Research Associate Senior (Director of Science, #0077950T) READVERTISEMENT

University of Hawaii•Honolulu, HI

73d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Research Associate Senior, also referred to as Director of Science, within the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The role involves leading the scientific direction, execution, and administrative coordination of the Red Hill Registry Science Team. The position is temporary, funded by federal funds, and is expected to begin around July 2026. It is not a remote position and is renewable based on funding, program needs, and performance.

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in public health, environmental health, health sciences, epidemiology, engineering, geology, geography, psychology, social work, public policy, or related field and 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for public health, grant writing grant management, project management, personnel management, health sciences, epidemiology, health literacy health policy initiatives and or health science initiatives; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of leading multi-institutional or community-based projects as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with human subjects research and best practices.
Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally, and by preparation of reports and other materials.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.

Nice To Haves

Proven record of peer-reviewed publications and successful grant proposal development.
Excellent mentoring abilities.
Demonstrated understanding of organizational processes and ability to implement processes to improve efficiency and gain organizational acceptance through basic change management skills.
Ability to travel for the purpose of attending meetings, training, and other activities in support of the project.
Master's or Doctoral level degree in public health, health sciences, environmental health, epidemiology, engineering, geology, geography, public policy, psychology, social work, or related field.
Experience working with federally-funded projects within higher education systems in support of research and community programs.
Strong analytical skills, with experience in epidemiological data analysis and/or exposure assessment.
Understanding of the importance of cultural competence in the workplace and in the community impacted by the Red Hill water crisis.
Familiarity with the University of Hawai'i System.
Familiarity with the Department of Defense and military communities.
Familiarity with the Red Hill water crisis.
Knowledge of trauma-informed communication methods and sensitivity when presenting to communities impacted by traumatic events.
Knowledge of health and healthcare disparities with respect to issues specifically related to military families, Native Hawaiians, and underrepresented minorities in Hawaii.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic scientific direction, execution, administrative coordination, and strategic compliance of the Red Hill Registry Science Team, ensuring all data collection instruments and utilization efforts align with registry’s goals and deliverables.
Collaborate with project stakeholders to further the registry's efforts to achieve project milestones.
Represent the Red Hill Registry at selected external meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements in coordination with the Director, maintaining professional relationships with key partners.
Coordinate the identification and implementation of new initiatives and data-driven projects to enhance the Registry’s long-term impact and sustainability.
Identify relevant extramural funding opportunities and provide technical support in the development of research proposals and grant applications to sustain and expand registry programs.
Support the design and implementation of studies involving public health and environmental health methodologies, including epidemiological analysis.
Lead the preparation and submission of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.
Utilize existing environmental and health datasets to design and refine assessment tools (questionnaires) that accurately capture participant exposure and outcomes.
Monitor and optimize the team’s internal systems and processes to ensure maximum operational efficiency and high-quality outputs.
Plan and deliver scientific workshops to synthesize diverse perspectives and guide strategic decision-making.
Produce annual reports and presentations related to the Science Team for funding agencies, community partners, Congress and other stakeholders.
Oversee administrative requirements for the Science Team, including managing project budgets.
Build strong partnerships across the UH System, the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i (RCUH), and University Health Partners to navigate system and department processes and workflows for finance, human resources/hiring, policies/procedures, administration, and more.
Manage staff to include scheduling and delegating tasks effectively; approving employee time sheets and expense reports as needed; and mentoring students, research assistants, and junior scientists by conducting regular check-ins, providing feedback, coordinating professional development opportunities, and overseeing work quality and productivity.
Ensure strong communication and alignment between the Registry team, departmental leadership, and administrative staff.
Evaluate the relationship between environmental factors and community health outcomes to inform future organizational strategy.
Provide specialized technical support to other Registry efforts, such as Education and Outreach, as operational needs arise.
Other duties as assigned