The Education and Research Program Manager is responsible for managing the development and execution of research projects while also supporting education initiatives within Central Health. This dual role supports both the advancement of clinical research and the delivery of educational programs.
In collaboration with the Director of Education and Research, Principal Investigators from partner organizations, and internal departments, the Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of research programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, budget management, and effective coordination of personnel and resources.
In addition to research responsibilities, the Manager designs, implements, and evaluates patient education efforts that promote understanding of clinical studies, medical conditions, treatment options, and preventive care. By integrating patient education into the research process, the Manager helps ensure informed participation, enhances the patient experience, and supports Central Health’s mission to improve health outcomes through education and evidence-based care.

***This position is located in Austin, Tx. Only candidates located in the greater Austin area will be considered***

JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential Functions:

• Organize and coordinate research committee meetings to support strategic research planning and implementation.
• Collect and prepare documentation required to initiate research studies within Central Health.
• Assists the Director of Education and Research in the development of materials and tools necessary to train individuals involved in the conduct of study around issues related to (but not limited to) the research process at Central Health including protocol requirements and the execution of research plans.
• Support the submission of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other regulatory applications, renewals, and amendments; assist with IRB training and compliance for Central Health research personnel.
• Ensures key personnel or those engaged in the research project have met the training requirements (i.e., human subjects research protection) in accordance with federal regulations, Central Health, and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
• Organize and track progress documentation for active studies, ensuring timely updates and compliance reporting.
• Ensure the secure storage and retention of study documentation in accordance with organizational policies and sponsor guidelines.
• Identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest in alignment with institutional policies and ethical standards; adhere to all applicable federal regulations and institutional procedures for safeguarding protected health information (PHI).
• Support the design, execution, and facilitation of research and evaluation plans across a diverse portfolio of community-based research and patient education programs.
• Support the development and dissemination of research and evaluation findings through presentations, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and evaluation of patient-centered initiatives, aligned with Central Health priorities.
• Support the design, execution, and facilitation of research and evaluation plans across a diverse portfolio of community-based research and patient education initiatives.
• Coordinate and facilitate a Patient Education Workgroup, including organizing meetings, setting agendas, documenting action items, and supporting cross-department collaboration to advance patient education and health literacy initiatives across Central Health.
• Effectively prioritize projects to complete work within established guidelines and timeframe.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to integrate patient education strategies into research protocols and clinical workflows.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats, including preparing reports, research documentation, presentations, and meeting materials for diverse audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including coordinating meetings, managing timelines, tracking deliverables, monitoring project progress, and maintaining detailed records and documentation.
• Knowledge of the scientific research process within healthcare or community-based settings, including study planning, implementation, documentation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, regulatory compliance requirements, and ethical standards for research involving human participants.
• Knowledge of federal regulations and institutional policies related to human subjects protection, privacy, and safeguarding protected health information (PHI).
• Ability to coordinate and support multidisciplinary teams and workgroups, including facilitating meetings, managing agendas, documenting outcomes, and advancing collaborative initiatives.
• Knowledge of health equity principles, including social determinants of health, structural barriers, and systemic inequities affecting underserved populations.
• Knowledge of healthcare access challenges and community health needs affecting underserved populations in Travis County or similar communities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with clinical teams, community partners, researchers, and organizational leadership to align research and patient education initiatives.
• Ability to manage research documentation systems, maintain regulatory files, and ensure proper storage and retention of study materials.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to support problem-solving, project implementation, and evaluation of complex initiatives.
• Ability to design and support evaluation plans and translate quantitative and qualitative data into actionable insights for program and policy improvement.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology relevant to clinical research, patient education, and healthcare delivery.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor's degree -Required

Master's degree Health sciences related field - Preferred

Work Experience:

• Three (3) years of experience in health services or clinical research -Required
• Two(2)years demonstrated experience and understanding of health- related social determinants, chronic diseases prevalent in a primary care population-Required
  Two (2) years of experience in organizing and developing new programs related to business needs -Required
• Two (2) years of experience in group facilitation. Preferred
• Two (2) years of experience supervising or leading others. Preferred
• Two (2) years of direct experience working with patients or clients (in a healthcare or non-profit setting). Preferred