Evidence-Based Practice Center (Epc) Operations Director

Department Overview

This position exists within the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), a research program of the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DMICE), an academic unit in the School of Medicine within Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The EPC is a collaboration of OHSU and other organizations in the Pacific Northwest. The EPC receives funding from federal and non-federal sources to conduct systematic evidence reviews, meta-analyses, and original research in clinical epidemiology and participates in educational and clinical research training at OHSU.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded OHSU 5-year, multi-million-dollar contracts since 1997 to serve as an EPC, and AHRQ provides the largest share of funding to the EPC.

The person in this position is a member of the EPC leadership team. They help set the strategic direction and assume primary responsibility for facilitating efficient business, financial, and research operations for EPC projects totaling approximately $5 million in annual expenditures.

Responsibilities include program development and strategic planning, internal/external communications, personnel supervision and management and (9 faculty and 21 staff), and fiscal and contract management. This position maintains EPC inter-institutional agreements and relations with funding agencies, partner organizations, and subcontractors; oversees multiple project teams, ensuring program goals are reached; and interacts with Departmental and University administrative personnel. The Research Administrator 3 works under the general oversight of the EPC Director and is responsible for day-to-day leadership and program management.

Function/Duties of Position

EPC Program Strategic Planning, Business Identification and Proposal Development: The EPC Operations Manager works closely with the other members of the EPC Leadership Team to design and implement strategic goals and objectives for the EPC; assesses the feasibility, capacity, and resources needed for the EPC to undertake new work assignments; works with the EPC Leadership Team to determine whether contemplated new work assignments provide strategic advantage to the EPC, fit within the EPC's mission and further the EPC's scientific goals, including contributing to OHSU's missions and advancing knowledge and improving healthcare and health.

Manages proposal and budget development within stringent timelines and requirements of funding agencies and University policies; structures research teams based on methodological and content expertise, interests, and availability; coordinates proposal development and approvals with Department Preaward Administrator. Develops scope of work, budgets, and schedules for subaward proposals. Manages collaborations with other departments and subawardees.

Internal/External Communication: Develops effective Center communications that support EPC goals and objectives and successful interdepartmental collaboration.

Builds collaborative relationships among faculty and research staff. Serves as a central point of contact to internal University audiences seeking to collaborate with the EPC; oversees the content on the EPC website; serves as a primary point of contact for the EPC's primary funder, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and other sponsors of EPC research. Represents the EPC in national project meetings and conference calls. Disseminates guidance and updates on sponsor methods and procedures to EPC research teams.

Research Operations: Provides overall management of EPC operations, including assignment, training, and supervision of EPC research project staff; reporting, coordination, and cooperation with federal government staff, policy officials, and other funders; direction and oversight of all studies awarded under EPC task order contracts, inter-institutional research agreements and contracts; maintenance of efficient and effective functioning of multiple concurrent tasks and projects; and assurance of the quality and timeliness of work performed and compliance with contract requirements.

Personnel Management: Recruits and fosters retention of a highly-skilled and diverse research support staff.

Models and promotes University principles of inclusion and respect for all. Provides resources, training opportunities, performance review, and job description changes for individual team members' professional development and implements activities to support community building and shared learning among EPC team members. Directly supervises Data Analysts and Research Project Managers.

Coaches and supports Project Managers who supervise other employees. Develops performance improvement plans as needed. Monitors and reviews each team-member's projects to ensure timely progress and completion, high quality outputs, and information sharing.

Allocates faculty and staff FTE, provides projections to Department Fiscal Analyst (FA), and collaborates with FA to track labor distribution. Support innovation in methods and technology applications to improve quality and efficiency in work performance.

Fiscal Management: Develops EPC project budgets; oversees the EPC's operational budgets and the budgets of subcontractors; authorizes payment of invoices; collaborates with the Department Preaward and Postaward Administrators, OHSU Office of Proposal and Award Management, and funding agencies to assure budget and reporting compliance; develops and monitors spending plans that match the allotted project dollars; evaluates and negotiates resources involving budgets. Tracks project progress and initiates invoices according to schedule and reviews invoicing prior to PI approval.

Contract Management: Determines scope of work for incoming and outgoing subcontracts and ensures timely receipt of deliverables; identifies problems or challenges and initiates solutions quickly; promptly responds to inquiries and issues of concern identified by funders; manages EPC contracts per federal rules and regulations, University policies, and/or specific contract language.

Ensures superior customer service. Provides budgets for department and subward account set-ups post award.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in related field plus 8 years of relevant experience OR Master's degree and 10 years of experience.

• 8-10 years of sustained operational experience in an academic health center, research environment, or similar large/complex organization.

• 3-5 years of progressive leadership and management experience.

• 5 years of personnel supervision experience, including recruitment, staffing and employee relations.

• Ability to make independent decisions, analyze situations, solve complex problems, and initiate actions.

• Project management, and finance skills (budget planning and developing).

• Ability to establish effective working relationships with internal and external customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Information, or related field.

• Experience managing a federally-funded or AHRQ-funded research projects or program or a research program with multiple funding sources.

• Experience and understanding of government contract regulations, including policies related to technical and financial reporting.

• Proposal development experience.

• Knowledge of systematic review research tools and bibliographic management software (e.g., EndNote).

• Knowledge of OHSU financial management tools (e.g., University Financial Outlook and/or Oracle).

• years of training and experience in the management of research in healthcare, social sciences, and/or health services.

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status.

Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.