Research Specialist

HealthPartners; Saint Louis Park (MN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

HealthPartners in Minnesota seeks a Recruitment Research Specialist to coordinate subject recruitment, data collection, and study procedures. You will support investigators, prepare materials, manage databases, and assist in regulatory reporting while maintaining high quality and compliance.

The role emphasizes collaboration with study teams, organizing meetings, travel, and communication with participants, and ensuring timelines are met in a national scope research project.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in health science related field with 1 year of relevant work experience.
• Strong MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Endnote or similar software proficiency.
• Excellent writing skills with strong spelling, grammar and editing ability.
• Effective verbal communication and professional relationship management.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized and able to manage shifting priorities.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and follow regulatory guidelines.
• Knowledge of research methodology and data handling processes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate recruitment and data collection for research studies.
• Support investigators with subject recruitment, mailings, and scheduling.
• Prepare manuscripts and presentations; manage meeting logistics.
• Update databases, create charts and graphs, and assist in study procedures.
• Assist in regulatory reporting and documentation.
• Contribute to project planning, timelines and tracking to meet deadlines.
• Facilitate study progress and assist other staff as needed.

Skills

Data entry

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Verbal communication

Interpersonal relations

Independent work

Regulatory awareness

Education

Associate degree in health science related field

Bachelor's degree in health-related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Access

RedCap

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Research Specialist to support work directly with study subjects in an innovative research project with national scope. Certified Medical Assistants and/or skilled phlebotomists are highly encouraged to apply.

A competitive candidate will be collaborative, personable, and have experience in patient-facing or lab work. Tasks include conducting visits with study subjects, collecting blood and other biospecimens, coordinating patient schedules, updating databases and implementing the study in accordance with all applicable roles.

POSITION PURPOSE

Provide confidential support to Senior Research Investigators and Research Investigators. Prepare manuscripts and presentations; arrange meetings, conference and travel. Manage communications, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create charts and graphs, and facilitate progress of study functions. May coordinate office services functions of the Institutes Services team.

Recruitment Research Specialist

To coordinate and manage recruitment and data collection. Provide support for research projects by assisting Principal Investigators, Project Managers and Coordinators with subject recruitment, subject information gathering, mailings, updating databases, assisting in the development of study procedures, and general facilitation of study progress.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Responsible for the preparation of scientific manuscripts for submission to journals (copy editing, formatting according to specific journal requirements, obtaining required consents for publication). Assist Senior Research Investigators and Research Investigators in various other ways that will contribute to them meeting their accountabilities.
2. May coordinate all office space moves including moving phones, ordering office furniture, and the ordering of computers and accessories.
3. Support Research Investigators, Senior Research Investigators and/or Institute Managers as assigned.
4. May serve on Systems and Development Team to identify issues regarding processes and systems and maintain policies and procedures.
5. Participate in the development of research proposals including editing, proofing, and formatting documents; ensuring that proposals submitted by supported investigators to external funders meet the requirements of the funding agency.
6. Arrange meetings, conferences and travel arrangements.
7. May participate in business continuity planning and implementation.
8. Promote culture of service and teamwork in daily work
9. Assist and back up other staff team members as needed.
10. Participate actively in staff meetings and activities.

Recruitment Research Specialist Accountabilities

1. Develop detailed project plans, timetables, resource estimation and tracking to meet deadlines.
2. Collaborate with internal sources to design systems, forms, questionnaires, and surveys.
3. Identify and act upon barriers to success and work to enhance plausible solutions.
4. Implement study protocols and ensure that the protocol is followed within regulatory guidelines.
5. Design and oversee data collection processes, develop and implement methodology to assess data accuracy and completeness.
6. Update various databases related to recruitment, patient appointments, and study progress.
7. Schedule patient appointments and send appointment reminders to study participants.
8. Prepare and track mailing for potential study candidates or active participants.
9. Perform phone interviews with potential study participants to assess study eligibility.
10. Facilitate appointments for selected studies by collecting forms, administering questionnaires and incentives, and other related duties.
11. Maintain and update study documentation.
12. Assist the Investigator and/or Project Manager with regulatory reporting.
13. Oversee recruitment and follow-up activities.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree in health science related field, with one year of relevant work experience preferably in a health science related field.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Endnote or similar software programs.
• Excellent writing skills (excellent spelling, grammar and editing skills).
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Exceptionally good organizational skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with medical persons, study participants, project staff, and others.
• Strong data-entry skills.
• Knowledge of research methodology.
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in a social science or health-related field.
• 1-2 years research experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent communications skills in representing directed needs of Research Foundation to outside agencies and organizations.
• Ability to take broad guidelines of a task, initiate a course of action and then coordinate the activity through completion.
• Ability to adhere to a research protocol but also has sufficient flexibility and judgment to handle unforeseen situations that may arise.
• Ability to recognize potential inefficiencies in the protocol procedures and to suggest improvements.
• Experience with PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Access and RedCap software packages.
• Research related survey work experience.
• Formal knowledge of survey methods.
• Experience with survey development software packages, scanning systems, and data collection.

DECISION-MAKING

• The research protocol and federal regulations regarding patient rights in research are the principal limits. Problems where there is conflict between the research needs and GHI operations would be clarified and referred if necessary to supervisor.
• Responsible for a variety of administrative projects requiring independent judgement and action.
• Position must follow guidelines established by CITI training, federal grant regulations and HealthPartners' and HealthPartners Institute's operating standards.