Research Department Assistant - Operations

Atrium Health Navicent; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, GA seeks a Research Services Department Assistant to provide critical administrative support for the Research Department. The role handles communications, records, credentials, and reports to ensure smooth study operations.

You will work with investigators, clinical staff, and external partners, coordinating meetings, credentialing, and data entry while maintaining high customer service standards in a healthcare research setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum one year experience with computer programs and public contact.
• Healthcare, research, or administrative support experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as first contact for potential biorepository donors and obtaining informed consent.
• Discusses informed consent with participants and maintains positive relationships with staff across departments.
• Manages supplies and equipment for Cancer Life Center; orders and maintains necessary supplies.
• Participates in biorepository processes: schedule monitors, credentialing, and record maintenance.
• Maintains data through manual entry and multiple computer programs; generates reports.
• Assists in planning continuing education for Community Outreach programs; supports compliance efforts.
• Maintains HIPAA compliance and remains adaptable in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Computer skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Cerner

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Job description

Department

80037 Enterprise Corporate - Research Services

Department

80037 Enterprise Corporate - Research Services

Status

Full time

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Hours Per Week

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information

The Research Department Assistant serves as a key administrative and operational support resource for the Research Department. This position is responsible for coordinating a variety of research support activities, including managing department communications, maintaining records and databases, supporting regulatory and compliance processes, coordinating meetings and events, and assisting with study-related administrative functions.

Responsibilities may include scheduling and credentialing external study monitors and visitors, organizing and maintaining research training and credentialing records, supporting departmental regulatory activities, managing the department's shared phone line and email inbox, preparing reports and correspondence, and assisting with document management and data entry. The position works closely with research staff, investigators, clinical departments, and external partners to support efficient department operations and ensure a high level of customer service.

This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic healthcare and research environment. The successful candidate must be comfortable working independently while also collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across the organization. Prior healthcare, research, or administrative support experience is preferred.

This position is primarily an on-site role and is expected to work standard business hours, Monday through Friday. Occasional flexibility may be required to support research-related meetings, educational events, monitor visits, or other departmental activities.

Pay Range

$21.85 - $32.80

Major Responsibilities

• Serves as first point of contact for potential biorepository donors. Includes obtaining informed consent of participants, tagging the patient’s chart as research tissue donor, initiating collection form, delivering required blood specimens to the lab, identifying the date and time of surgical procedure, and communicating with OR and pathology staff.
• Utilizes effective communication skills to discuss informed consent with potential biorepository participant. Maintains a positive working relationship with the staff of ancillary areas, such as pre-anesthesia testing, laboratory/pathology, physician offices and tumor registry.
• Manages supplies/equipment in Cancer Life Center. Orders supplies for research department and orders and maintains necessary supplies for biorepository.
• Participates in the biorepository process by reviewing surgery schedule with research nurse to identify potential participants and reviews pre-anesthesia testing schedule to identify time to meet patients. Tags patient chart as a potential tissue donor. Meets with patient to obtain informed consent, ensuring that original consent is placed in patient chart and that copies go to patient and research office. Ensures that blood specimens are picked up and delivered to pathology in a timely manner. Initiates blood and tissue collection forms. Maintains communication with surgeon’s office, operating room, and pathology staff. Prepares thank you letter for director of pathology signature and mails to biorepository participants.
• Manages data through manual entry and utilization of multiple computer programs. Demonstrates proficiency in computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, Cerner, etc.). Creates appropriate data bases as needed as well as reports. Schedules any room reservations as needed for meetings. Picks up and distributes mail. Maintains electronic biorepository log. Obtains copy of biorepository patient’s pathology report through Cerner. Prepares and delivers biorepository shipping log to pathology department to accompany specimen samples when shipped to main repository. Prepares and ships biorepository patient information packet for shipment to main repository, to include log, copy of informed consent, pathology report, and abstract.
• Assists in the planning, coordination, and implementation of continuing education for Community Outreach programs. I
• Participates in activities to ensure compliance in surveys.
• Maintains professional growth and development. Remains current on required research‑specific certifications such as Protection of Human Research Participants and HIPAA compliance. Attends available educational opportunities. Takes initiative and performs tasks whenever possible without requiring instruction. Maintains flexibility and demonstrates cooperative attitude.

Education Required

• High school diploma or GED equivalency certification required.

Work Experience Required

• A minimum of one year experience with computer programs and public contact required. Must have demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work in a stressful environment with little or no supervision. Healthcare experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Must be able to assist Director and others in administrative tasks. Must possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication and computer skills. Must be flexible in working with others from diverse backgrounds and with different management styles. Must be computer literate. Must handle confidential information in a sensitive manner.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Must be able to use visual acuity to see monitor screen, computer and hard copy materials. Must be able to hear and verbally communicate in person and over the phone or radio. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time (up to 2 hours). Must be able to comprehend and learn operation of various office equipment. Must have functional range of motion of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, upper and lower extremities with a grip strength of 50‑60# specific to job evaluation. Must be able to forward reach, overhead reach, bend, squat, kneel and apply proper body mechanics during the transfers and transport supplies and/or equipment using proper body mechanics. Must be able to lift up to 10# specific to job evaluation.
• Works in hospital, clinical and/or assistive living, office indoor environments. Must be able to remain calm under emergency situations. Must be able to utilize appropriate universal and specific precautions for protection from potential exposure infectious or communicable diseases. Tolerate high noise, busy atmospheres and noxious odors.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our CommitmenttoYou

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well‑being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits And More

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, andShort- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

Performs administrative, information, technical and clerical functions required to facilitate the workflow and efficient operations of the department. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: participation in biorepository process, delivery of blood specimens to lab, word processing, data collection and entry, generating reports, maintaining supplies, troubleshooting office equipment and other administrative support functions.