Senior Professional Research Assistant (Sr. PRA) – Level 2

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

1d•$65,000 - $82,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Community and Behavioral Health and the Colorado Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) is hiring a full-time Senior Professional Research Assistant (Sr. PRA) – Level 2. Sr. PRA will be independently responsible for applying advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and judgment to support academic, research, administrative, and programmatic functions. Work involves developing, integrating, applying, and disseminating knowledge within a professional field. The Colorado Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) advances cancer prevention and control through population health research, evidence-based intervention implementation, and partnerships with clinical and community organizations. CCSP works to reduce cancer burden and health disparities across Colorado by supporting colorectal cancer screening, lung cancer screening, hereditary cancer risk assessment, and other emerging cancer control initiatives. The program provides research-informed training and technical assistance to healthcare teams, supports implementation of best practices, and convenes cross-sector partners to improve reach, effectiveness, and sustainability of cancer prevention efforts. The Sr. PRA level 2 will independently coordinate research and program implementation activities across CCSP initiatives and grant-funded projects. This position will support the development, execution, and evaluation of program strategies; coordinate research and implementation activities; contribute to grant and proposal development; and assist with data, reporting, and project management activities. The position will collaborate closely with the CCSP Senior Program Manager, CCSP Sr Program Manager, Director, and program staff to advance program goals and translate research findings into practice. The Sr. PRA will serve as a key liaison with internal and external partners, including safety net healthcare systems, public health organizations, clinical experts, researchers, and community-based organizations. Responsibilities include supporting trainings, technical assistance activities, partner engagement, communication strategies, and implementation efforts that strengthen cancer prevention and control across Colorado. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position at 1.0 FTE. Occasional evening/weekend activities and overnight travel may be required.

Requirements

A master’s degree in public health, health promotion, social work, communications, business, public administration, social science, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
2 years of professional level experience
Ability to work independently.
Demonstrates attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Ability to thrive in highly active, multitasking environment and meet tight deadlines.
Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams), Google Applications, and Zoom.
Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and partners at all levels throughout the institution.
Outstanding customer service skills.
Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.

Nice To Haves

2 or more years’ related experience in project coordination for public health programs.
1 or more years working in settings focused on cancer screening and control, health systems, patient navigation, or public health.
Experience or formal training in research design and program implementation.
Experience in leading and designing research proposal and grants.
Demonstrated experience managing professional social media accounts including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and utilizing Google sites, YouTube, and design platforms such as Canva.
Proficiency hosting and scheduling meetings and webinars with Zoom and Outlook, use of Doodle polls, and survey software (Qualtrics preferred).

Responsibilities

Identify and act on opportunities to partner with clinical and community partners to support the promotion of health equity and reduction of health disparities in Colorado communities.
Serve as a primary liaison for participating safety net clinics and technical assistance partner organizations for implementation and evaluation strategies related to evidence-based interventions for cancer screening and control.
Coordinate scheduling and logistics of program meetings, webinars, and other events with internal staff and external partners.
Actively lead and participate in program meetings, webinars, and other events to provide support for CCSP programming and grant projects, including technical assistance, trainings, implementation activities, and promotional efforts.
Provide technology support during Zoom training sessions and webinars.
Monitor progress and completion of program implementation plans and deliverables to ensure the program meets its goals and grant requirements.
Research design and program implementation: Expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating research-driven programs, translating evidence into practice, and leading multidisciplinary efforts to support successful implementation and sustainability.
Research concept and proposal development: Experience developing innovative research concepts, aligning priorities with funding opportunities, and creating competitive proposals that advance impactful research initiatives.
Collaborate with program personnel and internal/external partners to design and deliver technical assistance, coaching, and training to safety net clinic system teams for implementation of evidence-based strategies related to cancer screening and control and patient navigation.
Facilitate the development and implementation progress of evidence-based intervention action plans and application of quality improvement strategies and tools.
Act as a subject matter expert and collaborate with other programs such as through the American Cancer Society, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to align and advance common goals and projects.
Work closely with Program Director, Senior Program Manager, and other investigators to develop and implement evaluation strategies, data collection instruments, and analytic plans.
Coordinate logistics of data collections.
Collect, code, and analyze data and information from surveys and other reporting instruments, analyze data in analytical software, and distill key themes to answer evaluation questions and requested metrics.
Synthesize information and grant reporting and writing of publications and reports.