Manager of Research Operations

Who We Are:

SEIU 775 Benefits Group’s mission is to improve the skills, health and stability of the caregiver workforce through innovation and high-quality benefits and programs.

We partner with workers, employers and industry stakeholders to collectively solve workforce problems through innovation, creativity and an evidence-based approach. Together, we deliver high-quality benefits and services to support a growing caregiver workforce.

We are a nonprofit – passionate about revolutionizing the future of in-home care, and are looking for others to join our smart, collaborative and kind team.

The Details:

Location: Headquartered in Downtown Seattle, remote work possible from AZ, CA, CO, FL, OR, TN, VA, WA

Work Schedule: Our typical business hours are 8:30-5:00 Monday-Friday.

Travel Requirements: Up to 15%

Category: Full-Time, FLSA Exempt, Regular, Non-Union

Physical Requirements: Must be able to work on a computer screen for long periods of the day.        

About the Position:

Reporting to the Director of Research Insights and Innovation, the Manager of Research Operations will lead on the development and continuous improvement of research operations within the Research Insights and Innovation (RII) department. This role is responsible for successfully managing end-to-end research processes, customer engagement and insights dissemination.

The Manager of Research Operations will supervise and guide research staff and other partners in developing and continuously improving our research delivery in ways that improve our department’s efficiency and effectiveness; research & data quality and security; research participant experience; and the ongoing impact and integration of our research insights in our stakeholder partners’ work.  This will be accomplished through a variety of tactics from the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures and staff trainings to experimentation with and expansion of our research methods, vendor partners, processes for conducting research, tools & methods for sharing insights.

Working independently under the Director’s guidance, the Manager will oversee project management, vendor contracting, research recruitment, and partner coordination. Additional responsibilities include exploratory research, survey development and testing, and department-level descriptive reporting. This role requires close collaboration across research teams to align project goals, optimize capacity, and ensure the successful delivery of key initiatives. This role also requires cross-functional engagement with research partners, other internal teams and home care aides (HCAs) themselves to ensure relevant, efficient, high-quality and impactful work. A successful manager will be a strong communicator, agile problem solver, and dedicated team player who thrives in a collaborative environment. They’ll bring enthusiasm and innovation to the RII leadership team, ensuring impactful research operations that deliver value across the department and to diverse stakeholders.

You Will:

• Demonstrate strong leadership and autonomy, making strategic decisions to develop and maintain systems that support all aspects of research operations and research communications;
• Develop and execute long-term process improvement strategies that enhance the quality of the department’s work, drive department goals, ensure we remain up to date on important skills, and foster team cohesion;
• Create, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), training programs, and compliance protocols to ensure smooth, efficient, and standardized research operations while maintaining adherence to HIPAA and other legal requirements;
• Enhance the impact and visibility of research findings by developing and managing new and existing communication channels and products, ensuring insights are effectively shared across the organization, with key partners, and with research participants;
• Expand opportunities to center HCAs in our work, ensuring their voices and experiences are integral to the organization’s work;
• Manage and continuously improve our end-to-end research participant engagement processes, including but not limited to recruitment/outreach, incentivization, and project-related communications with them;
• Lead the department’s leadership team in planning for our weekly leaderships syncs, research coordination meetings and capacity alignment, cross-functional alignment (CFA) meetings and department staff trainings;
• Directly manage and mentor a research operations team, ensuring effective execution from project development to implementation, maintenance, and reporting;
• Build and manage strong relationships with internal teams, external stakeholders, research partners, vendors and academic collaborators;
• Act as primary liaison for vendor/contractor partners, overseeing contracting, invoice tracking, and facilitating vendor success for complex and multi-mode projects;
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering leadership skills and professional growth;
• Additional duties may be assigned commensurate with the level of this position.

You Will Need to Have:

Required Leadership Competencies

• Master’s degree or higher in public health, business development, public administration, social work, or other research-oriented related field preferred; 5 years of exceptional hands-on experience and results related to this position can be substituted in lieu of education;
• 1-3 years of experience managing direct reports, with demonstrated ability to mentor and lead both early career and senior staff;
• 3-5 years of experience leading and influencing others in diverse cultural and professional settings, with a strong track record in: managing multiple projects simultaneously, coordinating inputs from various stakeholders, tracking progress against key targets and proactively addressing barriers, planning and facilitating meetings that involve group problem-solving;
• 3-5 years of demonstrated ability to build cross-functional relationships, demonstrating efficiency, diplomacy, and adaptability – especially in team-based environments;
• 3-5 years of experience in project management, process improvement, and research implementation;
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills, with experience advocating and communicating with a diverse audience;
• Successful implementation of a project management application to track research tasks and timeline, reporting progress (Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, etc.) and elevating risks and blockers early;
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail while working in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment;
• Experience working with Institutional Review Boards (IRB) on human subjects’ research, including a working knowledge and understanding of federal regulations and reporting requirements;
• Advanced skills in software such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Trello, Confluence, Tableau, Smartsheet and Qualtrics and ability to pick up new technology solutions and software quickly;
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, applying structured approaches to simplify and enhance research operations;
• Demonstrated good judgment and the ability to make independent decisions, guided by established BG strategies and broad departmental goals as defined by the Director of Research Insights and Innovations;
• Grace under fire, sense of humor, happy to take and give feedback.

It Will Be Great if You Have:

• Strong research design, qualitative, or quantitative research skills;
• Strong commitment to continuous personal learning and organizational learning;
• Experience with nonprofits, unions, and health care;
• Lived experience as a home care aide;
• Research grant management experience.

Salary Range:

• $98,656.33 - $129,911.55

Benefits:

• Fully Paid Medical, Dental and Vision;
• 18 days PTO, 15 Sick days, 9 holidays, 1 floating holiday, 2 personal days;
• End of the year winter break; mid-year summer break and earned paid longevity sabbatical;
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan and 401(k) options;
• Fitness, cell phone, internet and furniture stipends.

Salary : $98,656 - $129,912