Program Coordinator

The College of Public Health and University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) is hiring a 50% Program Coordinator to enhance the relationships between communities effected by environmental pollutants and ISRP researchers. This position works in close collaboration with the ISRP Community Engagement Core Director (Shannon Lea Watkins) and with ISRP faculty, staff, and students; community partners, and environmental regulators in all stages of the ISRP’s community-engaged research, including relationship building, project development, project implementation, and dissemination. This position assists in providing resources for community scientists and community coalitions to support assessment and remediation efforts and in reporting scientific results to communities and governmental agencies. The community engagement core coordinator schedules and facilitates community meetings and streamlines efforts to implement feedback from impacted communities. The position also assists with any administrative tasks related to community engagement to achieve project goals and objectives. Opportunities are available to participate in other research tasks, such as study design, data collection, and writing peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Operational Support and Management:

Coordinate and administer the daily operational activities associated with the ISRP Community Engagement Core (CEC) program and other activities that are supported by the ISRP CEC including community engaged research activities, conferences, seminars, trainings, and outreach activities.

Analyze program data, develop reports, and oversee activities including ongoing coordination of events.

Coordinate training, scheduling, and oversight of CEC volunteers, work study students, graduate assistants, and program staff.

Present information about the ISRP program to new partners.

Provide information at vendor tables and at conferences as needed.

Maintain the calendar of CEC activities for the CEC Director and ISRP

Respond to email correspondence on behalf of the CEC

Accurately represent the goals, aims, and expectations of the CEC Director and the ISRP leadership in all communications with partners and participants

Organize meetings, including sending calendar invites, follow-up emails, and formatting agendas on behalf of the CEC Director

Maintain a database of names, organizations, and contact data for all individuals interacting with the CEC

Track and maintain a list of all CEC activities

Prepare, proofread, and edit correspondence with CEC partners

Prepare, proofread, edit, and upload annual reports and quarterly updates for grant agencies

Collaborate closely with the ISRP Administrative Core for consistency and quality in all grant management activities and correspondence

Participate in training opportunities identified by ISRP leadership

Attend online and in-person meetings of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program

Leadership/Supervision:

May provide functional supervision for program staff.

Provide functional and/or administrative supervision for students.

Provide direction, assignments, and feedback to students and program staff to assure program outcomes are achieved.

Financial Responsibility:

Provide support for ISRP Community Engagement Core Director including budget preparation and tracking, preparing reports, organizing program files, and other administrative duties as assigned.

In coordination with ISRP Community and Engagement Core Director, manage contract deliverables. Advise Director on budgetary needs or discrepancies.

In coordination with grant billing specialists, ensuring billing for deliverable-based contracts.

Research grant opportunities, develop grant proposals, and assist with grant writing to support the program.

Strategic Planning:

Work with CEC Director to develop tailored content for the ISRP on best practices for community engagement in a variety of relevant community-based settings.

Deliver/co-facilitate content to a variety of interested parties (including but not limited to ISRP graduate students, staff, faculty, community partners) with the CEC Director.

Schedule and coordinate training and feedback sessions.

Assist in the overall growth and implementation of the program.

In coordination with ISRP CEC Director, manage the creation of proposals for contract deliverables and budgets for upcoming funding years.

Communication and Outreach:

Collaborate with community partners according to the principles of Community Based Participatory Research.

Communicate and collaborate with outside agencies or individuals (state agencies, community agencies, community members, and partners) regarding the ISRP program.

Serve as liaison for ISRP and internal or external organizations for sharing our information to target audiences through social media and list servs.

Manage community-engagement-related updates of ISRP webpages regularly to reflect current information and opportunities.

Build collaborative partnerships with community organizations.

Gather and provide information using available resources.

Provide and seek information as needed from funding partners.

Create and coordinate dissemination of project social media content and sharing in collaboration with the Translation Lead.

Assist CEC Director, ISRP researchers, and community partners in identifying community needs, identifying overlap between ISRP and community needs, and developing strategies for collaborative research.

Provide technical assistance to community partners.

Schedule and facilitate meetings and other communication with community partners.

Facilitate Center communication to address feedback from impacted communities.

Quality Improvement:

Evaluate programs to improve and strengthen overall program offerings and ensure consistency with principles of community based participatory research.

Facilitate new program offerings within the approved scope of the project.

ABOUT THE IOWA SUPERFUND RESEARCH PROGRAM

The Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) works with communities, government partners, and other Superfund Research Programs to address public health problems associated with Superfund chemicals. Supported with funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, ISRP is a highly integrated center comprising 18 scientists and engineers, 10 staff members, and 21 trainees. Our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to answer key questions such as the following:

Where are the sources of airborne PCBs?

What are the levels of human exposures to these types of PCBs?

What are the potential roles of metabolism in biological responses to airborne PCBs?

What are the human health effects?

How can we remediate PCB contaminated sites?

ISRP's five research projects are supported by six program and research support cores, including the Community Engagement Core. The program, which began in 2006, is directed by Dr. Keri Hornbuckle.