Program Officer For Social Behavioral Sciences

at  University of California Office of the President

Location: OaklandFull Time
Job ID: 66331
Job Posting
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POSITION LOCATION: This position is a remote eligible position in the State of California.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is part of the Research Grants Program Office (RGPO) within Research and Innovation (R&I) at the University of California, Office of the President (UCOP). The RGPO consists of several grant making programs that are administered by the University of California on behalf of the State of California. These programs are the California Breast Cancer Research Program, the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, and the UC Research Initiatives such as the Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives and the Lab Fees Research Program. The RGPO provides central coordination to support grant review and administration, financial and budgetary services, database management, and other core administrative needs to all of the grant programs.
The Program Officer for Social Behavioral Sciences is responsible for oversight of a portfolio of grants in the social behavioral research field administered by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP). Primary duties include Request for Proposal (RFP) planning and development, peer reviewer and applicant relations, and grant application and award management. The Program Officer for Social Behavioral Sciences will disseminate research findings to a broad range of organizations and institutions concerned with nicotine and tobacco products, tobacco-related disease, and tobacco control. The incumbent will have advanced knowledge of social behavioral research methods, with particular expertise in community-partnered research and/or implementation science. Expertise around tobacco and nicotine cessation is a preferred qualification. They will also have knowledge of tobacco prevention and control, tobacco policies, health disparities research, and health equity. The incumbent will also work with the TRDRP Program Director and a team of Program Officers to develop best practices and work products needed to maintain TRDRP’s excellence in grant-making. They will identify and assist in implementing state of the art approaches and methodologies to advance equity in research solicitation and review. As health equity is a cross-cutting theme in RGPO, the incumbent may also perform some of the above duties for the other programs in RGPO.
Responsibilities
50% Grant Application and Award Management: Serves as Scientific Program Officer for a portion of the TRDRP portfolio of social behavioral research grants. Utilizes content expertise and professional relationships in the science and academic communities in California and nationally to ensure that research initiatives are aligned with emerging science and the needs of the relevant scientific fields. Develops goals and objectives for new research initiatives in social behavioral science, implementation science, health disparities/equity, or research training arenas. Sets priorities for research funding. Works closely with members of the RGPO Operations Unit to ensure well-run, fair, equitable, and scientifically sound application reviews. Develops TRDRP application solicitations, ensuring that they clearly communicate the program’s research priorities and offer equitable applicant opportunities. Identifies potential expert advisors and peer reviewers by keeping abreast of the latest scientific discoveries in relevant tobacco-related research areas and by establishing and maintaining collegial relationships with leading investigators in California and nationwide. Serves as Scientific Review Officer during review meetings, interpreting program priorities, and documenting the scientific evaluation of applications. Works closely with members of the RGPO Operations Unit to monitor and evaluate the scientific progress of grant awards.
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25% Content Leadership: Serves as the subject-matter expert for community-partnered research and/or implementation science fields. Maintains the TRDRP mandate of reducing health disparities by developing effective research initiatives focusing on priority populations impacted by tobacco-related diseases. Utilizes content expertise and professional relationships in the community-partnered and implementation science communities in California and nationally to ensure that research initiatives are aligned with emerging science and the needs of the relevant scientific fields.
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- 15% External Liaison and Research Outcomes Dissemination: Provides recommendations to program staff during the development of new research initiatives to improve the likelihood that research outcomes can inform policy decisions and public health practice recommendations. Disseminates the results of TRDRP-funded studies to strategic partners and other key stakeholders that will utilize the information in public health, clinical, or policy decisions.
- 10% Cross-functional Teamwork. The Research Grants Program Office is a highly collaborative department with a staff that is diverse in subject-matter expertise, experience, and culture. The successful incumbent consistently identifies and supports opportunities for collaboration across RGPO. Encourages and allows others to explore new cross-unit collaborations. Makes time and resources available for new collaborative projects and initiatives. Interacts well with others in all RGPO grantmaking program and operational units. Utilizes principles of equity and inclusiveness in interactions with the RGPO staff. Communicates both verbally and non-verbally in a direct, cooperative, and courteous manner. Utilizes effective listening skills. Is diplomatic and strives to be helpful in all situations, and to provide excellent customer service. Supports team decisions and goals even when they may be at odds with personal preferences.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of eight years of relevant work experience in the field.
• State-of-the-art knowledge of social behavioral research as well as experience with implementation research methods and/or community-partnered participatory research
• Demonstrated knowledge of health disparities and/or health equity research and interventions.
• Proven leadership ability in scientific program planning and management of projects; experience leading scientific teams, and/or peer review committees.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills. Advanced skills analyzing information, problems, situations, policies or procedures to define and address a problem, need or objective.
• Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal and external peers, managers and teams with advanced program planning and management of projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. The incumbent will pay attention to, and approach issues through a social equity lens. For example, this person will have an understanding of the societal underpinnings of health disparities, given that social and structural determinants of health contribute to disparate health outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a field related to the required scientific expertise for this position.
• Expertise in tobacco and nicotine cessation strategies.
• Extensive knowledge of the history of tobacco control policymaking and the impact of research on policymaking.
• Demonstrated knowledge of historic and current local, state, and federal legislation and regulations regarding the sale and marketing of tobacco and nicotine products.
• Proven ability to formulate solutions, new program development, alternative choices and implications for implementation.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in research grantmaking and grants administration.
• Experience conducting social behavioral research on tobacco-related issues and a record of publications in the field.
• Experience mentoring or training individuals in the social behavioral sciences, community-partnered participatory research, or other STEM fields.

Education

• Advanced degree in a field related to the required scientific expertise for this position and / or equivalent experience / training.

Please refer the Job description for details