3357 Sr. Research Prog Specialist

University of Rochester•City of Rochester, NY

37d•Onsite

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive. The Senior Department Program Specialist - SHORE will collaborate with the Director of the Surgical Health Outcomes Research Enterprise (SHORE) as a leader responsible for building and sustaining high-impact research and training programs in surgical health outcomes. SHORE is the leading program within the Department of Surgery dedicated to improving surgical outcomes and informing healthcare policy through innovative and clinical research. The program provides mentorship, research infrastructure, and training in advanced methodologies for medical students, residents, junior faculty, and early-career investigators interested in academic surgery. SHORE is dedicated to improving surgical outcomes and influencing healthcare policies through cutting-edge research. We train future leaders in academic surgery by offering cutting-edge methodologies, research exposure and training, seminars, and grant-writing mentorship. This role involves strategic planning, operational leadership, program development, and research advancement with a strong focus on securing independent funding and mentoring the next generation of surgeon-scientists. The Senior Department Program Specialist - SHORE will report to the Clinical Research Director and the Research Director for SHORE. This role will work closely with the URMC leadership, Department division chiefs and will develop relationships with junior faculty working in surgical outcomes career development throughout the Department of Surgery and collaborators across URMC. Ultimately, this role encompasses identifying and writing grants to foster surgical health outcomes including training grants for scholars interested in careers in surgery. By joining SHORE, you will contribute to groundbreaking research and help shape the future of surgical care.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
5 years of relevant experience required
Strong leadership and team management skills
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
Proficiency in program evaluation and data analysis
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and problem-solving ability.
Advanced budget management and financial planning expertise
Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, FileMaker Pro, virtual collaboration tools (Zoom, Box), Adobe, etc. as well as data analysis tools and software
Ability to effectively communicate and interact, both verbally and in writing, with people across diverse backgrounds and cultures

Nice To Haves

Master degree, Advanced degree (PhD or MD) preferred
Prior experience in higher education, academic research and grants administration preferred
Intermediate Spanish language skills

Responsibilities

Research Program Leadership: Provide leadership and oversight for SHORE research projects, supporting faculty and trainees in study design, recruitment, regulatory compliance, and reporting in collaboration with department leadership, division chiefs, faculty, and trainees. Lead strategic planning and implementation of complex research programs aligned with departmental priorities in surgical outcomes. Develop and expand a sustainable, independently funded research portfolio in surgical health outcomes, including federal (e.g., NIH, AHRQ, PCORI) and foundation grants. Serve as a liaison to the Department of Surgery leadership to integrate outcome-focused initiatives and skill-building across divisions. Organize and lead meetings, track project progress, and prepare updates and reports for internal stakeholders and funding agencies. Foster interdisciplinary collaborations across departments and research centers at URMC to maximize institutional impact and minimize siloed efforts.
Research Project Management Oversee regulatory processes, including human subjects protocols and maintenance of study documentation. Maintains multiple health outcomes databases and is responsible for managing subscriptions, submission, and access for researchers. Engage and coordinate the investigators including biostatisticians, data analysts, and dissemination experts, to ensure high-quality research outputs. Establish and track clear performance metrics and outcomes to evaluate SHORE’s impact and guide continuous improvement
Training of future surgeon scientists: Lead the design and implementation of structured training pathways for college, medical students, residents, and junior faculty interested in surgical careers and health outcomes research. Organize educational programming such as seminars, symposia, and research-in-progress sessions, ensuring alignment with SHORE’s academic mission. Oversee the creation and execution of a strategic communication plan to promote training opportunities through internal channels, the SHORE website, and social media platforms. Cultivate a supportive learning environment that encourages collaboration, academic excellence, and long-term career development in academic surgery. Lead or support the development of training grants and other funding mechanisms (e.g., T32s) to advance the SHORE research program
Account Administration Develop and manage SHORE’s annual budget, ensuring alignment with institutional processes (e.g., Axiom system) in collaboration with the Surgery Research Office. Review monthly financial reports, identify discrepancies, and make recommendations to address issues as needed with the Research Program Manager and Vice Chair for Surgical Health Outcomes and Strategic Engagement Approves expense reports, including travel authorization, purchasing, and reimbursements from SHORE operating and grant accounts for faculty, trainees, and scholars. Ensure compliance with administrative and financial requirements of active grants and state-funded programs. Monitor and document performance and quality indicators of SHORE pipeline programs across divisions to support continued funding and reporting requirements.
Manage Human Resources Collaborate with URMC leadership, Department division chiefs, the Vice Chair of Education, and the Director of Resident Research to support recruitment, evaluation, and development of emerging surgeon-scientists. Advise and support research staff and faculty with personnel hiring and administration; prepares/revises job descriptions to fit project need and align with budget, assist with screening, interviewing, and hiring of research staff as needed. Lead the onboarding of residents, medical students and college students trainees interested in careers in surgery or becoming surgeon scientists . Assists with hiring decisions, provides ongoing supervision and training, manages personnel issues and actions, and provides input for performance reviews. Analyzes reports to assess the short and long-term outcomes of pipeline program participants. Synthesizes and interprets data to determine the longitudinal success of SHORE. Identifies and implements improvement activities as needed.
Other Duties as Assigned Obtain and maintain systems training and access as needed for various projects

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