Research Specialist

Monday - Friday, 830 AM - 500 PM; times may vary

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

The goal of the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention ( HPDP) is to prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities. Investigators and staff at HPDP work with communities to conduct research, provide training and translate research findings into policy and practice. Research areas include nutrition and physical activity, cardiovascular health, diabetes, obesity, healthy food access, cancer prevention and control, children's health, rural health, and health equity. HPDP is part of a network of 20 CDC Prevention Research Centers across the United States.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network ( CPCRN) is seeking a detail-oriented and organized Research Specialist to support our research administration activities. This role requires strong project management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate across teams and institutions. The Research Specialist will assist with the day-to-day operations of multiple cancer prevention and control projects including the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network ( CPCRN), Scaling What Works ( SWW), and the Cancer Consortium for Implementation Science ( CCIS). The Research Specialist will provide communications, administrative, and research support for the projects and operations.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

- Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing plan for internal and external audiences
- Coordinate development of new project websites and maintain content
- Track and disseminate project accomplishments, opportunities, events and impact to a wide range of audiences
- Create videos and take photographs, as needed, to promote research
- Coordinate in-person seminars and on-line webinars to increase skills, capacity and awareness of research methodologies and resources
- Communicate regularly with investigators across the country via email to coordinate project activities
- Host network meetings in Zoom and take meeting minutes
- Assist in planning off-site meetings nationwide. This includes preparation of materials and required travel to the meeting
- Respond to questions from collaborators including requests for information regarding workgroups, scheduling, and coordination
- Provide support for reporting to funders and the University, including collating project data, compiling data analytics, and writing sections of reports and proposals
- Coordinate cross-center research workgroups and action groups

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the field assigned and one year of related training or experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

- Independent, self-motivated, conscientious, detail-oriented
- Willingness to do a broad range of communication, administrative and research tasks; and is interested in both cancer prevention and control and implementation science
- Experience working in communications
- Experience working in project management
- Proficiency with social media, software, and content creation
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; collaborative software such as Google Drive and Teams; communication software such as Zoom, and other computer software relevant to the position
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Experience with data entry, database management and reporting
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication
- Strong organizational and time management skills

- Experience working as part of a research team

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.