ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OPERATIONS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OPERATIONS

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The University of Washington’s Department of Emergency Medicine within the School of Medicine has a workforce of over 200, with 100+ faculty members who are known for their outstanding research, teaching and patient care.

The Department conducts its activities at the Harborview Medical Center (HMC), UW Medical Center-Montlake, UW Medical Center- Northwest, with research sites located at multiple sites across Seattle.

This position requires in-person presence.

The Assistant Director of Research Operations will serve as a senior administrative leader within the department and will work under the general direction of the Vice Chair of Research and the Vice Chair of Finance and Administration in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The Assistant Director will be responsible for overseeing and managing the strategic growth and day-to-day operations of research across the department.

This role requires a blend of strong organizational skills, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of research methodologies and processes with a preference in experience in clinical research.

The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with faculty, research personnel, administrative staff, and external partners to ensure the successful execution of research initiatives and adherence to regulatory standards.

This position must be able to pivot with project changes and shifts in work activity based on the needs of the department.

This position will also require extensive interaction with Emergency Department staff, including physicians and nurses.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management (50%)

Operational Oversight : Lead the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of research operations.

Manage the administrative aspects of research projects including resource allocation and timeline management. Oversee compliance with institutional and regulatory guidelines governing research activities.

Problem solve, in partnership with the Vice Chair of Research, challenges and opportunities for improvement that arise throughout the life cycle of research projects.

Team Leadership : Supervise a team of research coordinators, administrative staff, and support personnel. This includes direct and indirect management of research staff throughout the department.

Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages innovation, professional growth, and teamwork. Provide support to the Research Operations Manager in arranging 24 / 7 Research Assistant (RA) and Research Coordinator (RC) schedules to ensure projects are meeting milestones.

Research Administration : Facilitate the submission of research proposals, grants, and protocols in partnership with Principal Investigators (PIs), grants administration, and applicable members of department leadership, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with funding agency requirements.

Support coordination of submissions to institutional review boards (IRBs) and other regulatory bodies to obtain necessary approvals for research activities.

Communication and Collaboration : Serve as a liaison between the research leadership, units within the department, other departments, centers, and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary research initiatives.

Communicate research findings, progress updates, and outcomes to relevant stakeholders through reports, presentations, and publications.

Project Implementation / Management Activities (25%)

• Oversee allocation of resources, including personnel, equipment, and funding, to support research projects according to established priorities and objectives.
• Support guidance of project direction and creation of project timelines and deliverables for PIs.
• Collaborate with grants administration to ensure spending is within budget; track grant timelines and ensure that attention and resources are allocated appropriately for study milestones.
• Attend weekly research team meetings and regular meetings with local stakeholders; including persons from UW / HMC and Study and / or Network Sponsors.
• Assist with developing and coordinating detailed study protocol and research assessment instruments with study sponsors.

Protocol Management and Regulatory Compliance (15%)

• Develop and implement processes for quality assurance and performance improvement with research across the department.
• Support the establishment and monitoring of key performance indicators for research projects and initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of research operations;

identify areas for improvement.

• Ensure Federal and State Regulatory compliance including HIPAA.
• Ensure compliance with IRB protocols in partnership with PIs.
• Directly and indirectly support all research faculty and trainees in the department with IRB creation, submission, and compliance.

This includes new protocols, annual renewals, modifications and study closeouts.

Support project audits.

Data Collection / Management (10%)

• Ensure research team compliance with use of research management systems (such as RedCap) and other study databases to track study workflow, participation and engagement, and data quality.
• Work with the team to manage multiple data collection efforts which may include collaborating agencies or institutions.

Including the development, testing and dissemination of project materials, such as participant surveys, informed consents, recruitment letters, and pathologist continuing medical education materials.

• Oversee the monitoring and management of collected data; perform periodic quality checks to ensure the integrity of the data collected in collaboration with local research staff, other site staff as well as the study’s analytic core staff.
• Facilitate sponsor monitoring permissions and facilitate any SIV or other sponsor visits.
• Assist with drafting and submission of manuscripts.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in health or science-related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in research administration or operations, preferably in an academic or healthcare setting.
• Equivalent education / experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license / certification / registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Comprehensive understanding of research operations, regulatory requirements, and compliance standards.
• Previous professional experience working in large health-related research studies (preferably multi-site) with multiple PI's.
• Working knowledge of health care systems, medical record databases, public health, and relevant agencies.
• Experience with electronic research administration systems (, grants management software, IRB platforms).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and timelines, with meticulous attention to detail. Ability to organize and adjust to rapidly changing priorities and new projects.
• Experience supervising and mentoring staff, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (, healthcare administration, public health, biomedical sciences).
• Certification in research administration (, CRA, CFRA).
• Track record of successful grant writing, funding acquisition, and research publication.
• Experience working in an emergency department and intensive care setting.
• Experience collaborating with industry and network sponsored research.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, particularly in the context of collaborating with and coordinating a wide variety of stakeholders.
30+ days ago