Research Specialist

Monday-Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

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 for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research seeks to improve the health of individuals, families, and populations by understanding the problems, issues, and alternatives in the design and delivery of health care services. This is accomplished through an interdisciplinary program of research, consultation, technical assistance, and training that focuses on timely and policy-relevant questions concerning the accessibility, adequacy, organization, cost, and effectiveness of health care services, and the dissemination of this information to policymakers and the general public.

The NCIOM is an independent, quasi-state agency that serves as a non-political source of advice and information on health and healthcare issues of concern to all North Carolinians for agencies of state government, the General Assembly, the Governor, state philanthropic organizations, and other stakeholders.

The Research Specialist will work under the direction of Michelle Ries, MPH, President and CEO (Principal Investigator) of the NCIOM, and the Associate Director (AD), NCIOM, Ms. Ayana Simon, MSW. The Research Specialist will administer NCIOM special projects and assist with task forces including, but not limited to, project planning, coordination, literature reviews, background research and analysis, and database development and management. The Research Specialist will manage communication with project participants and develop publications, reports and related products. The research specialist will be the NCIOM liaison with all project participants including developing and providing background materials, and surveying participants to get feedback on their experiences. The Research Specialist will work with multiple complex projects simultaneously.

For task force projects, the Research Specialist will work with task force members to develop consensus on specific recommendations and will assist in writing task force reports. The Research Specialist will conduct literature reviews specific to the task force to identify trends and issues related to the task force topic(s). Additionally, the Research Specialist will review the recommendations of previous NCOIM task forces and provide written updates that reflect the status of each recommendation and its implementation.

The position requires substantial capacity to independently manage and coordinate research activities in addition to excellent writing skills. The Research Specialist will work with several groups of people, including providers, government agencies, professional associations, and other stakeholders and policy makers, and needs to have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. The person holding this position must have the knowledge and experience to be capable of working independently in a self-directed manner.

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.

Candidate must have project management experience with ability to meet deadlines and work on multiple projects simultaneously. Candidate must have ability to meet deadlines and to work independently and as part of a team. The successful candidate must be organized and detail-oriented.

Preference will be given to those with strong writing and presentation skills, experience in state public health policy, legal research, public policy, and/or public health working with health professionals and other key community leaders, and a familiarity with North Carolina policy models. Preferred proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Internet research tools, social media tools, reference management software, and WordPress.

Not Applicable.

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.