Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume/CV and cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Up to three professional references should be available upon request.
Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.
The Research Area Specialist Senior serves as a Project Manager for a number of OPEN?s Technical Assistance and related projects, primarily the Rural ED MOUD Technical Assistance Initiative, a multi-year implementation and evaluation initiative designed to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural Michigan. Under general direction, the Research Area Specialist Senior independently manages project operations, implementation activities, stakeholder engagement, evaluation efforts, and improvement initiatives across participating emergency departments, outpatient practices, pharmacies, and community partners.
Reporting to OPEN Project Senior Manager, the position works closely with OPEN?s leadership, Collaborative Quality Initiative (CQI) partners, contracted partners, participating healthcare organizations, community stakeholders, and project staff to implement project activities and achieve program objectives.
This is a hybrid position, requiring 2 days per week on-site at the North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.
Project Implementation and Operations (40%)
- Coordinate day-to-day implementation of OPEN's Rural ED MOUD Technical Assistance Initiative, coordinating activities across participating emergency departments, outpatient practices, pharmacies, and other partners.
- Develop and maintain project work plans, timelines, implementation schedules, and tracking systems to ensure timely completion of project milestones and deliverables.
- Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, readiness assessments, and engagement of participating healthcare organizations.
- Organize and facilitate project meetings, site visits, and stakeholder communications, and prepare regular project updates and status reports for leadership.
Site Engagement, Technical Assistance, and Learning Collaboratives (30%)
- Coordinate implementation of technical assistance and quality improvement activities across participating sites.
- Support site assessments, workflow reviews, implementation coaching, and deployment of performance metrics and improvement tools.
- Plan and support virtual and in-person learning collaboratives, stakeholder meetings, advisory groups, and implementation workgroups.
Project Tracking, Evaluation, and Reporting (20%)
For the Rural ED MOUD Technical Assistance Initiative and other OPEN projects, as required:
- Coordinate project tracking, performance monitoring, and reporting activities to ensure compliance with project goals, sponsor requirements, and funding expectations.
- Maintain project documentation, data collection systems, dashboards, and reporting tools; prepare summaries, reports, presentations, and other project deliverables.
- Monitor project metrics and implementation outcomes, identify operational challenges, and support continuous quality improvement efforts.
Administrative and Compliance Activities (10%)
- Facilitate communication and coordination among project partners, stakeholders, and leadership to support project implementation and care coordination activities.
- Assist with budget tracking, resource management, sponsor reporting, and project administration.
- Ensure compliance with University, sponsor, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
- Bachelor's degree in public health, health services research, healthcare administration, social sciences, nursing, public policy, or a related field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, implementation science, healthcare quality improvement, public health programming, project management, or a related field.
- Experience working with opioid use disorder treatment, substance use disorder programs, behavioral health initiatives, or rural health systems.
- Experience managing grant-funded research or implementation projects.
- Demonstrated experience independently managing complex, multi-site projects involving diverse stakeholders.
- Experience with program evaluation, performance measurement, quality improvement, and data-driven decision making.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and work effectively in a collaborative environment.
- Ability to travel throughout Michigan as needed.
- Master's degree in Public Health, Health Services Research, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Nursing, Public Policy, or a related field.
- Experience with implementation science, practice transformation, and healthcare quality improvement methodologies.
- Experience working with hospitals, emergency departments, federally qualified health centers, primary care practices, or public health agencies.
- Familiarity with healthcare data systems, quality reporting, and performance measurement.
Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the worlds most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.
What Benefits can you Look Forward to?
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Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
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2:1 Match on retirement savings
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Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
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Comprehensive healthcare benefits package.
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Retirement savings plan with employer contribution.
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Professional development opportunities and support for continuing education.
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Paid time off and holiday leave.
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
This is a hybrid position, requiring 2 days per week on-site at the North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.
North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor
Please note: This position is 1 year term-limited through 9/30/2027 with the possibility of renewal based on need and available funding. At the end of the stated term, your appointment will terminate, and will not be eligible for Reduction-in-Force (RIF) benefits. This term-limited appointment does not create a contract or guarantee of employment for any period of time as you will remain subject to disciplinary or other performance measures, up to and including termination, at the will of the University in accordance with existing University policy and standards for employee performance and conduct.
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
