Project Associate- Urban Labs, Health Lab

Department

UL Operations Sub Group

About the Department

Health Lab’s mission is to partner with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate and help scale programs and policies that improve health outcomes, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged urban residents. To accomplish our mission, we seek to identify and engage vulnerable people so they can access services and opportunities that will improve their safety, health and vitality. We work closely with partners, including persons with lived experiences, to learn directly from them about their challenges. We evaluate interventions that seek to address these challenges and advise our partners using data-driven results. We are deeply committed to understanding the impacts of policies, programs and interventions. Like the needs of those we seek to serve, our partnerships are vast. While these partners represent many communities and community-based organizations, they also include medical and social service providers, emergency service providers, members of the corrections, policing and other law enforcement communities. Our primary goal is to generate high-quality evidence about interventions that can sustainably improve urban health and be widely scaled. For more information about Health Lab, go to urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/labs/health.

Job Summary

The University of Chicago Health Lab is seeking a Project Associate with strong organizational and research skills. The position performs routine assignments related to scientific research projects and central Lab coordination, management, and strategic planning activities. This individual will also ensure compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates as well as with philanthropic partners. Lab-wide support will include assisting with planning, directing, coordinating and managing the daily operations of the Health Lab. Research project work will allow for the opportunity to contribute to research design and evaluation of projects in the health disparities space. Responsibilities may include screening and interviewing study participants, facilitating communication between Health Lab and external stakeholders, assisting with the project’s data collection process, providing updates and feedback on study progress to internal and external partners, and assisting with high level administrative tasks. The ideal candidate will be a strong writer, organized, and able to execute multiple project workstreams, including setting project timelines and meeting key milestones.

The grant supported position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, partnering research, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates, as well as a team of administrative staff, project managers, and student research assistants.

Responsibilities

• Supports Director of Operations in the development, organization, and implementation of professional development and training opportunities for staff and students.
• Supports Director of Operations in budgeting, expense tracking, and financial coordination for projects and lab-wide activities, including monitoring shared costs and assisting with projections.
• Develops, maintains, and updates policies, processes, and training materials for administrative policies.
• Working with research teams and student interns, coordinate internal and external communications, including website updates, newsletters, branding efforts, and maintenance of knowledge management platforms.
• Provides confidential and high-level administrative support for senior leaders. Stays informed of activities relating to University programs and initiatives, apprising leaders of issues when deemed necessary. Relieves leaders of administrative responsibilities.
• Utilizes a high level of judgment and creativity to provide high-level administrative and strategic support to leadership, including managing complex scheduling, coordinating meetings and events, triaging communications, and advancing partnership opportunities.
• Triages emails and telephone calls for action. Resolves routine and complex inquiries. May act as liaison to Health Lab leadership.
• Coordinates with faculty, researchers and staff to lead special projects and initiatives to support coordination and knowledge management efforts. 
• Assists with the coordination of research activities, communications with partner agencies, vendors, and stakeholders, and managing project deliverables. Provides project support with subcontracts and other contracting activities.
• Conducts thorough reviews of relevant literature and performs related research activities. General knowledge of and interest in qualitative and quantitative research methods is a plus.
• Assists in preparing IRB proposals, grant proposals and grant progress reports.
• Assists with development of research protocols, data collection tools, and survey/interview protocols. Assists with qualitative and quantitative data collection and management.
• Prepares research summaries for memos, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field
• Performs other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Equivalent work experience in health policy, research, and project management. 

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Strong computer skills including the ability to effectively use software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Employs critical thinking skills.
• Takes initiative.
• Strong collaboration skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Knowledge and understanding of social policy and research.

Working Conditions

• This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that this person will be able to regularly work in-person at Health Lab’s downtown office location and at the University of Chicago main campus in Hyde Park.
• Requires the ability to work independently.
• Requires the ability to occasionally work at partner office or site locations.
• Ability to work occasionally non-traditional hours when necessary.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required)​

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$55,000.00 - $60,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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