Research Project Manager

University of Pennsylvania • Los Angeles, CA

1d • $58,506 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking a Research Project Manager to oversee the daily operations of a new research project focused on developing and evaluating communication strategies for translational molecular therapies for rare diseases. This project will involve assessing the perspectives of various stakeholders, including patients and families, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, policymakers, journalists, and the general public. The goal is to create and test communication strategies tailored for patients/families and clinicians, refining message content, identifying effective messengers, and exploring optimal delivery methods based on stakeholder input.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences such as psychology, public health, communication, and related disciplines is required.
• 3+ years of experience in conducting and/or managing externally funded research projects.
• Must possess good judgment, attention to detail, the ability to work independently, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work on multiple assignments at one time.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in social sciences such as psychology, public health, communication, and related disciplines.
• Research project management in health communication research projects.
• Working directly with community advisory boards (CABs) or stakeholder advisory boards (SABs) from multiple sectors such as clinicians, patients and caregivers, patient advocates, and journalists.
• Co-designing health messages with a variety of audiences and community stakeholders for message testing.
• Facilitating community and/or stakeholder advisory discussions, documenting qualitative and quantitative feedback, summarizing inputs from advisors, and documenting reports from CABs.
• Conducting or assisting in data collection and participant recruitment using mixed methods in formative research of health messages, including utilizing focus groups, interviews, A/B testing, discrete choice experiments, and/or randomized controlled experiments of message stimuli.
• Scientific writing, including peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations, including conference talks and posters.
• Preparing IRB protocol applications, budget preparation, and coordinating data collection activities for human subjects research.
• Experience with supervising and mentoring research assistants, interns, and students.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project startup and site startup activities.
• Facilitate multi-sectoral stakeholder meetings, discussions on communication needs and preferences, and co-design workshops to generate health messages for a variety of audiences.
• Conduct data collection using focus groups, surveys, and experiments among key audiences.
• Prepare study intervention protocols, initial IRB applications, amendments, and continuing review reports, annual project reports, regulatory submissions, and other reports as needed.
• Assist with analysis and reports on study results at scientific meetings and preparation of manuscripts.
• Coordinate with internal and external grant management staff, research vendors, and research participants.
• Plan weekly meetings with investigators and project staff.
• Notify the PI of issues affecting and relating to study progress, and that may impact the study’s timeline.
• Work with investigators to ensure the collection of data according to protocol, coordinate data systems, and help to ensure study protocols are implemented and required study documentation is maintained.
• Provide information relevant to budget decisions and assist with processing budget forms under the supervision of the PI.
• Perform other project-related duties as needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
• Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn and other institutions
• Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options
• Substantial time away from work for relaxation, vacation, personal affairs, illness, or family needs
• Long-term care insurance
• Wellness and work-life resources
• Professional and personal development resources
• Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural, and recreational activities
• Discounts on arts, entertainment, transportation, mortgages, goods, and services
• Flexible work hours
• Home ownership services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
• Adoption assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager