Program Specialist II

SDSU Research Foundation•San Diego, CA

About The Position

This position is budgeted for $5,858.67 - $6,112.50 per month, depending on qualifications, and is non-negotiable. SDSU RESEARCH FOUNDATION Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work. Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations. Our core values: Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development. Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues. Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles. Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals. FUNCTION OF THE UNIT At San Diego State University's (SDSU’s) HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Research (SDSU HealthLINK Center), our vision is to inspire transformational and collaborative research that promotes health and well-being for all people and communities. Our collective efforts are driven by a team that includes wide-ranging expertise at all levels of our organization. We are based a short 1.2 miles from the SDSU campus. We offer comprehensive benefits that support the overall well-being and quality of life of our employees. Funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) through a U54 Cooperative Agreement, the SDSU HealthLINK Center offers a wide range of research services, including expertise in multiple research methods, supporting varied research needs, and data analytics applications across the university to enhance health research. The SDSU HealthLINK Center supports research projects led by SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley (SDSU IV), and SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) investigators, affiliated partner organizations, and industry partners, including those funded as Center Research Projects, as Pilot Projects, or who access our services through a cost recovery system. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION This position supports SDSU HealthLINK Center and the Community Engagement Core (CEC) (https://healthlink.sdsu.edu/community-engagement/) by furthering the enhancement of research infrastructure and services to support community-engaged research at SDSU and SDSU Imperial Valley (SDSU IV), the Center's three subcontract partner organizations, and more than a dozen additional partnered organizations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Under the direction of CEC Co-Leader, Dr. Sara Gombatto, and reporting to the SDSU HealthLINK Center Admin and Operations Manager, the CEC Coordinator is responsible for the administration and coordination of the CEC. The primary functions of this role include connecting the needs and operational actions between the SDSU HealthLINK Center and its collaborators at partner organizations, to help facilitate the Center's community-engaged research according to the SDSU HealthLINK Center’s policies and procedures. This shall include liaising with internal stakeholders, including SDSU HealthLINK Center coordinators, staff members, faculty, and researchers, and external stakeholders representative of our community partners.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience coordinating, collaborating, or similarly liaising with community-based organizations, NGOs, and community stakeholders.
Knowledge of project management to include developing and monitoring goals, priorities, and needs.
Strong leadership skills, providing effective direction and supervision to individuals and small groups.
Highly motivated self-starter and independent learner, with excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to facilitate development of cooperative working relationships, interact and communicate effectively with a variety of people within and across organizations.
Knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Suite, SPSS, NVIVO, Endnote.
Ability to independently interpret a wide variety of complex policies and procedures integral to the position.
Excellent professional written and oral communication skills, including English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Ability to display flexibility and handle multiple work priorities and interruptions.
Well organized, ability to meet deadlines, detail oriented, possesses good judgment, and common sense.
Ability to work variable hours, including late afternoons/evenings and some weekends, as needed for community activities.
Demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity.
Ability to obtain a valid California Driver’s license and/or dependable transportation to travel throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in appropriate field related to program/project, or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
Four years of progressively responsible experience in technical or administrative assignments, two years of which would be at the Program Specialist I level.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public health, psychology, sociology, social work, or other relevant field.
Theoretical and practical knowledge of program planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation.
Experience with project management software.
Fluent in both English/Spanish-language reading, writing, and speaking.
Experience conducting collaborative research, including working with federally qualified health centers, health departments (local or state), community-based organizations, and/or other academic institutions.
Knowledge of SDSURF policy and procedures, and their affiliated software systems.

Responsibilities

Develop, organize, and track scopes of work and activities associated with the CEC, including following up on action plans and deliverables for Center cross-core activities, partner subcontracts, research projects, and pilot projects.
Plan, organize, and facilitate CEC meetings, including with CEC Co-Leaders, Center cores and PIs, Research and Pilot Project Leaders, and Center Partners.
Serve as the CEC liaison/primary point of contact for partner organizations, including facilitating connections between SDSU and SDSU IV researchers and community partner organizations.
Coordinate Community Coalition (CC) and associated subcommittee activities, including:
Facilitate CC member and subcommittee member recruitment, engagement, orientation, onboarding/ offboarding.
Plan, coordinate, and facilitate quarterly CC meetings and subcommittee meetings, one of which is held in person in San Diego or Imperial County annually.
Track and maintain CC communications, voting, and honoraria.
Support development and documentation of CC procedures and guidelines.
Supervise the CEC Administrative Assistant, research assistants, students, and volunteer interns as needed.
Represent the Center by attending community events and participating in various coalitions and initiatives of priority to the Center, throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties, to develop new and maintain existing community partnerships.
Ensure research compliance documents are developed, up-to-date, and are adhered to by researchers and partners (Business Associates Agreement, Data Use Agreement, Electronic Health Record release forms).
Identify venues and channels for the dissemination of research, protocols, and training.
Complete all required evaluation activities and support their completion among partner organizations.
Assist with the preparation of Center compliance documents, including the annual Research Performance Progress Report, and support partner organizations with the preparation of materials required by NIH.
Deliver presentations about CEC activities and services to campus, community, or other relevant groups.
Develop and maintain documentation of best practices for community-engaged research and educate others on how to use these best practices.
Set deadlines and complete tasks to help the Center and CEC meet its aims.
Prepare reports, letters, presentations, manuscripts, and other written products on behalf of the CEC and Center.
Work with the Center Budget and Finance Director and CEC Co-Leaders to manage the CEC budget and scope of work, including all CEC partner subcontracts and scopes of work, and Research Project and Pilot Project budgets and scopes of work.
Contribute to marketing efforts on behalf of the Center, including promoting the involvement of partner organizations.
Attend Center meetings, including Cross-Core and All-Center meetings.
Attend trainings, workshops, and conferences as appropriate.
Comply with all Center and SDSURF policies and procedures.