Research Coordinator II - Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) at UTHealth in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas' resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That's where you come in.

We are looking for a Full-Time Research Coordinator to join the department of Epidemiology and Disease Control as part of the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, TX 77030. In this position, you would act as the primary liaison between the research study staff and the participating elementary schools for a large NIH-funded school-based research study. CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is a Texas Education Agency-approved coordinated school health program. You'll coordinate CATCH school-based oral health and nutrition program evaluation across grades K through 2 in schools in the Greater Houston area as part of the NIH-funded CATCH Healthy Smiles randomized controlled trial study led by the University of Texas Health Science Center.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It's because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you'd expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time - all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you'll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees' wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Primary liaison between the research study staff and the participating elementary schools for a large NIH-funded school-based research study. CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is a Texas Education Agency approved coordinated school health program. Incumbent coordinates CATCH school-based oral health and nutrition program evaluation across grades K through 2 in schools in the Greater Houston area as part of the NIH-funded CATCH Healthy Smiles randomized controlled trial study led by the University of Texas Health Science Center. Plans, organizes, coordinates, and supports the participating schools for successful implementation of CATCH programming in schools. Project management responsibilities include: ensure evaluations are complete, accounted for and transferred to data entry personnel in a timely fashion, strategic action planning with research staff, school staff and leadership for recruitment, retention, and data collection, coordinate trainings of research staff, coordinate and conduct evaluation of program implementation fidelity and outcomes in schools, coordinate and communicate with study investigative team in order to ensure the evaluation efforts are within budget, on-schedule, and of the highest quality and impact.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Coordinate and conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection to monitor CATCH program implementation progress and study outcomes at study schools. This includes conducting direct data collection on site at the schools, as well as communicating with school staff and study staff.
• Conduct data entry and quality control procedures as delegated for the research study.
• Maintains confidential records of collected data, ensures accuracy and integrity of data. Data may include participant data and departmental programmatic data. Prepares draft reports and communications for the departmental program/division leadership.
• Coordinate communication between study staff and leadership, school staff and leadership, including school district leadership, to ensure seamless CATCH implementation and evaluation across all study schools.
• Coordinate operations for the CATCH school-based programming in the study schools to oversee success across all levels of CATCH program implementation.
• Provide ongoing coordination and support to research team, including action planning, trouble-shooting, training and communication with study PI, and study partners such as CATCH Global Foundation and Harris County Public Health.
• Assists in the preparation of progress reports and grant proposals to both private foundations and governmental agencies; works closely with the Office of Sponsored Projects on the submission of grants.
• Assists with the day-to-day project management coordination for research projects to include personnel, facilities, supplies in support of research project desired outcomes, budgets, and timeliness.
• Interacts with representatives from state, federal, and private agencies regarding proposals and funded projects.
• Provides work administrative direction and guidance to administrative staff personnel within department.
• May review contracts and develop training.
• Other duties as assigned

Certification/Skills:

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Working knowledge of MS Office.

• CITI Human Subjects Research Certificate (Social-Behavioral-Educational /SBE and Good Clinical Practice)
• Familiarity with RedCap
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Competent in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or relevant experience in lieu of education.

• Bachelor's degree or four years of experience in lieu of degree in education, public health, child development, health education, or related field. Teaching certification preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Two (2) years of relevant experience. May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

• Two years' experience in program implementation and evaluation in the areas of education and/or public health, and/or child development
• Two years' experience in field data collection coordination and data quality monitoring
• Experience with project coordination preferred.
• Experience with child oral health promotion and working on NIH-funded projects preferred.

Physical Requirements: Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects. Security Sensitive: This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215 Residency Requirement: Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.