Department
BSD ITM - Administration
About the Department
The University of Chicago (UC) Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) was created in 2007 to assemble, integrate, and create the intellectual, administrative, and physical resources required to catalyze research and research training in Clinical and Translational Science. Its ultimate goals are to train scientists and health care providers at UC and in our community to determine the molecular, genetic, pathophysiologic, and social determinants of disease and disease predisposition in individuals; to test interventions directed toward those mechanisms; and to achieve these goals in a way that is rigorous, efficient, ethical, respectful of, and responsive to our community’s needs and values. Over the years, the ITM has capitalized on the outstanding intellectual and physical resources throughout the University and at additional ITM Institutions (Rush University, Loyola University, Endeavour Health, IllinoisTech, and Advocate Health), and on substantial institutional and CTSA financial investments, to build the infrastructure for a transformative, energized, and self-improving home for clinical and translational research, ensuring the continued progress of clinical and translational science at the University of Chicago, its affiliates, and throughout the Chicago metropolitan region.
Job Summary
The principal contribution of the ITM Network Capacity Trial and Recruitment Innovation Office (TRIO) Lead is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing the daily operations of the ITM’s Network Capacity programs, including financial, meetings/events, and program services. This position ensures the stability, success and growth of these programs by focusing on the accomplishment of the programs’ strategic aims.
The overall goal of the ITM’s Network Capacity TRIO is to optimize clinical and translational research in the ITM, especially implementation of human centered system design derived practices for promoting diverse participant recruitment and retention into ongoing research studies. In addition, TRIO supports bi-directional engagement of translational research teams with the Clinical Translation Science Award (CTSA) central programs including but not limited to the Trial Innovation Network (TIN), National Clinical Collaborative (N3C) and Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).
This position requires in‐depth knowledge and experience of clinical research regulations/operations, especially around recruitment and retention of diverse participants, and the training of team members in an academic health/medical setting. The Lead uses broad and deep knowledge of clinical research and training, best practices in the field, and awareness of evolving internal or external issues both nationally within the CTSA consortium and locally across the ITM institutions to improve the work of the programs and the services offered to investigators, study teams, and the public. This position solves complex problems and/or takes a new perspective using existing solutions. The Program Lead largely works independently, receiving minimal guidance, and supports the efforts of other TRIO team members including navigators with lived experiences (community navigators). The lead acts as a liaison and resource on clinical research regulatory/operations surrounding recruitment and retention of diverse participants along with connections to CTSA Central Programs and training programs for colleagues throughout the ITM.
This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.
Responsibilities
- Uses in‐depth knowledge and experience to administer the delivery of programs’ services to program participants.
- Develops and implements the programs’ workplans, assuring adherence to programs’ aims.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive inventory of projects conducted within the ITM that originated and/or utilized CTSA central projects resources.
- Develops and implements new trainings and programs to meet emerging/unmet needs regarding use of CTSA central project resources.
- Engages in the logistics pre-, during, and post-various TRIO suite of human centered design experiences for translational research teams.
- Aligns training and career development of navigators with lived experiences (community navigators) across ITM institutions.
- Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
- Establishes and tracks performance metrics, showing impact of programs’ activities.
- Drafts and submits programs’ progress reports.
- Provides regular updates and presentations on program activities and accomplishments, as needed.
- Manages the programs’ expenditures and budget, and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations. Interacts with faculty, researchers, external stakeholders, and staff for committee work or information.
- Manages ongoing program work, ensures communication and fosters accountability through regular meetings of the programs’ leadership: tracking agendas, action items, decisions, and minutes.
- Coordinates the work of the programs’ participants across ITM institutions.
- Together with program leadership, participates in the governance of the ITM, ensuring the dissemination of program activities and accomplishments and coordinating program activities with other ITM clusters.
- Ensures participation in national CTSA activities, including applicable Task Forces and Workgroups such as those associated with TIN, N3C and ACTs.
- Supervises the work of the Community Navigators.
- Directs the work of the Community Navigators as they respond to requests from study teams and researchers for Studios, assistance with recruitment, study design, etc.
- Create goals for the Community Navigators and work with/meet with them to achieve these goals based upon the current aims of the grant.
- Approves Community Navigators time, keep track of time off and submits weekly time.
- Solves complex problems relating to TRIO’s work, investigators recruitment, refer study teams to different programs within the ITM or through the national level consortiums.
- Provides expertise on the basics of clinical and translational research and related aspects of a clinical study for colleagues with less experience. Prepares and evaluates TRIO Reports, follow up reports and dissemination tools.
- Uses moderate/solid understanding and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries.
- Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
- Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
- Has moderate/high levels of interactions with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:
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Preferred Competencies
- Ability to work as part of collaborative team as well as autonomously.
- Demonstrated accuracy, precision and attention to detail.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Expertise in Microsoft Office software applications.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.
- Familiarity with administration within a complex research university environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to handle public contacts with courtesy, clarity, and diplomacy.
- Ability to maintain calm and courteous demeanor and to work productively despite heavy workload, competing priorities, complex problems, and tight deadlines.
- Excellent problem‐solving skills.
- Ability to use appropriate resources to resolve an issue.
- Ability to follow an issue through to resolution.
Working Conditions
- Standard office environment, travel to other ITM institutions, and occasional evening hours may be required.
Application Documents
- Resume (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
