Sr. Research Associate

ABOUT LIVEWELL GREENVILLE:
LiveWell Greenville is a coalition that actively builds partnerships to improve health outcomes for all individuals living in Greenville County, SC. Our coalition has been in existence for over 15 years, and we now have more than 300 community partners working alongside us to change the systems and environments that prevent equitable access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities. 

ABOUT THE INSITUTE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH:

Furman University’s Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH) mission is to connect Furman University to the community, advance education and research, and implement collaborative initiatives to improve community health. To achieve this, we work collaboratively on campus and beyond to build capacity within communities, facilitate community-engaged research, and advance authentic communication.

POSITION SUMMARY:
LiveWell Greenville, in partnership with Furman University’s Institute IACH, seeks a Senior Research Associate to lead collaborative research and evaluation projects with clinical and community health partners. The role involves close collaboration with LiveWell staff and IACH on two community-based research projects funded by the American Heart Association.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with the IACH Hub Director and Project PI’s to develop and implement a jointly owned community-engaged research strategy.


• In partnership with the Hub-Co Directors and Project PI’s, provide overall project leadership and ensure consistent communication between members of the LWG and IACH research teams.


• Independently oversee and manage study implementation and timelines of multiple research projects.


• Serve as the lead facilitator for research team meetings, as assigned, including development of meetings agendas, meeting materials, and meeting minutes.


• Lead the development of study materials, including surveys, interview guides, and data collection protocols, for lead projects. Provide direct and indirect supervision to junior staff, post-doctoral research fellows, and student research assistants.


• Ensure adherence to data collection protocols for lead projects.


• Provide training and technical assistance to community partners on data collection procedures and evidence-based intervention design for lead projects.


• Lead systematic literature reviews, scoping reviews, and meta-analysis to ensure evidence-based research practices.


• Lead the development and maintenance of study databases (e.g., REDCap, Qualtrics).


• Independently perform data analyses using descriptive and inferential statistics, including but not limited to ANOVA’s, Chi-square analyses, linear regression, logistic regression, structural equation modeling, etc.


• Conduct qualitative data analyses including development of coding frameworks, codebooks, coding, and appropriate thematic analysis.


• Lead the development and submission of peer-reviewed manuscripts.


• Stay updated on emerging issues and methodologies in community engaged research.


• Lead the development and presentation of information of presentations to community partners as requested.


• Assist the Project PI’s and Hub Co-Directors in the development of scientific grant reports including.


• Participate in the identification of and writing of grant submissions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
We encourage applicants to apply even if they do not meet all qualifications. A strong commitment to collaboration and achieving work goals is essential. The ideal candidate is an inclusive leader who builds trusting relationships and fosters consensus, while also possessing robust experience in community engaged research methods.

• Master’s degree (5+ years experience) or PhD (2+ years experience) in public health or a related field; PhD preferred.


• Knowledge of community-engaged or Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods


• Strong oral and written communication, including ability to proactively manage team dynamics and dialogue


• Ability to prioritize and manage complex research deadlines and processes, while remaining flexible in response to emerging research needs.


• Demonstrated and progressive experience leading research and evaluation projects in community or clinical settings


• Previous experience in coordinating research across multiple settings and/or organizations (i.e., across academic and community partners)


• Proficiency in quantitative data analysis (logistic regression, linear regression, etc.)


• Proficiency in qualitative research (thematic analysis, rapid qualitative methods, etc.).


• Familiarity with data analytic platforms (SAS, Stata, SPSS, NVivo, etc.).


• Experience in independent development of academic publications including journal manuscripts, conference abstracts, etc. preferred  


• Previous experience working with community partners in the implementation of or evaluation of community health interventions preferred     


• Ability to balance deliverables across multiple projects and timelines


• Ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics and work collaboratively with diverse groups.


• Understanding of health equity, social justice, and community change.


• Spanish language fluency preferred

JOB CLASSIFICATION:
Full time, In Office (40 hr/week)
Expected Salary: $75,000 annually depending on experience