Research Project Manager

Job Summary:

The nationally recognized Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) project team is seeking a full-time Research Project Manager to, under the direction of the State Project Director, Executive Director and clinical physician leadership, facilitate the design, implementation and sustainability of statewide quality improvement initiatives with birthing hospitals throughout the state in collaboration with our multidisciplinary team. This position is 100% supported by funding from state and federal government and foundation grants under the supervision of Patricia Lee King, PhD. The Research Project Manager role is in the Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research (CHSOR), Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. The ILPQC project team has staff across both Northwestern University and Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital.

The Research Project Manager will be responsible for the clinical quality management of statewide neonatal and obstetric quality improvement initiatives including facilitating regular meetings with clinical physician leaders, project coordinators and other team members; identifying and securing needed resources; creating, implementing and updating project plans; projecting and ensuring the completion of all initiative tasks in specified timelines in collaboration with the project coordinator; tracking progress on grant milestones; reporting progress to ILPQC central team, collaborative members, stakeholders and funders and resolving or escalating issues in a timely manner; developing quality improvement implementation tools, monitoring hospital team progress on initiative aims; providing regular quality improvement and implementation coaching to participating hospital teams; developing clinical and quality improvement content for monthly webinars. The Research Project Manager will need to ensure that all activities are completed by ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirements and Institutional Review Board-approved protocols.

The Research Project Manager will also provide leadership for ILPQC clinical and collaborative learning event planning. ILPQC hosts two large in person meeting each year and hosts in-person clinical and quality improvement training as needed. In addition, the Research Project Manager will collaborate with other staff to develop quality improvement / implementation support leadership and development of innovative offerings to build hospital team quality improvement capacity. This position also includes responsibilities for budgetary management and coordination with sponsored research colleagues, manuscript and/or grant writing/preparation, and other opportunities for advancement.

The Research Project Manager will be required collaborate effectively with the ILPQC team in regular meetings throughout the week and contribute to building a positive team culture. They must have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, be creative and thoughtful in proposing ideas to achieve initiative goals, be technologically proficient with the ability to learn and navigate health care systems and project databases and understand national guidelines and regulatory operations. Strong interpersonal skills are crucial to this position as this role will be responsible for maintaining relationships with nurse and provider leaders of hospital teams, patient and community partners, public health collaborators and other stakeholders.

Master’s degree or higher with at least five years of clinical experience (RN, APP, etc.) working in a hospital in a perinatal care setting and an interest in quality improvement implementation required. This hybrid position is located on the Northwestern University Chicago Campus in the Streeterville neighborhood with currently at least three days a week in person with two days per week at the Streeterville location and one day a week at Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital. Please include a cover letter describing your interest in this position and clinical experience in perinatal care in a hospital setting. Applicants with relevant experience are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet all listed requirements, as we value the diverse skills and perspectives that contribute to our team’s success.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Provides complex scientific & technical leadership in determining research priorities & the plan, design & execution of research projects ensuring that programs of investigation meet specified objectives.
• Plans, develops & implements new processes & protocols to support research studies & maximize/extend study capabilities.
• Oversees completion of study activities per protocol.
• Ensures that study protocols are in compliance with appropriate rules & regulations & reviews study progress and recommends revisions, amendments, and/or other study changes as necessary to better meet needs of sponsors.
• Reviews scientific literature & evaluates & recommends applicable techniques & procedures.

Administrative

• Analyzes, evaluates & interprets data to determine relevance to research.
• Assists PI in developing statistical methods & models to analyze & report data based upon study requirements.
• Prepares results & may co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & disseminates information via seminars, lectures, etc.
• Creates data for use in grant submission & develop new proposals for research including obtaining financial support.
• Acts as liaison between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Finance

• May create &/or manage research study budget which may include deciding on & approving expenditures of funds based on budget.
• Monitors accounts.
• Negotiates prices & specifications with vendors.
• Purchases supplies, materials, equipment & services.
• Ensures appropriate allocation & compliance.
• Invoices study sponsors for study tests/procedures.
• Coordinates & participates in budgetary negotiations with industry sponsors.

Supervision

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & may supervise lab EEs, students, residents &/or fellows.
• Acts as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 5 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' research study or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask
• Technologically proficient

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Clinical Degree (RN, APP, etc.)
• Previous experience in quality improvement
• Clinical experience in perinatal health care

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Advanced Medical Terminology
• Knowledge of current professional guidelines
• Ability to navigate hospital and health system settings

Target hiring range for this position will be between $63,079 - 78,849 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View .

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