Research Project Manager - PCORI

Advocate Health Care; Oak Brook (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care is seeking an experienced project manager to oversee complex clinical trials and research initiatives across multiple sites. The role requires coordinating with investigators, clinical staff, and IT to ensure timely delivery and compliance with regulatory standards.

The candidate should have a Master’s degree and at least five years of experience in health research project management within a large healthcare system, with strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Requires Master’s degree in Business or related field, or Master’s in Health Science or related field.
• Typically requires 5 years of experience in research project or program management in a large health care system, industry or academic environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and oversee multi-year, multi-site pragmatic clinical trials and research studies.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables, including recruitment and reporting.
• Track project progress and report status to collaborators and sponsors.
• Coordinate with clinical staff, IT, and external partners to implement project plans.
• Ensure adherence to GCP, ICH guidelines, FDA CFR, IRB, and other regulatory requirements.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Master's in Business or related field

Master's in Health Science or related field

Tools

REDCap

Microsoft 365 (Excel pivot tables)

Job description

Responsible for providing oversight and leadership necessary for successful implementation of designated projects, initiatives, and/or studies of a complex nature, including those that are multi-year, multi-site, or involve multiple stakeholders. Supports leaders and investigators to effectively manage scope, deliverables, timelines, and budget. Areas of responsibility include organizing and leading project meetings; preparing reports, presentations and timelines; feasibility assessment; data evaluation; direct project management including budget management in accordance with grant and/or contract requirements.

Major Responsibilities

• Leads the planning, execution, and oversight of AARI projects, initiatives, and/or multi-year, multi-site, multi-stakeholder pragmatic clinical trials and research studies; collectively referred to as “project(s)”.
• Manages project timelines to ensure that project goals and deliverables (including reports, study subject recruitment) are met on time.
• Tracks the execution of projects against project timelines and communicates project status to internal and external collaborators. Creates and delivers customized project plans, project charters, reports and presentations. Updates and ensures timely and effective deployment of implementation plans and measurable returns.
• Oversees project activities assigned to research personnel and works closely with project team to develop and implement strategies to achieve project objectives, improve efficiency of research processes and procedures (including recruitment), and subsequently execute improvements, working with leaders as appropriate.
• Manages project plans, project meetings, and agendas for project teams working with clinical and research leaders, investigators, clinical staff, other internal stakeholders (including IT), and external collaborators in academia and industry.
• Independently builds relationships with research teams and collaborating institutions and assists in the development of new project proposals, including working closely with Sponsored Program Services, legal, privacy, compliance, and IT to secure appropriate administrative approvals.
• Ensures that all study activities are completed by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), institutional and departmental research guidelines (e.g., IRB), and federal, state, and local agencies.

Education Required

• Master's Degree in Business or related field, or
• Master's Degree in Health Science or related field.

Experience Required

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in research project or program management in a large health care system, industry or academic environment.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Experience building collaborations among stakeholders at clinic, site, and organization levels, communicating project objectives and needs with ancillary support teams, and overseeing research teams in an academic medical setting
• Experience working with PCORI-funded research programs, including communicating with program officers and preparing financial, data, and progress reports according to program requirements
• Experience working with Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure study compliance, including preparing and submitting applications, amendments, and documentation
• Proficiency with REDCap, including data entry, creating databases and questionnaires, survey management, and developing reports
• Proficiency with Microsoft365 products including use of Excel to develop pivot tables and reports

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Knowledge of health services research including subject recruitment and consenting processes.
• Ability to problem solve, work independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, organizational and time management skills with ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Skilled in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency of research processes and procedures and subsequently execute improvement.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and motivate others. Ability to mentor staff and prepare training plans.
• Experience managing diverse clinical and research teams.
• Experience in project management and ability to drive progress in complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Will generally be exposed to rapid-pace and complex health care environment.
• Remote work with in-person presence (e.g., site visits, recruitment activities, meetings) as needed.
• This position may require ability to drive and/or travel to work related meetings/functions and thus is exposed to road, weather, and normal travel hazards.

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.