Clinical Research Specialist - Innovation and Implementation Research

At Houston Methodist, the Clinical Research Specialist position is responsible for supporting multiple research projects. This position supports research in the areas of healthcare innovation, wearable technologies and care redesign projects. Responsibilities include assisting with patient recruitment through phone calls and email communication, enrolling and consenting participants according to approved study protocols, coordinating follow up activities, and maintaining ongoing contact with study participants as required. In addition, this role is responsible for accurate data entry, maintaining complete and compliant patient records, and supporting administrative research functions.

The Clinical Research Specialist further provides general qualitative data analysis support, including assisting with coding, organizing, and synthesizing qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, and other patient centered research activities.

Key skills for ideal candidate

• Scientific Writing Skills

Foundational scientific writing ability, with the potential to contribute to manuscripts, abstracts, and other academic content over time. Working proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including organizing datasets and building basic formulas and summary tables.

• Initiative & Self-Directed Learning

Willing to learn new tools, methods, and content areas independently, including through self-study, and to take ownership of assigned work from start to finish. Seeks out answers and raises questions early rather than waiting to be directed.

• Resilience & Ownership

Demonstrates persistence and follow-through when projects encounter obstacles or timelines shift.

• Comfort in an Innovative Environment

The successful candidate will be interested in helping build processes where none yet exist. Priorities and duties may evolve as the program develops.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Bachelor's Degree in a Health-Science related field preferred

EXPERIENCE

• One year experience in healthcare setting preferred
• Research setting preferred

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Exhibits good listening skills
• Ability to work independently and analyze and solve problems
• Demonstrates the ability to manage clinical and interpersonal situations
• Able to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects
• Self-motivated with the ability to think critically and work independently

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Supports the inter-professional team of clinical research investigators, nurses and coordinators. Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one other to achieve optimal department results.
• Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs clinical research support functions as assigned by the clinical trial manager including but not limited to informed consent for non-interventional studies, data abstraction and recording in CRFs.
• Makes phone calls to study patients for appointment reminders and follow-up.
• Transports blood and tissue samples. Processes and packages lab samples for shipping to sponsor or storage at site per the study manual of operations.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Completes required case report forms and resolves queries. Ensures accurate data collection, documentation organization, and safety of study volunteers. Ensures accurate regulatory filing.
• Assists Clinical Trial Manager in identifying opportunities research workflow process improvement, providing recommendations, and contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assures study conduct meets appropriate IRB, FDA, ICH and agency guidelines.
• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist in simple data analysis, with development of training materials for data reports, systems and collection and report generation.
• Leads and identifies opportunities for performance improvement. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes.
• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALLNote that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVELTravel specifications may vary by department

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Bachelor's Degree in a Health-Science related field preferred

EXPERIENCE

• One year experience in healthcare setting preferred
• Research setting preferred

Company Profile:

Houston Methodist Academic Institute oversees the Education Institute and Research Institute. The Academic Institute aligns our research and education initiatives in service to the clinical mission, providing solutions that answer the call for new technologies and skills our clinicians need for patient care. Houston Methodist Education Institute coordinates our primary academic affiliation with Weill Cornell Medicine and other joint programs, including the Engineering Medicine Program at Texas A&M University Intercollegiate School of Engineering Medicine. The Education Institute also oversees continuing medical education and graduate medical education, and supports trainees in residence for medical, nursing, allied health and research education programs. Houston Methodist Research Institute supports research programs and infrastructure that enable faculty across the system to bring new scientific discoveries to patients as rapidly as possible through the full cycle of a cure from conceptual bench research, to prototyping and development, to clinical trials and FDA approval. The Research Institute supports clinical research protocols and extramurally funded translational research programs.

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.