A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that are directly related to this position.

The Social Care in Chronic Disease Collaborative is seeking a skilled, highly motivated Research Area Specialist to support a federally funded diabetes intervention study. This position will focus on implementing interventions to address social and financial needs related to diabetes management. The Research Area Specialist will work collaboratively with a 6-person research team to ensure rigorous data quality, participant retention, and efficient study workflows. You will report to the Collaborative's Project Manager.

About Social Care in Chronic Disease Collaborative: Established in 2019, the Social Care in Chronic Disease Collaborative's mission is to advance the science on addressing social context in chronic disease management. The collaborative engages in interdisciplinary research and evaluation, working to translate research and innovations into clinical and public health practice and policy advancement.

About the Department: The position will be based in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity.  Driven by a shared passion for affecting lasting change, the faculty, students, and staff of HBHE work in the pursuit of an equitable, healthy future for all. Turning theory and research into actionable practice, we develop interventions and innovations that promote health, prevent disease, and empower people to manage chronic illness and disabilities. Together, our academic community transforms the theoretical into actionable, the science into the social, applying our knowledge to eliminate health disparities and impact lives for the better.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate intervention activities for a multi-stage intervention trial: Support study progression and participant engagement through effective communication, intervention tracking systems, and continuous monitoring.
• Oversee implementation of an in-house peer support program: Coordinate peer support recruitment, facilitate training, and monitor participation, documentation, and fidelity among a rolling group of ~30 volunteers.
• Collaborating with the research team: In partnership with study leadership, proactively identify, communicate, and address implementation challenges as they arise.
• Provide functional supervision to junior staff and student research assistants: Provide training on study procedures, delegate day-to-day tasks, monitor progress, and ensure adherence to study protocols and quality standards.

Research Area Specialist Intermediate Level:

• Master's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Public Policy, or a related field.  
• 4-5 years of demonstrated research and/or program implementation experience. 
• Demonstrated experience with volunteer management, including recruitment, training, and oversight
• Demonstrated experience with research or evaluation projects (e.g., data collection, analysis).  
• Academic and/or professional experience related to social determinants of health, health equity, poverty, and/or social services administration
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative environment.  
• High level of professionalism, strong organizational skills, and a consistent work ethic. 

Research Area Specialist Associate Level: 

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Public Policy, or a related field. Master preferred.
• 1-3 years of demonstrated research and/or program implementation experience.  
• Demonstrated experience with volunteer management, including recruitment, training, and oversight
• Demonstrated experience with research or evaluation projects (e.g., data collection, analysis).  
• Academic and/or professional experience related to social determinants of health, health equity, poverty, and/or social services administration
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative environment.  
• High level of professionalism, strong organizational skills, and a consistent work ethic

• Experience using motivational interviewing techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including comfort in troubleshooting study workflows and technical issues.  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and REDCap.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

• 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday days
• Occasional evening availability is needed to accommodate participant availability

• School of Public Health Building 1, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI
• We are currently using a hybrid work model. Staff are required to come into the office two days per week.

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Intermediate salary range: $56,652 - $69,982

Associate salary range: $46,887-$57,920

The selected candidate would be expected to develop the competencies required for the Intermediate level over time.

This position is Term-Limited: Two years from hire date with opportunity to renew

Applicants are encouraged to view our website here: https://www.sccdcollaborative.org/

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.