TBI Research Activities Manager - TBICOE

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a TBI Research Activities Manager who will facilitate information flow between Defense Health Network embedded contract staff, department/office staff leads, government staff on site, and contract point of contacts. To optimize TBICoE's clinical and translational research portfolio in support of government guidance, the Research Activities Manager will conduct data calls and deliver analytics on contract personnel actions, manpower utilization, workflow, agreements, and operational procedures, and will track, review, analyze and report research study progress, timelines, challenges, successes, and findings to relevant stakeholders.

This position will be in support of the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE) in Silver Spring, MD. The TBICoE is a branch of the Research Support Division in the Research and Engineering Directorate (R&E) of the Defense Health Agency (DHA). DHA is a Federal Program within the Department of Defense (DoD). TBICoE, known previously as the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), has been congressionally mandated since 1992 and is currently a matrixed research, dissemination, and knowledge translation program, supporting warfighter brain health and readiness by advancing the traumatic brain injury state of the science and clinical standards.

TBICoE's mission to support the warfighter is executed through subject matter experts embedded across DHA facilities with expertise in TBI clinical research investigations, surveillance, clinical tool development and training, cognitive monitoring and assessment, and dissemination of TBI tools, products, and education/training materials to DoD medical personnel, service members, including Guard, Reserve, and operational medics/corpsmen, veterans with TBI, and families/caregivers of the warfighter.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Facilitates information flow between research sites' contract staff, HQ task lead, government staff on site, and relevant vendor POCs.
• Oversees and/or prepares program summaries and reports for TBICoE leadership and contract leadership as required and/or requested, including but not limited to non-standard budgetary requests, space utilization needs/challenges, and required agreements. May conduct data calls to assess for process consistency, standardization of research efforts, and study requirements.
• Through personnel engagement and careful portfolio data tracking and analysis, provides periodic assessment and analysis to Research Leadership detailing trends, challenges, successes (SWOT) and develops recommendations to overcome challenges and optimize performance. Areas to monitor may include, but are not limited to, timelines, partnerships and collaborations, budgets/grants, analysis plan, aims/hypotheses, publications and presentations, human research protections, progress towards dissemination and implementation goals, and military/TBI/ clinical/ operational relevance.
• Works with study investigators to prepare research study proposals with associated documentation and budget requirements, roundtable reviews, and other projects as needed or requested.
• Demonstrates skilled understanding of agreements required across MHS research and works closely with TBICoE and DAD-MA staff to provide support, tracking, and/or guidance on study-specific agreements required (e.g., CRADA, DUA, DSA, etc.). Provides consistent follow-up and follow through on agreement coordination.
• Maintains regular communication across research staff to promote compliance with all related requirements (e.g., HRP, IRB, federal, state, contractual), SOPs, schedules, and provisions for any TBICoE staff engaged in research. Provides analysis to identify gaps in local processes, productivity, or communication challenges; utilizes project management principles to support research protocols requiring additional oversight.
• Collects, analyzes, and reviews research reports on status and progress of specific studies. May write and present summaries, reports, and findings on progress or portfolio.
• Maintains up-to-date research portfolio and interfaces with TBICoE leadership. With TBICoE leadership, reviews metrics set for successful running of a research study. Assists in the maintenance and updating of research processes and SOPs through TBICoE leadership guidance. Performs quarterly TBICoE research status analyses and supports internal and external scientific review panels.
• Works with the Office of Human Research Protection and other key members of the Research Section to identify and eliminate problems and barriers to the research process.
• Maintains visibility on broad array of military and civilian TBI research funding opportunities and supports execution of grant applications for TBICoE staff as needed.
• Presents TBICoE's clinical research findings at internal and external scientific meetings. When requested, disseminates pertinent information obtained from meeting/conference attendance to TBICoE stakeholders on national-level calls or local forums to ensure TBICoE remains apprised of scientific developments in brain health and TBI.
• Attends clinical research related IPRs, R &As, round tables and work group meetings related to TBICoE's mission.
• Facilitates intramural communications across TBICoE research personnel and helps leverage the collective TBI subject matter expertise and knowledge of research projects to support taskers, data requests/RFIs, reports, R&A meetings, and collaboration requests related to DoD's known gaps and priorities.
• With other TBICoE research staff may perform research site visits within the TBICoE network.
• Other duties consistent with the above responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct Supervisor: May supervise research staff.

Education and Experience

• Master's degree required. PhD in neurocognitive research (e.g., neurology, neuropsychology, neuroscience) with specialized experience in health science or project management (e.g., healthcare management, health science policy) related field is preferred. Experience within one of the mentioned fields may be accepted in lieu of educational minimums.
• Minimum 4 years of experience working with government agencies and/or contracting required.
• Minimum 6 years clinical research execution, management, coordination, and/or oversight required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and experience regarding the execution of human clinical research trials and federal research administration (e.g., budget management, project/grant management, personnel requirements, regulatory compliance, etc.).
• Ability to use sound judgment in complex problem solving and solution-focused response coordination and execution required.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communications skills required.
• Ability to develop relationships, anticipate needs, take initiative within established procedures, and demonstrate strong attention to details.
• Ability to support, develop, and implement scientifically sound research protocols required. Demonstrated ability to effectively author research works (manuscript, presentations) required.
• Knowledge of the administrative processes appropriate to the above assignments is required.
• Must adhere to legal, professional and ethical codes with respect to confidentiality and privacy.
• Prior research experience within the DoD/VA systems of care strongly preferred.
• Preferred experience in project management planning and its applicable tools.
• May require US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a T3/Secret Clearance.

Physical Capabilities

• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• Office, clinical and hospital environment.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $77,600-$89,300. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.