MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT OCHIN

Position Overview

The Investigator IV/Program Director of Research Networks is a unique opportunity to advance health equity research through joining OCHIN Research’s investigator team both as a senior scientist and as the Program Director of Research Networks. In this leadership role, you will step into a grant-funded Principal Investigator role of OCHIN’s ADVANCE clinical research network, and you will also develop and implement a strategy for OCHIN Research’s funded participation and leadership in other research network opportunities. As a senior scientist, you will join and help mentor OCHIN’s Quantitative Research Core.

In this fulltime role, you will start with at least half of your role funded by leadership roles in two networks and will have opportunities to help renew the funding for these roles as well as pursue additional funding.

Your work will support the OCHIN mission in the design, implementation, day-to-day operations, and dissemination of findings from research, demonstration, and evaluation projects. You will see the direct impact of your work on clinical care delivered at OCHIN clinics, on policy recommendations, and on the science of addressing health equity. See our website for more information about our research team.

OCHIN Research is a collaborative, value-driven team embedded within OCHIN’s learning health system. OCHIN Research is aligned with our organizational mission and national priorities for health equity research. Our research infrastructure makes OCHIN Research an ideal setting for conducting health equity research and applying for funding, and includes:

• Multidisciplinary research team that brings the diverse expertise in methods and subject matter necessary for aligning with national and organizational health equity research priorities.
• Research support services team that supports the investigator team including data scientists, clinical informaticists, research assistants, research operations (including grants and contracts) professionals, and regulatory/compliance experts.
• Data Warehouse (based on a single instance of one electronic health record) that is representative and inclusive of those who are often overlooked because they are served outside the traditional insurance system.
• Integrated engagement infrastructure: to include broad representation of communities and populations historically under-represented in research.
• Value-based research portfolio: in partnership with members and diverse institutions, organizations, and agencies through a variety of funding sources and research networks, we conduct equity-focused research to advance evidence that impacts clinical care delivery, health policy, and research methodology.

Essential Duties

Program Director of Research Networks job duties:

• Lead Research role in network projects, including PI, co-PI, and site PI roles in these projects.
• Work with Science Program and Research leadership on developing and implementing a strategy for OCHIN’s engagement in and leadership of research networks that aligns with OCHIN Research’s strategic plan. Help to shape that plan to align with OCHIN’s strategic plan.
• Lead a program of research related to research network science, including developing and implementing a strategy for a portfolio/program aligned with the overall OCHIN Research strategy and leading the network-related portions of applications for new opportunities.

ADVANCE Research Network job duties:

• The ADVANCE Clinical Research Network (CRN) PI leads the OCHIN ADVANCE team, leads meetings with ADVANCE partners, participates in the PCORnet Steering Committee, works with the ADVANCE PCORnet Project Officer, and collaborates and coordinates across the various ADVANCE partnerships and with PCORnet as a whole.
• The ADVANCE PI’s primary duties for ADVANCE are providing leadership, building collaborations, sharing research opportunities with OCHIN and ADVANCE partners as appropriate, and communicating PCORnet goals and tasks with OCHIN leaders and ADVANCE partners. The PI may lead or participate in a research project in addition to being the PI but participating in a study is not part of the PI’s duties.
• The ADVANCE PI will lead renewals of the ADVANCE funding application.

Investigator IV job duties:

• Serving as Investigator on funded research projects:
  • Contribute substantively to the development of research funding proposals and portfolios.
  • Serve as OCHIN’s site-PI on proposals in which OCHIN partners with external investigators.
  • Provide scientific oversight of research projects.
  • Participate in operationalizing conceptual variables and translating research questions into appropriate functional and analytic designs and protocols.
  • Oversee and interpret statistical analyses of research data.
  • Contribute to or lead the development of manuscripts and presentations for dissemination of research findings.
• Provide guidance and direction to project staff.
• Ensure that research is conducted in an ethical manner and in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and institutional policies.
• Serve as primary liaison to external PI, including resolving any scientific and methodological issues with prime PI and approving any changes to the subcontract budget and/or scope of work.
• Escalate project issues to supervisor when not resolved within the project team.
• Collaborate with other practice-based research network (PBRN) investigators and outside partners in designing and developing research proposals:
• Contribute to the development of specific aims and research strategy (significance, innovation, approach) and well as statistical analysis plans.
• Contribute to the development of OCHIN’s research strategy.
• Pursue continuing education and self-led activities to remain current with substantive field of knowledge and technical skills related to current project portfolio.
• Liaise and network with other OCHIN departments and affiliated research institutions to enhance the quality, mission-alignment, and synergy of OCHIN Research’s portfolio.

Serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) and OCHIN site PI on funded research projects

• Serve as Principal Investigator on OCHIN-led proposals and/or as co-investigator or other key personnel (e.g., biostatistician) on proposals in which OCHIN partners with external investigators. This applies to pre- and post-award involvement.
• Pre-award proposal development:
  • Collaborate with other senior investigators on assessing the scientific rigor, fundability, and strategic mission alignment of research funding proposals in the “proposal pipeline”.
  • Outreach to external investigators, OCHIN clinical members, funders, and others to generate and pursue potential research proposal concepts.
  • Stay up to date on funding opportunities relevant to OCHIN Research’s health equity research mission.
• Lead development of research proposals.
• Procure external funding to support for a minimum of 60% FTE of this position’s time as well as to support the overall research team.
• Mentor other investigators and scientists in Science Programs by providing guidance on the mentee’s research agenda, grant ideas, and career development opportunities.
• Participate in the education and training of research staff.
• Other duties as requested.

Additional Qualifications for Program Director of Research Networks:

• Candidate must have a doctoral level degree in statistics/biostatistics, applied mathematics, health research informatics, data science, or other quantitative fields related to health research. Please note that this is more specific than the doctoral level training requirements for an Investigator IV (below) and that this is the description relevant to the current position.
• Candidate should have demonstrated experience working with big data, machine learning/artificial intelligence, and research design.
• Track record of publishing, using and, ideally, developing statistical methods.
• Areas in which a PCORnet PI should have at least a working knowledge, if not expertise, include: compliance; engagement; finance & budgets; data analytics, informatics, and machine learning methods; scientific methods; collaboration; and the entire research funding and study execution cycle (i.e., prep-to-research / pre-award proposal development, the grant application process, running studies, dissemination, etc.).
• The ADVANCE PI should have strong interest, experience, and expertise in health equity/disparities research. They will need to advocate for health equity/disparities research proposals as well as promote the engagement of community health center clinics and patients in science. This is especially important given the uniqueness of the ADVANCE Clinical Research Network (CRN) with its focus on safety net patients and clinics.
• The lead ADVANCE PI must have primary experience or expertise in clinical informatics, health system information technology, or large-scale database construction and linkage.

Qualifications for Investigator IV:

• A Doctoral level research or health-related degree and postdoctoral training or equivalent experience (degree or additional educational and training must be in a social, behavioral, health services, or other medical or public health field appropriate to the specific field of research required by the position)
• Thorough knowledge of statistical theory and hypothesis testing, quantitative analysis methods, and database management techniques relevant to the design, conduct, and analysis of research projects in the pertinent substantive area.
• Working knowledge of medicine, public health, and health services issues relevant to the application of research to health care phenomena and health care policy.
• Working knowledge of specialized models and theories in a discipline area applicable to the research. Working knowledge of standard desktop computing software packages (word processing, spread sheeting, presentation software, Internet browsers, etc.).
• 6 or more years post-terminal degree experience desired.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain sustainable funding (federal, state, or foundation research grants/contracts) to support a consistent effort of 60 percent of total effort for this role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and publish scientific manuscripts.
• Demonstrated career and project mentorship experience.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

To keep our colleagues, members, and communities safe, OCHIN requires all employees—including remote employees, contractors, interns, and new hires—to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine, as supported by state and federal public health officials, as a condition of employment. All new hires are required to provide proof of full vaccination or receive approval for a medical or religious exemption before their hire date.

Work Location and Travel Requirements

OCHIN is 100% remote organization.? Work from home requirements are:

• Ability to work independently and efficiently from a home office environment
• High Speed Internet Service
• It is a requirement that employees work in a distraction free workplace
• Travel may be required to support our member organizations on-site based on business requirements for OCHIN

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits. See our website for details: https://ochin.org/employment-openings.

At OCHIN, we value the unique perspectives and experiences of every individual and work hard to maintain a culture of belonging.

OCHIN provides leading-edge technology, data analytics, research, and support services to nearly 1,000 community health care sites, reaching nearly 6 million patients nationally. We believe that every individual, no matter their race, ethnicity, background, or zip code, should have fair opportunity to achieve their full health potential. Our work addresses differences in health that are systemic, avoidable, and unjust. We partner, learn, innovate, and advocate, in order to close the gap in health for individuals and communities negatively impacted by racism or other structural inequities.

Founded in Oregon in 2000, OCHIN employs a growing virtual workforce of more than 900 diverse professionals, working remotely across 46 states. We offer a generous compensation package and are committed to supporting our employees’ entire well-being by fostering a healthy work-life balance and equitable opportunity for professional advancement. We are curious, collaborative learners who strive to live our values everyday: leadership, collaboration, excellence, innovation, inclusion, and stewardship. OCHIN is excited to support our continued national expansion and the increasing demand for our innovative tools and services by welcoming new talent to our growing team.

Equal Opportunity Statement

OCHIN is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills for the benefit of our staff, our mission, and the communities we serve.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, OCHIN, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital or civil union status, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are based on merit, performance, and business needs.

Base Pay Overview

The typical offer range for this role is minimum to midpoint ($171,051), with the midpoint representing the average pay in a national market scope for this position. Please keep in mind that this range represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual salary offer will consider a wide range of factors directly relevant to this position, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, responsibility, and experience, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

#LI-Remote