Research Project Manager

Crown DISC Lab As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions.

More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), , the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Project Manager for grant-funded research projects within the Development-in-Sociocultural-Context (DISC) Research Lab. As the Project Manager, you will perform a variety of project management support and data collection duties for multiple federally funded research projects. This position will be responsible for maintaining project databases and coordinating local, state, and nationwide research efforts.

The applicant must have outstanding organizational and communication skills, project management abilities, and academic writing skills. Mistakes in interpersonal communications could have dire results for this project. To produce products, we will need to rely on the cooperation and good will of many people. The person filling this position will need to communicate the importance of their voluntary participation, willingness of the project to accommodate their schedules and gratitude for their involvement. Mistakes along these lines could be irreparable. The ideal candidate should possess a strong work ethic and be able to work collaboratively as well as independently. This position requires knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, and Qualtrics.

The position is grant funded, with the term of the assignment continuing for the duration of the initial grant and subsequent grant renewals. While the standard working hours are 20/week, during data collection or high activity points in the project, additional hours may be required. Overtime at time and a half will be applied when more than 40 hours are necessary in a given week.

• Financial and Administrative Oversight - maintains accurate financial records, coordinates with grant administrators on expenditures, and prepares financial reports for funders. Manages office resources, including calendars, supplies, and electronic files. Supervises temporary staff and student workers as needed.
• Project Coordination and Reporting - develops timelines, delegates responsibilities, and tracks progress toward research goals. Ensures timely submission of applications and reports, including IRB and funding agency correspondence.
• Research Implementation and Data Management - oversees data-related tasks to ensure procedural consistency survey administration through data cleaning. Compiles and analyzes data for reports directed at participants, school districts, and the academic community. Coordinates with Principal Investigators and research leadership on IRB applications and compliance.
• Participant Recruitment and Communication - serves as the primary research contact, managing communication between Principal Investigators, research partners, and stakeholders. Handles participant recruitment, consent/assent, reimbursement, and retention processes.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Master’s degree in related field strongly preferred.

• 2-5 years experience with research project management, preferably in the field of education, developmental psychology, family studies, or other applied discipline.
• 2-5 years experience interacting with children or adolescents within school, family, or community settings.
• Prior experience with conducting research within applied or clinical settings.

• Work with spreadsheets, simple statistical packages (SPSS), and survey platforms (Qualtrics).
• Working knowledge of policy and practice innovations related to childcare and early education with an eagerness to develop further knowledge in these areas.

• Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Balance and prioritize work tasks effectively and on time.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical editing skills.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow University policies regarding data security.

• Hybrid work schedule possible, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago.
• Travel to external stakeholder sites as needed.
• This is a part-time position of approximately 20 hours per week.
• During data collection or high activity points in the project, additional hours above 20/week may be required. Overtime at time and a half will be applied when more than 40 hours are necessary in a given week.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, describing their research goals and training, including why their background and interests meet the requirements of the position (required)
• Three Letters of Reference (required)
• One Writing Sample (required)

Research Individual Contributor 20 No No No Hourly Non-Exempt $25.00 - $35.00 Yes