implementation, and oversight of their robust portfolio of research. The RPL will lead and contribute to 1) proposal writing and grant submission, 2) regulatory compliance and documentation, 3) primary data management and dissemination of results, 4) manuscript writing, editing, and submission, 5) program administration and management of key milestones, and 6) development of Standard Operating Procedures across multiple study teams, including training. The RPL will develop and coordinate wider program activities, including communications and serving as liaison with collaborators (e.g., other research groups or programs, advisory panels, and health system operations partners) on behalf of the PI. They will also develop and coordinate wider scientific program activities with responsibility for results in terms of research methodology and reporting requirements.

Work Responsibilities:

Scientific Research – 40%

• Uses expertise in aging, disability, and health systems research design to identify opportunities for funding and to develop complex investigator-initiated protocols or research proposals. Suggests hypotheses, research strategies, research partnerships, and research opportunities.
• Independently develops substantial sections of funding proposals and grants. Assesses and determines solutions for operational shortcomings of proposals.
• Independently reviews articles, synthesizes the literature, and develops manuscripts.
• Provides significant contribution on peer reviewed publications or conference presentations. Trains or mentors other research program team members in this area.
• Performs and oversees a variety of complex duties involved in the collection and evaluation of research program data to monitor progress toward program and project milestones.
• Serves as an expert resource for various tools used for participant recruitment and screening, as well as data collection, quality control, and management. Trains others as appropriate to their role.

Research Operations – 20%

• Maintains an awareness of regulations, policies, and resources relevant to research area and applies knowledge to the development and execution of operational plan. Ensures that all programs and projects are compliant with all relevant regulations and policies.
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures and provides guidance to staff. Participates in or leads development of training of staff and trainees for regulatory policies and best practices related to the research program (e.g., recruitment, consenting, study documentation, program evaluation, data capture, etc.).
• Prepares for and leads effective facilitation of research program meetings in order to achieve objectives. Ensures good communication within the research program, including mentoring staff on how to improve communication strategies. 

Program Management and Project Development – 20%

• Determines short- and long-term goals of the research program and shared resource in collaboration with investigator(s). Identifies research programs/shared resources gaps, constraints, needs, and milestones; helps develop operational sustainability plan and communicates with PI to plan necessary resourcing.
• Communicates project/program progress with all major stakeholders and adjust plans and timelines according to feedback.
• Manages and documents all aspects of research project lifecycle including: initiation, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing.
• Engages team members and facilitates the development of actionable plans and measurable outcome goals. Establishes risk, cost, time, scope, communication and quality management plans, updates with input from stakeholders, and direct staff in execution of plans.
• Works with the PI to manage the research program or shared resource operations. Monitors and adheres to the established budget and assists with budget development.
• Establishes and maintains internal (Duke) and external communications to ensure successful research partnerships. Ensures that institutional communications are shared with research programs and faculty. Maintains communication within program and with other departments or offices to accomplish program objectives.
• Manages, mentors, and/or trains staff. Provides guidance on best practices in research (e.g., recruitment, consenting, study documentation, program evaluation, data capture, etc.).
• Represents research program or shared resource on behalf of the PI at internal and external meetings.

Leadership and Professionalism – 15%

• Keeps current with research updates and advances in the scientific area, considers the impact on the broad research portfolio. Plays a key or leadership role on committees and workgroups.
• Fosters key internal and external partnerships.
• Demonstrates organizational awareness and has the interpersonal skills necessary to complete work efficiently.
• Develops and implements solutions that work within the existing leadership or organizational structure.
• Uses advanced subject matter expertise in the research to solve complex problems or foster innovation across the broad research portfolio.
• Establishes and assigns the activities of research program team members to accomplish goals of the broad research portfolio.
• Communicates effectively with others, regardless of reporting relationship, to accomplish shared work objectives.

Safety and Ethics – 5%

• Serves as an expert resource and is knowledgeable about other resources at Duke pertaining to: developing and submitting documentation and information for Institutional Review Board review, preparing and submitting documents needed for regulatory and safety reporting to sponsors and other agencies, identifying and documenting adverse event information, conducting, documenting, and developing consent for participants for all types of studies.

Choose Duke.

For best consideration, apply by October 11, 2024.

Join our award-winning team as identified by Forbes magazine as America’s Best Large Employer 2024 and be part of an inclusive culture that values excellence, innovation, and discovery. As an organization, we have exciting opportunities to be forward-thinking leaders in our field. We want talented individuals to join us, examine our current operations, and create innovative solutions that will revolutionize and enhance the way we approach our work.

Duke University is consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide and is renowned for its cutting-edge research across disciplines.

Beyond the engaging work, you'll also benefit from Duke's competitive benefits package including health insurance plans, generous paid time off, retirement programs with employer contributions, tuition assistance for employees and their children, and more.

Diversity Statements:

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

The Department of Population Health Sciences aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, equity, and inclusivity of others without biases or prejudice of any kind. Our collective success depends on a robust exchange of ideas - an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, we are committed to diversity in the staff and faculty we hire, the policies we create, and the decisions we make. In addition, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

NOTE TO EXTERNAL JOB APPLICANTS: We are pleased that you are exploring employment opportunities with Duke School of Medicine. If you need an accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process, please submit a Reasonable Accommodations Request form. Allow for up to 5 days for a response. More information is available at https://access.duke.edu/visitors-patients/. 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.