Research Specialist IV - Eye Research

This position is onsite 4 days per week in Seattle. Candidate must reside within a commutable distance and there is no relocation assistance for this role.

About the Role

This position supports a research project studying the aging eye to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and the aging brain. The role involves conducting in-person eye exams (OCT, OCTA, vision, eye pressure) with older adults, operationalizing and implementing research protocols, overseeing enrollment and data collection, and assisting with project management for small studies.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment & Data Collection:
  • Independently oversees and may perform complex recruitment and data collection activities (e.g., medical record reviews, interviews, physical measurements, quality assurance).
  • Implements operational activities of research projects in adherence to study timelines.
  • May provide operational consultation to research teams in specialized data collection areas.
• Systems & Tracking:
  • Develops and implements data collection instruments, protocols, and systems for recruitment, enrollment, follow-up, and data quality.
  • Creates and maintains computer files, databases, and tracking systems for project documentation and monitoring.
  • Ensures proper maintenance of project documentation in compliance with regulations.
• Project Management:
  • May oversee day-to-day operational activities of a research project.
  • Assists with IRB submissions, HIPAA compliance, budget development and monitoring, and federal/funding agency reporting.
  • May function as project manager for small, simple studies.
  • Summarizes literature reviews and assists in writing progress reports, presentations, grant proposals, and manuscripts.
  • Oversees ad-hoc initiatives or special projects related to research needs.
• Training & Oversight:
  • Trains, coaches, and mentors study staff; may assist in hiring.
  • Acts as a lead (though not a direct supervisor) for other study staff.
• Administration & Communication:
  • Participates in research team meetings, records minutes, identifies problems, and proposes solutions.
  • Provides administrative support (e.g., ordering supplies, scheduling meetings, filing).
  • Plays an active leadership role in the Research Specialist group, serving on workgroups or providing feedback to leadership.
• Research Execution:
  • Independently conducts data gathering activities (e.g., surveys, focus groups, interviews) and ensures data quality.
  • Implements protocols for recruitment, enrollment, consenting, and follow-up with participants.
  • Develops training materials and resources for data collection and project support.
  • Prepares qualitative data for analysis and may conduct basic statistics or qualitative analyses.
  • Responds to participant questions and escalates issues as needed.
• Research Development:
  • Guides and mentors others on developing study materials (e.g., surveys, flyers, brochures).
  • Provides subject matter expertise to inform study design and methodology.
• Documentation & Reporting:
  • Develops tools, systems, and forms for project tracking and documentation.
  • Monitors study progress and escalates issues to project managers or investigators.
• Leadership & Collaboration:
  • Leads day-to-day operations of projects and coordinates/allocates resources.
  • Contributes to budget management and ensures projects remain within constraints.
  • Assists with grant proposal development and discussions with leadership/funding agencies.
  • Drafts IRB protocols, amendments, and other documentation.
  • Ensures compliance with federal/local regulations, SOPs, and IRB-approved protocols.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • Minimum one (1) year of experience in a leadership role (with or without direct reports).
  • Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Health Care Administration, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Health Services, Statistics, Health Economics, or related field AND four (4) years of experience in health research, public health, laboratory/social science research, epidemiology, or a related field.
  • OR seven (7) years of experience in the above fields (degree not required).
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Care Administration, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Health Services, Statistics, Health Economics, or related field.

Skills

• Core Skills:
  • Ambiguity/Uncertainty Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Business Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross-Group Collaboration
  • Decision Making
  • Dependability
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support
  • Drives Results
  • Facilitation Skills
  • Health Care Industry Knowledge
  • Influencing Others
  • Integrity
  • Learning Agility
  • Organizational Savvy
  • Problem Solving
  • Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall
  • Teamwork
  • Topic-Specific Communication
• Functional Skills:
  • Confidentiality
  • Good Clinical Practices (GCP)
  • Health Care Compliance
  • Health Care Policy
  • Literature Reviews
  • Medical Terminology
  • Qualitative Research Methods
  • Quantitative Research Methods
  • Research & Evaluation Data Collection
  • Research & Evaluation Study Design
  • Research Ethics
  • Research Writing
  • Scientific Writing
  • Stakeholder Management

Schedule

• Full-time (40 hours/week).
• Shift: Day (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM).
• Travel: Up to 25% of the time.

Pay

$35.96 – $46.48 per hour. Kaiser Permanente strives to offer a market-competitive total rewards package and is committed to pay equity and transparency. The posted range is based on possible base salaries for the role and does not reflect the full value of the total rewards package. Actual base pay determined at offer will be based on labor market data, internal alignment, and a candidate’s years of relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location.