Operations Research Coordinator - Military Veterans

The School of Public Health division of Biostatistics and Health Data Science (BHDS) seeks an experienced Operations Research Coordinator (9742S3, Research Project Specialist) to join the Strategies and Treatments for Respiratory Infections and Viral Emergencies (STRIVE) Network.

The School of Public Health (SPH) is committed to antiracism and anti-oppression and welcomes you to join us in our pursuit of building equity and driving justice. We particularly encourage applications from those who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in our School, including those who are American Indian, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, veterans, and those from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Starting Salary Range: $103,000 - $128,000 annually, dependent upon the selected candidate's relevant qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Work Arrangements: The University of Minnesota endorses a ✠Work. With Flexibility. â and we offer a flexible work environment that meets the needs of our students, faculty, staff, and partners we serve. This position has the option to work hybrid. Work arrangements will be discussed during the interview. Onsite location: 2221 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis TC Campus - East-Bank.

The STRIVE Network is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducts large randomized trials and epidemiological studies on HIV, influenza, Ebola, and COVID-19. STRIVE includes several hundred clinical sites in over 40 countries. In addition to regulatory, data management and biostatistical responsibilities for the clinical research performed, the University of Minnesota (UMN) serves as the legal sponsor for many of these trials, which have studied treatments, therapeutics, and vaccines.

The primary goal of STRIVE research is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. The trials and studies conducted have substantial public health impact. The UMN STRIVE group is primarily responsible for ensuring that funding sources are secured for the network research, that the research is managed in accordance with the terms and conditions of applicable federal grants and contracts, that the research is conducted in a timely and safe way, that the data collected are of the highest quality, that all regulatory requirements are adhered to, and that study results are widely disseminated. This work requires close collaboration with multiple national and international partners, including nine international coordinating centers (ICCs) in Copenhagen, London, Paris, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Sydney, and Washington (2 ICCs). STRIVE staff at UMN must have a broad range of expertise to carry out this large-scale international research.

Job Responsibilities

This position provides comprehensive support for grant and contract proposals; financial management and reporting; administrative and regulatory activities at the network level; collaboration with STRIVE national and international coordinating centers; and collaboration with federal agencies, other research networks, and pharma.

Study Specific Tasks (40%)

• Assemble call notes.
• Secure clinical trial insurance for research sites in select countries.
• Assist the principal investigator with negotiation and execution of research legal documents (e.g., clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, data transfer agreements,
• Material Transfer Agreements, etc.).
• Work with division accounting staff to maintain accurate effort assignments.
• Prepare information required for professional service contracts (e.g., vendors, community representatives, medical monitors, etc.).
• Work with statistical support to create ICC payment reports and related financial algorithms.
• Ensure issuance of quarterly ICC study payments.
• Assist with study supply logistics.

• Work closely with principal investigators on responses for requests for proposals, write financial and technical justifications, and ensure proposals are responsive to solicitations.
• Prepare study budgets with staff assignments and effort allocations.
• Determine subcontractor participation and develop budgets for drug distribution, specimen collection and management, Institutional Review Board (IRB) review, clinical trial insurance, and other direct costs.
• Prepare study payment schedules that define fixed and variable costs for ICC study coordination and participant care.
• Anticipate and prepare cost/no-cost study extensions.
• Respond to grant/contract queries from funders and the UMN Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA).

• Finalize study payment schedules for ICC subcontracts.
• Prepare work scopes for all subcontracts.
• Work with SPA on study account setup, negotiation of task orders with contractors, and issuance of subcontracts.
• Work with division accounting staff on submission of periodic tracking and reporting of study spending.

• Establish vendor accounts.
• Assist with drug distribution management.
• Assist with website development.
• Assist with personnel management.

• BA/BS with at least 10 years of experience or advanced degree plus 8 years of experience.
• Extensive experience with grant/contract administration, preparation of funding proposals, financial management, and clinical trial research.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Flexible and capable of adjusting priorities
• Ability to problem-solve and engage in multiple tasks concurrently
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace

• Masters' degree