Research Assistant/Project Coordinator for Workforce Diversity Study
This is a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR). CHOIR is a health services research center, with offices in Bedford, MA and Boston, MA, conducting a wide range of research and quality improvement initiatives. Study topics range from access to health care, quality of care, and costs, to patient and provider behaviors. Study teams are often multi-disciplinary including disciplines such as medicine, public health, epidemiology, anthropology, sociology, and economics. A variety of research methods are used, from statistical analyses of large databases to in-depth qualitative interviews with patients, families, and health care providers. This position is located in Bedford, MA.
For this project we are seeking a Research Assistant or Project Coordinator (role will depend on the selected candidate’s experience and skills) who will be part of a team conducting an environmental scan to identify, describe, and evaluate practices that promote the hiring, promotion, and retention of employees from underrepresented groups in the VA’s health services research (HSR) workforce and other Office of Research and Development (ORD) centers. Existing DEI practices will be identified through the use of web searches, surveys, and interviews with VA staff. Practices will then be summarized in a spreadsheet database and evaluated for potential effectiveness. The findings will be used to assist VA programs, specifically HSR&D and ORD research centers, to more broadly disseminate and implement practices that enhance and support a diverse workforce. We are very committed to a diverse workforce at CHOIR and strongly encourage individuals from groups underrepresented in clinical and health services research to apply.
The Research Assistant/Project Coordinator will have a central role in identifying information on DEI practices in HSR&D/ORD, collecting this information in a spreadsheet database, and maintaining the database. To locate information on DEI activities they will perform web searches, distribute and track surveys, perform outreach to VA staff, and conduct phone interviews with HSR&D/ORD representatives. Coding interview transcripts may be an additional responsibility of the position. The Research Assistant/Project Coordinator will also contribute to analysis, report writing, and presentations consistent with their level of experience. Additional administrative duties include scheduling meetings and writing notes. Supervision and guidance will be provided by Keith McInnes, the Principal Investigator (PI).
Skills needed:
- Some experience and comfort with spreadsheets, e.g., Excel
- Experience performing literature searches
- Attention to detail
- Ability to complete tasks independently with appropriate guidance from PI
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; Ability to have open communication with team
Desired skills:
- Experience with interviewing and qualitative analysis
Salary range is $48,000 to $60,000 (equivalent to GS 7 or GS 9) depending on experience and skills. For more information on salary, see the OPM website (Boston locality): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2021/general-schedule/.
We plan to fill this position as soon as possible. This project is anticipated to last one year, but there is a strong possibility of continued work at the Center based on performance and funding availability.
CHOIR and VA value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive working environment. We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) candidates, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, veterans, individuals with a disability, and individuals with other historically marginalized identities to apply.
Per VA Policy, you must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
All applications must be sent through Handshake. However, if you have questions you may contact Angela Kyrish (Angela.Kyrish@va.gov).