Position Status: Full time with excellent benefits package (100% FTE)

Salary, benefits, hours: Commensurate with experience; Regular with benefits; 100% FTE

Responsibilities:The National Children's Study (NCS) is a landmark 20+ year nationwide longitudinal study of environmental influences on children's health and child development, funded by the National Institutes for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The goal of the study is to understand child development and how to prevent exposure to social, behavioral and toxicological agents that cause harm to children. The findings from the study will benefit all Americans by providing health care providers and public policy officials with data that can be used to develop prevention strategies to prevent disease, injury and promote health for all children. Please see www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov for additional information on the NCS.

The San Diego Site (SDNCS) will follow a cohort of 1,000 mother-child pairs gathered from across the County from before birth to age 21. The SD site is a partnership between the UCSD, School of Medicine and the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health, and local agencies such as the First 5 Commission, SD County Department of Public Health, local hospitals and clinics, and others. The SDNCS is also in collaboration with UC Irvine, CSU San Bernardino and other sites. . The SDNCS is in the first 5 year phase of the study, during which the research team will design the sampling strategy, select neighborhoods, and recruit and enroll subjects, resulting in approximately 250 births per year for a total of 1000 births enrolled before the completion of recruitment.

The Project Coordinator (PC) is a mid-level investigator position, with emphasis on managing and assuring a high quality successful study.

The Project Coordinator will work collaboratively with other investigators and staff, and report to the two Principal Investigators (Dr. Mel Hovell at SDSU Graduate School of Public Health and Dr. Christina Chambers at the UCSD School of Medicine) . The PC will be responsible for organizing and managing all features of the study. This will include: Assisting the Principal Investigators in protocol piloting; Survey design and implementation; coordination of Study Teams, oversight of survey and biological data collection; process evaluations; screening, hiring, training and managing field and telephone interviewing staff.

The PC will ensure that project goals are met on schedule and will be responsible for maintaining efficient communication among all professional and community partners.

The PC will be responsible for drafting monthly and quarterly progress reports and for coordinating these submissions, with invoice preparation, by the project's Finance Manager; assist with preparation of IRB applications as needed; assist with responses to request for proposals for future funding on the project; participate in selected studies generated within or ancillary to the NCS, contingent on assigned time; participate in extramural funding applications within or external to the NCS.

Minimum Qualifications: The equivalent to a MA degree in an appropriate field related to the program/project with six years of experience, two years of experience in a position with a high level of responsibility. Experience conducting population- based studies with responsibility for successful recruitment, cohort retention, data collection, data processes and quality assurance procedures for a diverse sample of children and families.

Experience supervising staff and organizing and managing teams of field workers.

Strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to contribute original ideas.

Strong organizational skills to manage a complex d fast-paced study with frequent deadlines, precise scheduling and multiple priorities.

Strong writing skills to prepare reports, promotional materials and grant proposals.

Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite.

Experience communicating effectively and working with public agency, NGOs, health care provider and community representatives.

Standard Requirements: This description incorporates the most typical duties performed. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed. The ability to report to work on time; follow directions from a supervisor; interact effectively with co-workers; understand and follow posted work rules and procedures; accept constructive criticism; for managers and supervisory personnel to lead and manage others; and to maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with customers, clients, co-workers and management.  

Preferred Education/Certifications: Master's in Public Health, Biological, Environmental, Social Welfare or Social Science, with broad-based expertise in research design and operational methods.

Doctoral-level training (PhD, MD, etc) in Public Health, Biological Sciences, Environmental Health, Social Welfare or Behavioral Science.

Experience with IRB submission and research involving human subjects.

Ability to use common statistical software packages.

Multilingual and multi-cultural skills.

Working Conditions: Office environment

Ability to travel by personal vehicle for meetings within SD and for occasional meetings in Orange County

Ability to travel overnight up to several times per year for training at the NCS Coordinating Center in Rockville, MD and other sites as necessary.

Application Procedures: Please submit an SDSU Foundation Employment Application specifying the Job Announcement number. If you cannot submit an application via the internet, applications may be picked up from and returned to SDSU Foundation, Human Resources, 5250 Campanile Dr., Gateway Building, 4th Floor, San Diego, CA 92182-1945 or faxed to (619) 594-3763.

Job Close Date: 06-13-2008

Additional Information forApplicants: Applicants with disabilities requiring special application and/or interview arrangements may call (619) 594-4139

Application Procedures: Please submit an SDSU Research Foundation Employment Application specifying the Job Announcement number. If you cannot submit an application via the internet, applications may be picked up from and returned to SDSU Research Foundation, Human Resources, 5250 Campanile Dr., Gateway Building, 4th Floor, San Diego, CA 92182-1945 or faxed to (619) 594-3763.