Career Opportunities

Research specialist Kayne Mettert and Claire Allen, MPH, an implementation and evaluation associate in the Learning Health System Program.

Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute hires talented professionals to join us in our mission to improve health and health care for all. Below are a select openings. For information on other career opportunities at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, check Kaiser Permanente Washington's job site.

Open positions

Research Project Manager II
Interventionist Research, Mental Health Wellness Coach
Pre-Award Research Admin I
Pre-Award Research Admin III

Research Project Manager II

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 935799 Date posted: 02/10/2021

Description:
In collaboration with scientific leadership, oversees and implements research projects of medium to high complexity in a variety of health-related areas. Leads the project team and oversees the daily operational activities of the project, including hiring and supervising study staff, and managing participant recruitment/enrollment and data collection. Ensures compliance with grant/contract and regulatory requirements. Provides input on study design. Develops study materials and Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications. May participate in study analyses, quality assurance, and data interpretation. Communicates with Principal Investigator (PI) regarding progress of research. Manages administrative resources by conducting long-range project planning and developing and managing project budgets. Meets quality standards and deliverable requirements during all phases of the research project life cycle from research application development to project closeout.

Essential Responsibilities:
Project Planning, Implementation & Quality Assurance:

Create and maintain timelines, ensuring adherence to milestones, prioritizing study tasks, and reviewing progress
Plan/facilitate meetings (internally & multi-site) and develop content (agendas/minutes)
Develop study materials, recruitment procedures, data collection instruments and tracking systems
Oversee recruitment & data collection
Develop/implement data quality procedures
Liaise across organizational departments, facilitating coordinated strategies to effectively implement research protocols
Create/maintain operational documentation
Problem-solve on recruitment/retention, quality assurance, and resource allocation issues
Continuously identify/implement process improvements to enhance team functioning
Champion key technical/operational needs to management
May develop/maintain virtual sites or collaboration tools for multi-site content and data sharing

Communication, Supervision & Leadership:

Hire, train, and supervise project staff
Mentor staff as appropriate
Facilitate effective communication among study personnel, collaborators, and consultants
Facilitate review and approval of contracts with outside vendors and independent contractors
Develop and maintain project communication platforms such as newsletters or websites
Serve as an active member of the unit and KPWHRI by participating in workgroups & improvement initiatives
Share best practices across the unit

Budget Management:

Develop and manage study budgets of medium complexity
Identify/forecast personnel and other resource requirements (including long-range forecasting across multiple budget years)
Participate in priority setting and resource allocation decisions, and take actions to meet resource needs
Coordinate and/or approve labor distribution for staff charging effort to projects
Assure timely submission of budget related items for grant and contract applications
Approve and reconcile project-related budget expenditures
Forecast expenditures, monitor spending, and identify discrepancies using available financial tools
Anticipate budget variances and independently implement corrective measures when indicated

Funding & Regulatory Compliance:

Prepare IRB applications, modifications, and annual continuation reports
Ensure compliance with IRB and HIPAA regulations
Ensure adherence to federal or other agency requirements
Prepare and maintain Data Use Agreements and other data compliance documentation
May monitor subcontracts to ensure compliance, under direction of PI
May manage multi-site IRB approval where KPWHRI is the IRB of record for multiple sites
In collaboration with PI, prepare and submit study progress reports as needed

Science & Analysis/Research Collaboration:

Assist in development, preparation and timely submission of new research proposals
Independently prepare sections of new research proposals as appropriate
As project needs dictate, conduct analysis and interpretation of data
Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through collaboration on papers and presentations
Interact with programmers and collaborate on the development of plans for analysis and ongoing programming activities

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

Minimum three (3) years of direct or matrix supervisory experience.
Minimum five (5) years of experience managing sponsored research projects, including multi-site or complex studies with progressively increasing level of responsibility, or a commensurate combination of education and experience managing sponsored research projects.

Education

Bachelor's degree.

License, Certification, Registration

Additional Requirements:

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and written skills with ability to relate to diverse multidisciplinary teams of scientists, analysts, clinicians and project staff.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Strong supervisory skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of research design and methodology.
Specific knowledge of federal reporting requirements.
Strong grounding in budget development and management.
Relevant computer proficiency.
Ability to work independently.
Demonstrated ability to implement research protocols.

Preferred Qualifications:

Three (3) years of direct supervisory experience.
Six (6) years of experience managing sponsored research projects, including multi-site or complex studies with progressively increasing level of responsibility, or a commensurate combination of education and experience managing sponsored research projects.
Familiarity with basic statistical methods.
Thorough knowledge of health care or biomedical research design and methodology.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex research studies.
Expertise in relevant area of specialization (e.g. survey methodology, clinical trials, etc.)
Master's degree in Health Sciences or health-related discipline requiring a research-based thesis.

Primary Location: Washington, Seattle, Met Park East 1730 Minor Ave. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon-Fri Working Hours Start: Variable Working Hours End: Variable Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Salaried, Non-Union, Exempt Job Level: Individual Contributer Job Category: Research and Development Department: KPWHRI Travel: No

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Interventionist Research, Mental Health Wellness Coach

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 933443 Date posted: 02/02/2021

Description:
SEEKING A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN TO ADMINISTER RESEARCH INTERVENTIONS FOR ADULTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN. SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCE IN COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, EXPERIENCE IN MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, AND ABILITY TO ADHERE TO RESEARCH PROTOCOL. SKILL AND INTEREST IN WORKING WITH RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS FROM A BROAD RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS AND JOINING A WORKFORCE THAT VALUES DIVERSITY ARE CRITICAL TO THIS ROLE.

Utilizes professional clinical skills, education and/or experience in project planning and implementation of data collection for complex clinical/health research trials. Utilizes professional clinical skills/training for independent decision making for data collection/trial intervention(s)/evaluation. The scope of responsibility for a Research Interventionist is greater than that for a Clinical Research Specialist due to any combination of the following: greater level of independent safety or clinical decision making required; greater level of specialized clinical knowledge required; substantial contribution to areas such as project intervention materials, plans, study design and research papers; and comprehensive consultation role on policies and methodology.

Essential Responsibilities:

Performs clinical evaluation/intervention/measurements requiring professional clinical knowledge/education/training. Utilizes clinical knowledge and skills to evaluate participant responses and make subsequent decisions around patient safety and participation issues.
Provides professional expertise in day-to-day coordination of research activities. Develops project intervention plans and tools, data collection instruments, manual of operations, trains new employees, prepares reports, etc. Plans, implements and monitors participant safety and data quality control measures.
Evaluates responses of participants and makes independent clinical judgments regarding responses to clinical intervention.
Participates as part of the research project team, attends project meetings, and identifies problems and proposes solutions.
May perform medical record review requiring professional clinical background/education/ experience for correct interpretation and data collection.
May perform telephone interviews, in-person interviews or physical assessments requiring professional clinical background/education.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

Minimum two (2) years of experience performing professional functions required by the project.

Education

High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration

Additional Requirements:

Certifications, licenses, or degrees as determined by the needs of the research projects, such as, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, certified mental health therapist/specialist, MSW, pharmacist, physical therapist, certified health education specialist, clinical psychologist, acupuncturist. As applicable to research project and field of study by date of hire/transfer.
Experience with individual and/or group counseling and/or facilitation, and related research experience.
Knowledge of research data collection requirements and specialized clinical intervention/measurement/assessment skills as required by the projects.
A thorough understanding of regulatory policies governing industry practices, HIPAA requirements for clinical research, and knowledgeable about patient safety and quality control requirements.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills and interpersonal skills.
Continual updating of skills and knowledge related to research.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree or PhD in health-related field.

Primary Location: Washington, Seattle, Met Park East 1730 Minor Ave. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 30 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon-Fri Working Hours Start: Variable Working Hours End: Variable Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Salaried, Non-Union, Exempt Job Level: Individual Contributer Job Category: Research and Development Department: KPWHRI Travel: No

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Pre-Award Research Admin I

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 921875 Date posted: 11/27/2020

Description:
THE KAISER PERMANENTE WASHINGTON HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (KPWHRI) IS SEEKING A PRE-AWARD RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR I TO JOIN OUR DIVERSE AND FAST PACED FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION TEAM. IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE STRICT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BE ABLE TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES, ABLE TO MULTI-TASK WITHOUT ERRORS, HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NIH AND OTHER FUNDERS, AND MUST WORK WELL WITH OTHERS UNDER TIGHT DEADLINES AND PRESSURE. PREFER EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS, EVALUATION OF HEALTH PROGRAMS, APPLICATIONS FOR PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING. ABILITY TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS FROM A BROAD RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS, EXCITEMENT TO JOIN A WORKFORCE THAT VALUES DIVERSITY.

The Pre-Award Research Administrator I (RA-I) is a member of Financial Research Administration (FRA) who collaborates with and provides support to the Pre-Award Sustaining Team as well scientific faculty, and research operations staff in the submission of grant and contract proposals to government agencies and private organizations for the Washington region. The RA-I serves as Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and monitors KPWHRI Grants email box and answers or distributes requests to the appropriate sustaining team. Supports the sustaining team by preparing basic draft budgets and budget justifications. Provides quality assurance for final budget and budget justifications for other RA team members. Prepares draft effort reports and other documents for Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) for funded projects. Drafts documents, including reports of faculty Other Support for RPPRs and Just-In-Time requests. Under guidance form sustaining team members, provides analytical problem solving to resolve issues on newly funded and ongoing projects. Serves as an engaged member of Pre-Award and Financial Research Administration teams to promote continuous improvement of institutional procedures, policies and processes as well as personal development of other team members.

Essential Responsibilities:
Proposals and Pre-Award Management:

Under guidance from sustaining team members, drafts and maintains accurate budget and budget justification documents that are in compliance with both funder and institutional polices, as well as any requirements by Prime applicants when we are a subawardee.
Tracks progress of subawardee budgets and documentation to ensure timely receipt of materials
Provides Quality Assurance reviews of budget and justification documents for other team member's projects to ensure accuracy.
Support sustaining team in response to Just-In-Time requests from funders with appropriate materials: Drafts accurate Other Support information and collects human subjects training certification; Facilitates response to funder's request for reductions to budgets or changes in scope of work prior to award.
Receives and distributes incoming Notices of Award to the appropriate team members.
Provide ongoing support, tracking and review of complex projects in collaboration with appropriate team members

Project Continuation Activities:

In collaboration with sustaining team members, draft Other Support documents, effort reports, draft budgets and other documents for Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR)s for funded projects: Track receipt of documents, check for accuracy and ensure timelines are met.
Receives request from SPOC email box and responds or distributes to appropriate team members.
With oversight and guidance from sustaining team members, works in collaboration with faculty generates quarterly review of other support and effort trends.

Communication and Leadership Activities:

Acts with integrity and consistently delivers as promised.
Shares knowledge and feedback, contributing to the learning of others.
Helps others to achieve shared objectives and works with others to provide the best of KP to customers and stakeholders.
Provide support to sustaining team members to proactively resolve issues or concerns during contracting, project start-up or once the project has become active.
Participates in new hire candidate interviews and provide feedback to the team and team manager.
Participate in Open Session interviews of senior leadership to ensure Pre-Award concerns are represented.
Serve as an active member of KPWHRI, FRA, and GCA by participating in various workgroups and committees.

Continuous Improvement Activities:

Commits to and achieves sustained, effective change by seeking out diverse perspectives.
Participate in team efforts on an ongoing basis to improve business processes using Kaiser Permanente's lean improvement methodology.
Adhere to standard work practices and established norms.
Continuously evaluate standard practices for process improvement/streamlining opportunities.
Participate in Pre-Award, GCA and FRA continuous improvement meetings, activities and committees.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

Minimum two (2) years of related experience.

Education

Bachelor's degree OR a minimum four (4) years of directly related experience.
High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration

Additional Requirements:

Ability to develop and work with intermediate level spreadsheets
Ability to analyze and synthesize data from various sources
Ability to problem-solve
Strong attention to detail and high degree of accuracy
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.
Must have excellent proofreading skills
Must have knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office - especially Excel, Word; and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in a deadline-driven environment.
Experience working within a highly regulated industry.
Experience supporting multiple projects and team members.

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Pre-Award Research Admin III

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 921500 Date posted: 11/27/2020

Description:
APPLICANTS WHO REPRESENT THE BROAD RANGE OF DIVERSITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

The Pre-Award Research Administrator III (RA-III) is a member of Financial Research Administration (FRA) who collaborates with and provides guidance to teams of scientific faculty and research operations staff in the submission of grant and contract proposals to government agencies and private organizations for the Washington region. The RA-III interprets funder application procedures, requirements and regulations and advises research faculty and support staff on the implications to the application. Develops timelines for the application process. Develops budgets and budget justifications according to the funder requirements and institutional policies. Serves as subject matter expert to over 60 scientific faculty and the Pre-Award team. Prepares Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR)s for funded projects. Prepares documents, including reports of faculty Other Support for RPPRs and Just-In-Time requests; Prepares annual and final progress reports; continuation applications, prior approval and carryforward requests and other requests as needed. Provides analytical problem solving to resolve issues on newly funded and ongoing projects. Serves as an engaged member of Pre-Award and Financial Research Administration teams to promote continuous improvement of institutional procedures, policies and processes as well as personal development of other team members. The RA-III will assume a leadership role within the Pre-Award group and sustaining team through direct mentorship of RA-Is and RA-IIs.

Essential Responsibilities:
Proposals and Pre-Award Management:

Leads application/proposal preparation process and submission activities; including multi-site, multiple PI, and program project grants, and federal contract proposals, to ensure all deadlines, requirements and approvals are met.
Counsels project scientific faculty and project teams on agency policies and regulatory issues.
Develops and maintains accurate budget and budget justification documents that are in compliance with both funder and institutional polices, as well as any requirements by Prime applicants when we are a subawardee.
Uses appropriate information and resources and solicits diverse input from other to make informed decisions.
Communicates requirements and deadlines to subawardee grant staff.
Tracks progress of subawardee budgets and documentation to ensure timely receipt of materials
Identifies and resolves potential conflicts between funder and institutional policies and regulations.
Provides Quality Assurance reviews of budget and justification documents for other team member's projects to ensure accuracy.
Responds to Just-In-Time requests from funders with appropriate materials:
Develops accurate Other Support information and collects human subjects training certification.
Facilitates response to funder's request for reductions to budgets or changes in scope of work prior to award.
Reviews incoming Notices of Award for accuracy and special terms and conditions.
Reviews incoming subaward agreements for accuracy and special terms and conditions.
Provide ongoing support, tracking and review of complex projects in collaboration with appropriate team members
Provides leadership and mentorship to RA-Is and RA-IIs on complex proposals.
Conducts final Grants and Contracts (GCA) review of proposals to check for completeness, accuracy and compliance.

Project Continuation Activities:

Prepare Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR)s for funded projects.
Develop future year budgets in collaboration with the research team to address any budget modifications or reductions.
Communicate with subawardees to coordinate and gather budgets, OS and other required documents.
Track receipt of documents, check for accuracy and ensure timelines are met.
Gather all required documentation and enter into eRA Commons.
Prepare Final RPPRs for completed projects.
Respond to questions from faculty and project staff about deadlines, funder/sponsoring agency rules and regulations, allowable costs.

Communication and Leadership Activities:

Train and mentor fellow research administrators and other research staff in grant and contract proposal and budget development
Provide guidance and communication with study personnel, post-award administration, finance and collaborating institutions, to proactively resolve issues or concerns during contracting, project start-up or once the project has become active.
Actively monitor funders for new policies or procedures and advise study teams on changes or impacts to ongoing projects.
Acts with integrity and consistently delivers as promised.
Mentors RA-Is and RA-IIs on internal policies, procedures and processes.
Participates in new hire candidate interviews and provide feedback to the team and team manager.
Participate in Open Session interviews of senior leadership to ensure Pre-Award concerns are represented.
Shares knowledge and feedback, contributing to the learning of others.
Helps others to achieve shared objectives and works with others to provide the best of KP to customers and stakeholders.
Consistently provides equitable, superior and culturally appropriate service to each other, the Institute and KP members and stakeholders.
Serve as an active member of KPWHRI, FRA, and GCA by participating in various workgroups and committees.
Responsible for performance of the work of others on the sustaining team, while at the same time participating in the work itself
Implements manager initiatives, oversees work to ensure satisfactory results in an expeditious manner
Makes recommendations as to what to do when situations arise that have no precedent or standard method for performing the work.
Exercises discretion and independent judgment in setting priorities, determining methods, and troubleshooting issues for other team members.
Facilitates development opportunities for RA-I/RA-II team members.
Develops training materials for RA-I/RA-II team members.

Continuous Improvement Activities:

Commits to and achieves sustained, effective change by seeking out diverse perspectives.
Participate in team efforts on an ongoing basis to improve business processes using Kaiser Permanente's lean improvement methodology.
Adhere to standard work practices and established norms.
Continuously evaluate standard practices for process improvement/streamlining opportunities.
Participate in Pre-Award, GCA and FRA continuous improvement meetings, activities and committees.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

Minimum five (5) years of experience in pre-award and/or post-award grant/contract work in a research environment or related field with relevant experience.

Education

Bachelor's degree OR a minimum four (4) years of directly related experience.
High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration

Additional Requirements:

Ability to develop complex spreadsheets.
Ability to analyze and synthesize data from various sources.
Expert level knowledge of federal and non-federal policy and regulatory issues related to grant/contract funded work.
Strong attention to detail and high degree of accuracy.
Ability to work independently, as well as both leading and working as part of a team.
Must have excellent proofreading skills.
Must have knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office - especially Excel, Word; and Adobe Acrobat, extensive knowledge of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding source's policies and procedures.
Ability to serve in a lead role and provide guidance to RA-I/RA-II and staff.
Ability to problem-solve complex grant/contract issues.
Able to interpret complex policy and regulatory issues.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in a deadline-driven environment and developing project budgets.
Experience working within a highly regulated industry.
Experience managing multiple applications and/or proposals simultaneously.
Sets and maintains high standards of work produced by the team. Interprets KP cascading goals to ensure alignment with GCA goals.
Knowledge of policies and procedures of research funding sources, especially National Institutes of Health; ability to provide trusted counsel to principal investigators and project teams on agency and regulatory issues.

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Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, including but not limited to the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances.

Learn about

Our Mission

Our culture

About 300 people work at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) with a commitment to improving health care for all. In return, the Institute provides competitive wages and excellent benefits, including medical coverage for permanent staff and eligible dependents from the first day of work. We have a relaxed and intellectually stimulating working environment and we value diversity.

We work on about 340 research projects at any given time. Many are multi-site studies conducted in collaboration with researchers from other health care and academic organizations, including the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and other leading research institutions.

Our offices and research clinic are located in downtown Seattle, close to South Lake Union and Seattle’s biotech community.