Job Title: Program ManagerDepartment: Scientific Resource Center (SRC)Reports To: Dr. Mark HelfandFLSA Status: ExemptStarting Salary: $90,000 - 110,000 annually, depending on experienceSUMMARYThe Scientific Resource Center (SRC) supports the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) by providing scientific and technical support for a wide range of activities. SRC IV, the current iteration of the SRC, is charged with improving the quality, timeliness, and relevance of EPC evidence reviews. The overarching goal of the SRC is to expand the reach of the EPC program by improving the consistency, timeliness, and relevance of EPC evidence reports, technical briefs, rapid reviews, and others. The SRC works on multiple, connected tasks to enhance the impact of EPC products, such as
- Increasing the impact of EPC reports by helping AHRQ solicit and select good topics for evidence reviews.
- Demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness to users' needs by producing innovative rapid responses and rapid reviews.
- Developing an Authors Guide for EPC investigators.
- Streamlining the EPC Methods guide by identifying areas that need to be retired, clarified, or updated.
The Program Manager will lead strategic improvement efforts across the SRC tasks to modernize processes and improve our effectiveness in supporting AHRQ EPCs. This senior-level position is responsible for modernizing and streamlining editorial workflows, enhancing topic nomination and selection processes, and developing processes that improve responsiveness to our partners: AHRQ, EPCs, and SR end-users.Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Organizational Management-The Program Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization ensuring the correct structure, processes, people, systems, resources, support, and communication are in place to achieve strategic goals. This work includes:
- Prioritizing & Coordinating Work: organizing, prioritizing, assigning, monitoring, and coordinating work assignments and schedules to ensure high quality timely deliverables. Identify acceptable approaches to resolve issues within time and budget constraints;
- Staffing: ensuring appropriate staffing levels and training, setting performance benchmarks, managing career development of staff; develop, review, and update project job descriptions; identify core competencies for job positions; recruiting, hiring, and releasing staff as needed; conducting new hire, probationary, and annual reviews; ensuring compliance with personnel training requirements; reviewing and approving timesheets and leave requests; overseeing and approving staff access to buildings, network drives, and electronic mail; securing space and project resources as needed; identifying and creating an appropriate management plan for conflicts of interest, at individual, institutional and subcontract levels.
- Strategic Planning: The SRC Program Manager works closely with the SRC Director and the leadership team to: design and implement strategic goals and objectives for the SRC; assess the feasibility, capacity, and resources needed for the SRC to undertake new work assignments; and determine whether new work assignments provide strategic advantage to the SRC, fit within the SRC's mission, and further the SRC's scientific goals.
- Communication: The SRC Program Manager maintains high-functioning, centralized communication to support the SRC's strategic goals and objectives. This includes clearly and professionally communicating with the funding agency, stakeholder organizations and individuals seeking to collaborate with the SRC, and staff members
- Fiscal Management: The Program Manager will develop and oversee the SRC operational budget and ensure alignment with strategic objectives, staff needs, and funder needs. The SRC Program Manager works to: make contract modifications as requested by the funding agency or SRC Director; authorize payment of invoices; collaborate with the department fiscal administrator and the funding agency to assure budget and reporting compliance; develop and monitor spending plans; evaluate and negotiate resources involving budgets, and is responsible for reporting and drafting of required documents for grant and contracts reporting.
- Product Management - The Program Manager will ensure production of high-quality deliverables that are in alignment with the SRC's strategic objectives and contract. In order to accomplish this, the Program Manager may need to assist on tasks at any level of the department, as needed. This may include participating on methods workgroups, drafting or formatting reports, assisting in evidence review tasks, drafting agendas, assisting on nominator calls, or other tasks where delegation isn't feasible or appropriate.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Research Associate(s), Research Assistant(s), IT specialists, Librarians, Editorial staff, Project Assistant, students, and others as needed.Working Conditions: Work is conducted in an indoor, research, office environment and requires hours beyond standard office hours as needed. Requires travel to DC area once per year. Additional travel TBD.QUALIFICATIONSRequired
- Master's Degree in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Public Policy, Medical Writing/Editing, or related field
- Minimum 5 years of experience managing complex teams
- Demonstrated success in implementing quality improvement initiatives
- Extensive experience with systematic review methods and evidence synthesis
- Proven track record of leading process improvement projects
- Strong background in editorial management and publication processes
- Expert knowledge of topic prioritization and scoping methods
- Excellence in stakeholder engagement and change management
- Advanced project management and process improvement skills
- Exceptional writing, editing, and communication abilities
Preferred
- Experience with AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center program
- Background in implementation science or quality improvement
- Knowledge of systematic review software and tools
- Experience with rapid-cycle improvement methodologies
- Familiarity with federal research programs and requirements
Because this position is based in a VA facility, the Research Assistant must secure a VA Without Compensation Appointment (WOC) prior to starting work, and must maintain a WOC Appointment in order to continue employment.The VA's WOC process will be facilitated by the supervisor and processed through the VA Research and Development office. The screening process required to obtain a WOC may include a background check, a credit check, a physical, a drig test, and a TB test.After the WOC process has been completed, the VA also requires several trainings prior to employees starting research work.Portland VA Research Foundation is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or age.All PVARF employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 within 8 weeks of hire, unless medically exempt. Employees will be required to provide either proof of vaccination or an approved medical exemption prior to beginning work.