Research Associate

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Research & Evaluation Associate supports the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of research, evaluation, and data management activities for the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program, which is housed in the Department of Family Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill. The program partners with UNC Family Medicine, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, community-based organizations, and local reentry councils to connect people returning from incarceration with essential medical services and community resources. The position coordinates program evaluation initiatives, maintains high-quality data systems, supports research operations, ensures regulatory compliance, and facilitates analysis and dissemination of program outcomes. Working with FIT leadership, clinical partners, researchers, community organizations, and external stakeholders, the associate supports research administration, data management, quality assurance, and program evaluation. Duties include supporting Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes; overseeing data collection and reporting; developing and maintaining evaluation infrastructure; and contributing to grant reporting, presentations, publications, and other scholarly products. The role applies research and evaluation methods to support data-informed decision making, continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, and demonstration of program impact across FIT sites. The position’s designated work location is virtual. The location may change based on the unit’s business needs.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Social Sciences, Health Administration, or a related field.
Two years of experience in research, program evaluation, quality improvement, data management, public health, healthcare, or a related field.
Experience supporting public health, healthcare, research, or evaluation projects, including familiarity with regulatory requirements and human subjects research processes such as IRB requirements.
Knowledge of research methods, program evaluation frameworks, data management, and quality assurance practices.
Experience using databases, survey platforms, research databases, or other data management systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and changing workloads in a dynamic environment.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and contribute effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting grant-funded programs, including performance measurement, reporting, and compliance requirements.
Experience using Qualtrics, REDCap, or similar research, evaluation, and data management platforms.
Experience conducting data analysis and preparing reports, presentations, manuscripts, publications, or other dissemination products.
Knowledge of HIPAA, human subjects protections, and data privacy and security requirements.
Experience working with justice-involved populations, community health workers, healthcare systems, reentry programs, or other community-based public health initiatives.
Knowledge of health, social, and structural factors affecting individuals impacted by criminal legal system involvement.
Experience with incarceration and/or working closely with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system.

Responsibilities

Support the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of FIT research, evaluation, and data management activities.
Coordinate program evaluation initiatives.
Maintain high-quality data systems and evaluation infrastructure.
Support research operations and research administration.
Ensure regulatory compliance and support Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes.
Oversee data collection and reporting activities.
Support data management and quality assurance.
Facilitate analysis and dissemination of program outcomes.
Contribute to grant reporting, presentations, publications, and other scholarly products.
Apply research and evaluation methods to support data-informed decision making, continuous quality improvement, and strategic planning.
Collaborate with FIT leadership, clinical partners, researchers, community organizations, and external stakeholders.