Research Associate

Employment Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Vacancy ID: NF0010169

Salary Range: Dependent on Experience and Qualifications

Position Summary/Description:

Flexible work arrangements, including virtual/hybrid work locations, are an integral part of the School of Medicine’s Working Forward initiative. As such, this position’s work location is designated as virtual. Please note that the designated work location is subject to change based on the unit’s business needs.

The NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition ( FIT ) Program is situated within the Department of Family Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill. The FIT Program is a partnership between UNC Family Medicine, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction ( DAC ) (which administers the state prison system), Federally Qualified Health Centers, County Departments of Health, community-based organizations, and local reentry councils. The FIT Program coordinates with existing state and local resources to assist people coming out of incarceration with connections to essential medical services. The program hinges on Community Health Workers (CHWs) who connect eligible clients with chronic disease, mental illness, and/or substance use disorder to appropriate health care services. FIT CHWs also help clients put together comprehensive reentry plans working with local reentry partners and community resources. Similar programs have been successful in other parts of the U.S. and have decreased rates of hospitalization, emergency room use, and even recidivism. We have additional support from a national group that encourages the use of this model, the Transitions Clinic Network.

The FIT Research & Evaluation Associate supports the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of research, evaluation, and data management activities for the Formerly Incarcerated Transition ( FIT ) Program. The position is responsible for coordinating program evaluation initiatives, maintaining high-quality data systems, supporting research operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and facilitating the analysis and dissemination of program outcomes.

Working collaboratively with FIT leadership, clinical partners, researchers, community organizations, and external stakeholders, the Research & Evaluation Associate serves as a key resource for research administration, data management, quality assurance, and program evaluation. The position supports Institutional Review Board ( IRB ) processes, oversees data collection and reporting activities, develops and maintains evaluation infrastructure, and contributes to grant reporting, presentations, publications, and other scholarly products.

The Research & Evaluation Associate applies research and evaluation methodologies to support data-informed decision making, continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, and demonstration of program impact across FIT sites.

Education and Experience:

• Experience supporting grant-funded programs, including performance measurement, reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Experience using Qualtrics, REDCap, or similar research, evaluation, and data management platforms.
• Experience conducting data analysis and preparing reports, presentations, manuscripts, publications, or other dissemination products.
• Knowledge of HIPAA , human subjects protections, and data privacy and security requirements.
• Experience working with justice-involved populations, community health workers, healthcare systems, reentry programs, or other community-based public health initiatives.
• Knowledge of the health, social, and structural factors impacting individuals affected by criminal legal system involvement.
• Experience with incarceration and/or experience working closely with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system.

Essential Skills:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Social Sciences, Health Administration, or a related field.
• Two years of experience in research, program evaluation, quality improvement, data management, public health, healthcare, or a related field.
• Experience supporting public health, healthcare, research, or evaluation projects, including familiarity with regulatory requirements and human subjects research processes (e.g., Institutional Review Board [ IRB ] requirements).
• Knowledge of research methods, program evaluation frameworks, data management, and quality assurance practices.
• Experience utilizing databases, survey platforms, research databases, or other data management systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and changing workloads in a dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

AA/EEO Statement:

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.