Project Manager, Research Participant Recruitment (CTSI) - Res - G&C - CTSI

Job Description

Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) seeks an experienced clinical research professional specializing in research study participant recruitment and retention with a primary focus on engaging and integrating underrepresented populations in research. In collaboration with the program Directors, the Research Participant Recruitment (RPR) Project Manager advises and consults, assisting study teams with research participant recruitment and retention activities and strategies throughout the clinical study lifecycle. The RPR Project Manager will also help develop new strategies for engaging research participants including hard-to-reach groups which are often left out of clinical research and/or are impacted by health disparities. Such populations include, but are not limited to, children, older adults, pregnant women, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrant populations, people who are differently abled, those with different genders and sexual orientations, as well as individuals with diverse socio-economic status or are living in rural vs. urban environments. In addition to supporting local study teams, the RPR Project Manager will serve as the liaison to the national Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Consortium’s Recruitment Innovation Center, facilitating bi-directional communication on recruitment practices and innovations.

Provision of resources, consultation, and tools to promote participation in clinical and translational research and the inclusion of underrepresented populations in research.

• Provide tailored consultations, guidance, and mentoring to study teams. Identify potential protocol-specific barriers to enrollment based on the complexity of procedures and study logistics, and recommend modifications to protocols that will eliminate these barriers.
• Build, maintain, and promote a curated resource of best practices for engaging various populations in research with a focus on effective recruitment and retention strategies.
• Provide recruitment plans and budgets for grant applications and recruitment summaries for manuscripts.
• Create tailored clinical study marketing, social media, and information delivery approaches to recruit participants into studies.
• Assist with preparing recruitment and informed consent forms for IRB submissions.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Media Relations to post culturally-sensitive clinical study participation opportunities to web pages and the patient portal.
• Organize and conduct skill-building workshops and online training modules for research teams, trainees, and Tufts CTSI resource and service leaders.
• Oversee open houses to communicate research results and recognize research participants.
• Build public trust in clinical and translational research through patient and stakeholder engagement activities; provide clinical trial enrollment programs and events aimed at raising awareness of the critical role participants play in the successful conduct of studies.

Establish and maintain evaluations systems (metrics) related to research participant recruitment and retention and inclusion of underrepresented populations research.

• Work with the evaluation team to develop effectiveness measures for new and existing recruitment and retention activities; track impact of strategies and adjust strategies based on evaluation results.
• Collect, compile, tabulate, and analyze enrollment, accrual, and clinical research data for metrics reporting. Ensure data quality and completeness. Provide accrual information for studies.
• Oversee data collection, data analysis, and strategic management of the CTSA Common Metric on accrual.
• Collect, manage, analyze, and report, data and information. Prepare tables, figures, and written summaries for essential reports, presentations, and improvement initiatives.

Administrative and project management activities

• Convene committees or working groups to conduct and complete work.
• Manage meetings, trainings, and events including scheduling and logistical arrangements, serving as liaison to presenters/invitees, agenda preparation, materials distribution, minutes, follow-up, media, and audio-visual needs.
• Oversee data systems to collect, organize, and maintain program data and information.
• Participate in the development of requirements for data systems to meet evolving data and reporting needs. Recommend modifications for process and systems improvement.
• Prepare tables, figures, and written summaries for essential reports and presentations including the annual progress reports.
• Support continual improvement.
• Collaborate with the communications team to develop marketing materials to raise awareness of Tufts CTSI participant recruitment and retention services.
• Provide excellent internal and external communication.
• Maintain collaborative team relationships with peers and colleagues to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment.
• Work independently and in a self-directed manner.
• Perform other similar and related duties as required or directed.

Qualifications

• Detailed knowledge of clinical study recruitment and retention strategies and outreach methods.
• Knowledge of IRB, informed consent, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, processes, and best practices, absolutely required.
• Knowledge of clinical research processes.
• Ability to conduct internet and literature searches.
• Experience in social media and marketing communications.
• Keen analytical skills; ability to identify, gather, manage, and synthesize relevant information to support data-driven decisions. Knowledge of REDCap and database management helpful.
• Strong project management knowledge, experience, and skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail with strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with researchers, patients, community leaders, administrators, auxiliary personnel, regulators, and sponsors.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize quickly and appropriately when faced with competing demands.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applying continuous improvement in relevant settings.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a collaborative team.
• Proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), Adobe Acrobat, and study-specific computer software.
• Strong service mentality.

• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Clinical Research Coordinator or Clinical Research Professional certification preferred.

• Minimum three years of experience planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring clinical research studies.
• Previous recruitment, community education or outreach experience with underrepresented populations is highly desirable.
• Experience designing targeted recruitment strategies.
• Experience organizing and/or participating on patient advisory boards is desirable.
• Experience working with clinical investigators in a health care delivery setting.
• Clinical research study regulatory experience is a plus.

An equivalent combination of education and experience, which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed above, may be substituted for the above education and experience requirements.

• Normal office work environment.
• Work requires frequent typing/computer keying, telephone use, and sitting for extended periods.

Additional Information

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.