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 Associate Position — Implementation Science
• Research Associate Position — Aging & Geriatrics
• Computational Linguist
• Research Project Manager I
• Analyst Clinical Research Process

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Research Associate Position — Implementation Science

Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) is seeking a Research Associate to join our faculty.

This faculty member will join a collaborative and diverse team led by internationally-recognized implementation scientists (Cara Lewis, Shannon Dorsey, Bryan Weiner, Aaron Lyon), and play a central role (e.g., leading or co-leading their own project) in the National Institute of Mental Health-funded Center, IMPACT. The IMPACT Center seeks to optimize evidence-based practice implementation for clinical impact for youth receiving care in under-resourced, publicly funded settings. As one of NIMH’s Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments (ALACRITY), IMPACT will partner with stakeholders (youth, providers) in developing, testing, refining, and disseminating user-friendly methods and tools. The IMPACT Center is staffed with a transdisciplinary team (e.g., psychologists, anthropologists, epidemiologists, computer and information scientists) organized by an Administrative and Methods Core to execute three signature projects and a series of IMPACT-funded pilot studies across four years. Example projects include integrating measurement-based care into community mental health in a SMART design, refining a supervisor delivered implementation coaching to improve youth treatment quality, and optimizing a theory-driven pre-implementation strategy for school-based mental health clinicians. Applicants interested in developing implementation science methods for EBP implementation will have a platform for testing and disseminating these methods broadly. This faculty member will also have an opportunity to contribute to a sister center funded by NCI: Optimizing Implementation in Cancer Control (P50CA244432).

Our science is improved with diverse team members and perspectives, and we welcome and encourage applicants from diverse and marginalized backgrounds. Applicants may have experience conducting implementation or treatment research in under-resourced, mental health settings and/or focus on children and adolescents. However, familiarity with this setting or client population is not required. Applicants who value and are comfortable partnering with stakeholders (youth, clinic/school staff, providers, supervisors, policymakers) are encouraged. Requirements of this position include excellent oral and written communication skills and a strong interest in working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students from a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds.

KPWHRI is an internationally recognized research organization that conducts epidemiologic, health services, preventative, and clinical research to improve health, health equity, and health care. The Institute’s research is primarily funded through federal grants and contracts that total more than $60 million annually. KPWHRI’s position within Kaiser Permanente Washington (www.kp.org/wa), a not-for-profit health care delivery system in the Pacific Northwest, provides a natural laboratory to leverage healthcare data to study important health issues through clinical trials and observational studies. KPWHRI has over 300 employees, including a faculty of over 40 doctoral-level scientists trained in medicine, epidemiology, behavioral science, and biostatistics. KPWHRI is part of a vibrant regional research community including the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center. 

To apply:
Please submit a letter of interest & CV (or resume) via KP’s online application system using one of these links:

• RA II (4 years of experience with a Master’s or 2 years of experience with a PhD): https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/seattle/associate-research-ii/641/10575780992
   
• RA III (10 years of experience with a Master’s or 4 years of experience with a PhD):
  https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/seattle/associate-research-iii/641/10575780976

Questions about the position can be directed to Diana Buist PhD, Senior Investigator Diana.S.Buist@kp.org, Hiring Manager or Stacey.D.Adams@kp.org, Talent Acquisition Consultant. Additional application procedures may be required. For full consideration, submit materials by September 15, 2021; however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.

 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.

This position supports Kaiser Permanente’s code of conduct and compliance by adhering to all laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, and internal policies and procedures.

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Research Associate Position — Aging & Geriatrics

Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) is seeking a Research Associate to collaborate on research in geriatrics and aging conducted in real-world health care settings.

Ideal applicants will have a strong interest in aging and/or dementia research, aging and/or dementia as a focus of current and/or prior work, experience writing scientific publications and/or grants, quantitative analysis skills, and experience with the operations of epidemiologic studies and/or complex multi-site studies.

The competitive applicants will be interested working on a multi-disciplinary, multi-site team led by Drs. Eric Larson, Dori Rosenberg and Jennifer Nelson who are currently leading clinical, epidemiologic, and data science activities for a large and long-standing prospective cohort study on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in older adults (the Adult Changes in Thought study) in partnership with University of Washington (UW) researchers. We are seeking an outstanding scientist committed to designing and conducting inclusive and innovative research in health care systems to better understand dementia and AD risk and to improve disease prevention. The successful applicants will have 1) outstanding verbal and written communication skills; 2) leadership potential for eventual co-leadership of research programs with complicated data and clinical elements, including qualitative elements; 3) outstanding analytic abilities; 4) experience working with large data sets and interfacing with technical staff building and managing clinical and research data systems; and 5) enthusiasm for working on large complex projects focused on aging and dementia and collaborating closely with UW clinical partners. The position will involve leadership and support for a variety of both operational and scientific aspects of the ACT research program. The successful candidate will ideally have experience providing technical direction and administrative oversight, and leading internal and external communications efforts for multi-site studies, designing and coordinating multi-site data sharing activities, planning and facilitating research symposia, developing data specifications for EHR-based research on aging, obtaining and analyzing complex longitudinal data from health care systems, and/or developing and writing scientific manuscripts. We are currently expanding the cohort to include new enrollees from diverse geographic and racial/ethnic backgrounds and the Research Associate will help guide this expansion.  The Research Associate will receive mentoring from KPWHRI faculty.

KPWHRI is an internationally recognized research organization that conducts epidemiologic, health services, preventative, and clinical research to improve health, health equity, and health care. The Institute’s research is primarily funded through federal grants and contracts that total more than $60 million annually. KPWHRI’s position within Kaiser Permanente Washington (www.kp.org/wa), a not-for-profit health care delivery system in the Pacific Northwest, provides a natural laboratory to leverage healthcare data to study important health issues through clinical trials and observational studies. KPWHRI has over 300 employees, including a faculty of over 40 doctorate-level scientists trained in medicine, epidemiology, behavioral science, and biostatistics. KPWHRI is part of a vibrant regional research community including the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center.

Requirements of this position include: excellent oral and written communication skills and a strong interest in working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students from a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds. Applicants who represent the broad range of diversity and lived experiences in our communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply:
Please submit a letter of interest & CV (or resume) via KP’s online application system using one of these links:

• RA I (Master's degree in a relevant field)​​:
  https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/seattle/research-associate-i-kpwhri/641/9506226096
   
• RA II (4 years of experience with a Master’s or 2 years of experience with a PhD):
  https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/seattle/research-associate-ii-kpwhri/641/9506226080
   
• RA III (10 years of experience with a Master’s or 4 years of experience with a PhD):
  https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/seattle/research-associate-iii-kpwhri/641/9506226112

Questions about the position can be directed to Erin.A.Bowles@kp.org, Hiring Manager or Stacey.D.Adams@kp.org, Talent Acquisition Consultant. Additional application procedures may be required.  For full consideration, submit materials by 8/15/21; however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.  

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.

This position supports Kaiser Permanente’s code of conduct and compliance by adhering to all laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, and internal policies and procedures.​​​​​​​

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Computational Linguist

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 941382 Date posted: 06/04/2021

Description:
The Computational Linguist is a key technical resource on projects which apply clinical Natural Language Processing (NLP) to research. This person works with investigators, programmers, other computational linguists, and/or clinical staff to conceptualize projects, recommend approaches, and implement solutions that involve application of NLP technologies to extract information from and/or classify documents containing clinical text. This person will apply various techniques from computational linguistics to develop and validate software modules that produce structured data from unstructured clinical text. This person acts as a resource to coworkers regarding methods and approaches commonly used in clinical NLP; offers both formal and informal training; presents at national conferences; and contributes to the scientific literature as a first author or co-author in collaboration with co-workers and/or external collaborators.

Essential Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with research investigators, designs and applies NLP systems used in research projects. This includes defining scope of work and finding mutually satisfactory solutions; applying a variety of computational linguistics techniques, as appropriate; and documenting approaches. This may include maintaining and developing domain-specific lexical data bases and NLP tools used for information extraction.
• Designs and/or maintains databases; information extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) processes; and data exploration tools used to support a comprehensive repository of clinical text for research purposes.
• Works with analysts and scientists at other institutions and in other departments within Kaiser Permanente to promote a community of learning about research linguistics, to disseminate findings, and to advance the national research agenda.
• Represents KPWHRI within Kaiser Permanente and scientific community by contributing to manuscripts and by presenting at national scientific conferences and at Kaiser Permanente forums.
• Stays abreast of human subjects research regulations. Promotes responsible data handling by developing appropriate solutions.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of programming experience.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in computational linguistics, linguistics, computer science, bio-informatics, math, statistics or related field.

License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements:

• Strong knowledge of concepts in computational linguistics, morphology, syntax and semantics, and natural language processing.
• Strong communication skills, both oral & written; strong organizational skills; ability to work effectively both individually and within team settings.
• Java programming language fluency; SQL fluency; familiarity with relational database concepts (preferably Microsoft SQL Server); familiarity with tools used in open-source software development; text manipulation skills using Python or Ruby; understanding of controlled vocabularies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Eight (8) years of programming experience in a comparable environment.
• Master's Degree in computational linguistics or related field.

Primary Location: Washington, Seattle, Met Park East 1730 Minor Ave. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon-Fri Working Hours Start: 8:00AM Working Hours End: 5:00PM Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Non-Union Job Level: Individual Contributor Department: KPWHRI Travel: No

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Research Project Manager I

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 958067 Date posted: 05/06/2021

Description:
Under the direction of scientific leadership, oversees and implements research projects of low to medium complexity (or phases of more complex projects) 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. Participates in the development of study materials and Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications. 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. Attend and/or facilitate meetings. With appropriate guidance, develop study materials, recruitment procedures, data collection instruments and tracking systems. Oversee recruitment data collection. Develop/implement data quality procedures. Liaise across organizational departments to facilitate coordinated strategies to effectively implement research protocols. Create/maintain operational documentation. Continuously identify/implement process improvements to enhance team functioning. May champion key technical/operational needs to management.

Budget Management: Develop and manage study budgets of low to medium complexity. Identify/forecast personnel and other resource requirements (including long-range forecasting across multiple budget years). Coordinate and/or approve labor distribution for staff charging effort to project. 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, with guidance, 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. Under direction of PI, prepare and submit sections of study progress reports as needed.

Communication, Supervision Leadership: Hire, train, and supervise project staff. Facilitate effective communication among study personnel, collaborators, and consultants. May serve as an active member of the unit and KPWHRI by participating in workgroups. Share best practices across the unit.

Science Analysis: Assist in development, preparation and timely submission of new research proposals. Under direction of PI, assist with analyses, interpretation of data, and preparation of technical reports, manuscripts, posters, and/or presentations. May interact with programmers on the development of plans for ongoing programming activities.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of direct or matrix supervisory experience.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience managing sponsored research projects or a commensurate combination of education and experience.

Education

• Bachelors degree.

License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements:

• Strong 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.
• Knowledge of research design and methodology.
• Working knowledge of federal reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with budget development and management.
• Able to read and interpret financial data.
• Relevant computer proficiency.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to implement research protocols.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One (1) year direct supervisory experience.
• Three (3) years of experience managing sponsored research projects or a commensurate combination of education and experience.
• Experience working as a project coordinator in a university or grant-funded nonprofit.
• Bachelors degree or higher in health sciences or health-related discipline.
• Quantitative skills including familiarity with basic statistical methods.

Primary Location: Washington, Seattle, Met Park East 1730 Minor Ave. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon-Fri Working Hours Start: 8:00AM Working Hours End: 5:00PM Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Non-Union, Non-Exempt Job Level: Individual Contributor Department: KPWHRI Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time

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Analyst Clinical Research Process

Location: Seattle, WA Job Number: 950828 Date posted: 04/14/2021

Description:
The Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) is a seeking Clinical Research Process Analyst. This position supports the research clinic and our groundbreaking vaccine clinical trials. We are looking for someone to join our team who is comfortable working in a fast-paced setting, has superior attention to detail, and works wells under tight deadlines and pressure. Ability to work with customers from a broad range of backgrounds and prefers workforce that values diversity. This position is not eligible for remote work.

Provides analytical, consultative, and administrative service to KPWHRI staff, managers, and departmental/divisional leadership by effectively supporting business systems, compliance, processes, procedures, and technical project support with a focus on the Clinical Research Program (CRP) and CRP sub-programs and/or special projects.  Develops, designs, and maintains tools, resources, workflows, and documents for KPWHRI clinical research processes, ensuring business procedures are in compliance with federally mandated regulations and meet the requirements of internal/external funding sources. Provides oversight for the content, format & production of regular and ad hoc reports. Develops and delivers training aids and tools to KPWHRI research clinic support staff and clinical research system end-users. Implements process changes using project management concepts.

Essential Responsibilities:
Systems and process development and coordination: At the direction of the Director, Clinical Research (KPWHRI) and in collaboration with other departmental/divisional leaders, develops and maintains processes and systems to efficiently coordinate Clinical Research sub-programs/project and capture clinical research, financial, service and/or quality information to use in evaluating sub-program/project goal attainment and utilization. May maintain several tracking and analytic systems unique to clinical research. Defines, clarifies & responds to internal and external customer questions, concerns or requests for a variety of clinical research processes and systems.

Data Analysis and Interpretation: For the Clinical Research Program (KPWHRI), coordinates and abstracts data from various KFHPW/KPWHRI sources for a variety of clinical research program strategic initiatives and sub-programs and projects. Analyzes, interprets & presents data in variable formats that are useful & easy to understand to support decision-making. May make data-driven recommendations in collaboration with clinical research investigators, clinicians, and/or KFHPW/KPWHRI managers/leaders. Coordinates the ongoing distribution of regularly scheduled reports/data. May provide ad hoc data & reports by analyzing, verifying, manipulating & maintaining data in a variety of applications per Clinical Research Program business need. Ensures report integrity & reliability. Performs specialized coding and other accounting functions. Establishes, maintains, processes, and updates files, records, certificates, and/or other documents to meet the requirements of internal and external audits.

Collaboration and teamwork: Participates in internal and external partner work groups or teams as an analytical representative of the Clinical Research Program. May facilitate clinical research sub-program and project meetings. May formulate work groups or committees of relevant stakeholders for clinical research sub-programs or projects.

Clinical research computer hardware/software assessment and coordination: Assess status of relevant clinical research and research clinic computer systems. designing & updating Clinical Research Program web pages & other communication materials; working with KPWHRI PC-Support, Research IT, and KFHPW ISD on troubleshooting system problems; coordinating/facilitating communication with other departments/divisions.

Coordinates and performs a range of research support activities; serves as a liaison with other departments andoperating units as well as other research locations in the resolution of clinical research administration problems. Provide back up to research clinic front desk staff. May train new research clinic support staff and orient new project teams to clinical research systems and processes.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of prior experience in Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute or other research-related setting.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in areas of accounting, business administration, systems or general studies OR four (4) years of experience in a directly related field.
• High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements:

• Health care or research business operations or business process analytical experience.
• Visio, EndNote, Acrobat Professional, Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to problem solve and work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent analytical, report writing, organizational and communication skills.
• Must demonstrate strong competencies in the following areas: Teamwork; customer service; organizational awareness; communication; initiative/independence; productivity, planning and organizing; operational project management skills to lead projects and technical knowledge; support and consultation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of lead experience.
• SharePoint experience, including ability to troubleshoot.
• Financial management system experience.
• Delivery of business process/systems training, data audit and analysis experience.
• Able to obtain CPR certification shortly after date of hire/transfer.
• Knowledge of technical systems in support of Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute.
• Analytical, verbal and written communication, leadership, project management skills.
• Able to work with minimal direction.

Primary Location: Washington, Seattle, Met Park East 1730 Minor Ave. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon-Fri Working Hours Start: 8:00AM Working Hours End: 5:00PM Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Non-Union, Non-Exempt Job Level: Individual Contributor Department: KPWHRI Travel: No

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