Addiction Research Area Specialist Lead/Research Area Specialist Senior (Underfill)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, self-directed candidate to join a growing research team focused on improving public health, reducing substance use-related stigma, and expanding access to evidence-informed substance use care. The Addiction Research Specialist will partner with study leadership to provide senior-level addiction care training, consultation, and implementation support to clinic partners, as well as support to the research team, to enhance substance-related care delivery across one or more multi-year research studies.

This role involves working with rural clinics to enhance overdose prevention, risk reduction, medication treatment for opioid use disorder, and other evidence-based treatments. The position requires a commitment to person-centered, nonjudgmental, low-barrier, and evidence-informed support for people who use substances. It provides an opportunity to work at the intersection of clinical care, implementation science, and community-engaged research while contributing to improved substance use care services for communities across Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with clinics and community partners to support implementation of evidence-based substance use care and provide technical assistance, including workflow development, barrier identification, troubleshooting, and continuous quality improvement.
• Provide clinical consultation, supervision, education, training, coaching, and technical assistance integrating risk reduction and low-barrier care approaches.
• Contribute to writing study interventions, study protocols, research dissemination materials, and education materials.
• Supervise research staff on delivering clinic and patient-level interventions related to addiction research.
• Support study risk assessment and safety management planning by conducting, training, and refining existing protocols.
• Adhere to institutional regulations and study protocols related to patient confidentiality, safety, data integrity, and quality, as well as study scripts, workflows, documentation requirements, and standard operating procedures.
• Other responsibilities as needed to fulfill study aims and objectives.

Requirements

In order to be considered for this position at any level, all applicants must have:

• Experience working in patient care and clinical care environments, including in substance use disorders, mental health, or primary care clinics, with proficiency in evidence-informed treatments including harm reduction, overdose education and prevention, and medications for opioid use disorders (including buprenorphine or methadone).
• Strong interpersonal skills that foster engagement and collaboration, including excellent assessment and written and verbal communication skills, to engage clinic staff and patients in rural communities.
• Ability to provide training, consultation, and technical assistance to multidisciplinary teams on sensitive topics including substance use, reducing risk, and overdose prevention.
• Ability to take independent initiative and manage time effectively to meet project and community partner goals, with strong attention to detail, organization, and strategic planning.
• Excellent multi-tasking and problem-solving ability, and strong record-keeping practices.
• Ability to work and engage with participants and teams remotely; access and comfort with technology, remote communication, virtual meeting platforms, and electronic documentation systems is required.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to the office in Ann Arbor, MI, with possible travel to rural clinics or community sites throughout the State of Michigan.

Qualifications

For the Research Area Specialist Lead level, applicants must also have:

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., nursing, social work, pharmacy, psychology).
• 6 or more years of professional experience in related fields.
• Specialized knowledge in substance use care delivery and treatment models including low-barrier care, buprenorphine, and other risk reduction interventions.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior-level clinical consultation, training and supervision, implementation support, or technical assistance in clinical, behavioral health, public health, or research settings.

For the Research Area Specialist Senior level, applicants must also have:

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., nursing, social work, pharmacy, psychology).
• 5-6 years of professional experience in related fields.
• Specialized knowledge in substance use care delivery and treatment models including low-barrier care, buprenorphine, and other risk reduction interventions.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior-level clinical consultation, training and supervision, implementation support, or technical assistance in clinical, behavioral health, public health, or research settings.

Skills

Additional qualifications that will help candidates succeed in this role at any level include:

• Demonstrated passion for and experience delivering and/or providing training in low-barrier or harm reduction approaches to substance use care and use of medications for opioid use disorder.
• Experience delivering counseling, case management, care coordination, manualized interventions, or brief behavioral health support.
• Training and applied experience in motivational interviewing, patient-centered care, and/or trauma-informed care.
• Experience providing clinical consultation, supervision, coaching, or training to clinicians, trainees, research therapists, intervention staff, or clinic staff.
• Experience with program implementation, technical assistance, practice facilitation, quality improvement, or clinical workflow support.
• Previous clinical research experience, particularly with large trials, implementation studies, behavioral interventions, or community-engaged research.
• Experience working with rural, underserved, or under-resourced populations with substance use and/or co-occurring mental health needs.

Additional qualifications for the Research Area Specialist Lead level include:

• A Doctoral Degree in a related field of expertise.

Additional qualifications for the Research Area Specialist Senior level include:

• A Master's Degree in a related field of expertise.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on your very first day.
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings.

Schedule

The person(s) in this position will be responsible for completing a schedule consisting of 40 hours a week, usually held within 5 days. Typical workdays are either 9am to 5pm or 8am to 4pm based on manager's approval. Some weekend or evening shifts will be needed to meet the goals/needs of the research grant(s). Flexible hours are available for staff while working remotely for participant-facing or research activities only, based on manager discretion and approval.

Work Locations

Our team is currently working a hybrid model, with onsite workdays taking place at our offices in Ann Arbor, MI. Candidates for this position may be required to visit community sites and collaborate with research partners (including the Department of Veterans Affairs) throughout the State of Michigan. Reliable transportation is required to meet the in-person requirements of the role when necessary. The hybrid model of this position may change based on research/grant needs or University of Michigan policy updates.