Project Research Coordinator

Department

Crown Research Grogan

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found here.

Job Summary

The Project Coordinator will play a pivotal role in supporting a large-scale research project focused on the impact of Medicaid Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Reentry Waiver programs. These waiver programs aim to expand access to SUD treatments and improve continuity of care for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly those involved in the criminal justice system. The Project Coordinator will assist in managing the project’s daily operations, coordinate between multiple stakeholders, track project progress, and ensure timely completion of research milestones. This position will be a full-time role for two years or until the funding is exhausted, whichever comes first.

Responsibilities

• Project Coordination & Administration:

• Coordinate research activities and tasks to ensure the project adheres to timelines and deliverables.

• Organize regular project meetings, ensure effective communication between team members, and document key decisions and actions.

• Maintain project documentation, including tracking research progress, regulatory approvals (e.g., DUAs), and deliverable deadlines.

• Monitor project budgets, ensuring financial and resource allocations are effectively managed.

• Stakeholder & Partner Management:

• Collaborate with state Medicaid programs, research partners, and external stakeholders to collect data and maintain engagement throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support relationships with external partners, including CMS, Medicaid administrators, and state health departments.

• Liaise with research teams to support the coordination of data collection and integration processes, ensuring consistency across multiple states.

• Data Management & Analysis Support:

• Assist in the management and processing of waiver application data, including the coding of policy dimensions (eligibility, benefits, delivery model reforms) across different states.

• Collaborate with the data analysis team to facilitate the integration of Medicaid claims data with waiver policy data for analysis.

• Track and ensure the accuracy of data inputs for the factor and cluster analysis.

• Research Support & Documentation:

• Aid in the qualitative review of Medicaid waiver applications and the development of coding systems for policy dimensions.

• Assist in drafting research reports, policy briefs, and presentations for stakeholders and funding agencies.

• Support the preparation of manuscript drafts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, including coordinating feedback from research team members and external reviewers.

• Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with research protocols, ethical guidelines, and data privacy regulations.

• Prepare and submit progress reports to funding agencies, as well as other relevant reports for project stakeholders.

• Track compliance with research timelines, milestones, and grant requirements.

• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.

• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in public health or social work & policy.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in research project coordination, preferably in healthcare, Medicaid policy, substance use disorder, or criminal justice systems.
• Experience with Medicaid waiver programs or behavioral health services is highly desirable.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or similar).
• Basic understanding of data analysis or experience working with data teams is a plus.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, SUD, or criminal justice systems.
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage complex datasets.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced and evolving research environment.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and resourcefulness.

Working Conditions

• Mainly computer work, but does have access to a standing desk.
• The position will only be active for 2 years from the start date.

Applicant Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$55,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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