Senior Clinical Research Coordinator - Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Position Summary: 

This position will be the lead Clinical Research Coordinator managing several ongoing behavioral clinical trials under the primary supervision of Principal Investigator, Dr. Jessica LaRose (www.optforhealth.org). Ongoing trials include efficacy trials to promote cardiometabolic health for emerging adult women and adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, as well as community-based effectiveness and implementation trials, including a newly funded multilevel intervention to address social drivers of cancer risk among residents of income-based housing as part of the NCI-funded ACCERT Consortium. In collaboration with the PI, investigative teams and community partners, this position will be responsible for day-to-day management and oversight of ongoing trials and research staff. Duties include but are not limited to collaboration with community co-leads and research partners, personnel management, ethical and regulatory management and oversight, participant recruitment and retention, and activities involved in the collection, compilation, documentation, and analysis of clinical research data. 

Core Responsibilities: 

1.) Personnel Management 

• Day-to-day management of research staff including training, task delegation and oversight, providing feedback and coaching
• Assist the PIs with training, management and oversight of trainees engaged in ongoing trials, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and interns

2.) Participant Recruitment and Retention

• Develop, coordinate, and monitor recruitment campaigns
• Oversee screening and enrollment of participants including conducting informed consent 
• Monitor rates of screening, enrollment, ineligibility, and retention
• Retain study participants for follow up visits

3.) Data Collection and Management

• Coordinate and supervise assessment staff in data collection spanning physical measurements, blood draws, wearable devices, interviews, and surveys
• Implement protocols for data quality control and management
• Preparation of data reports for weekly team meetings, data and safety monitoring oversight, and NIH progress reports

4.) Community Engagement

• Coordinate and manage community-facing events
• Facilitate communication between the research team and members of Community Advisory Boards for ongoing trials
• Liaise with community partners and organizations 

5.) Administrative Responsibilities:

• Manage compliance and regulatory aspects of the trial including maintaining trial binder, ensuring that all federal/state/ local requirements are followed, preparation and submission of IRB amendments, revising and maintaining manuals of procedures, prompt reporting of adverse events 
• Manage petty cash account and participant payments
• Day-to-day administrative tasks including purchasing study supplies and maintaining lab equipment

Minimum Hiring Standards: 

• BA/BS with a degree in health sciences or related field
• 5 years minimum experience in study coordination and regulatory affairs for behavioral clinical trials
• SOCRA certification or eligibility and willingness to obtain certification in the first year of employment
• Advanced understanding of clinical research management duties from study initiation to closeout
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
• Outstanding critical thinking skills
• Independent decision-making skills
• Ability to multitask and prioritize autonomously
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals across a broad spectrum of socioeconomic background and lived experiences
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced research environment while consistently centering participants’ needs and experience
• Demonstrated commitment to health equity as evidenced by their previous training, work experience, and / or community service
• Flexibility with work hours to include early mornings for assessments, as well as occasional weekends and evenings as needed
• Willingness and ability to work in person 80% time and to travel to community sites for study activities (mileage is reimbursed)
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment and commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prefer master’s degree in kinesiology, nutrition, nursing or related field
• Prior training and / or experience in community engaged research
• Certification in phlebotomy
• Previous experience working in partnership with residents of income-based housing communities

The School of Public Health continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.

University Job Code: 34114-34116

ORP Eligible: No

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran's period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

SOM HR