Research Coordinator: School & Procurement Analysis; FTE

Job Description

The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Coordinator:
School & Procurement Analysis (0.5 FTE) to join their team. This is a part‑time, 50% FTE position. Additional FTE (up to 100%) may be available based on evolving program needs.

Location:

Seattle or hybrid, with statewide travel to partner sites, as needed.

This project is a transdisciplinary effort connecting plant breeding, soil health, food product development, and implementation science to develop and commercialize nutritious, climate‑friendly whole‑grain and legume varieties and foods, with a major translation pathway into school meal programs across Washington. The team will lead implementation activities including evidence syntheses, policy and budget analyses of school food procurement, qualitative research with producers/processors and school food personnel, and network mapping and value chain analysis to bridge gaps from grain harvest to healthy products in schools and markets.

The Research Coordinator will lead partnerships, data collection, analytic, and educational components of implementation science work with schools including a scoping review; policy, menu, and budget analyses of school procurement; in‑depth interviews and user journey mapping with school personnel and producers/processors; and planning and leading a 5‑week study‑away educational program.

• Collaborate with PI/co‑PIs to plan and design school‑focused implementation activities aligned with project goals.
• Develop protocols and timelines for stakeholder engagement and data collection and analysis.

• Serve as primary liaison to school food stakeholders (e.g., OSPI, WSDA Farm to School, and others) to schedule and facilitate meetings and data collection efforts and coordinate and track school efforts to integrate whole grains/legumes.
• Work with the team to coordinate sourcing of whole grains/legumes with local farmers/processors and assess how these align with school menu cycles and procurement requirements.
• Draft and submit IRB materials; maintain compliance, renewals, and modifications for any human‑subjects activities with school personnel.
• Manage project calendars, action items, secure file sharing, stakeholder communications; prepare graphics for stakeholder audiences.

• Collect implementation data with schools based on study protocols, including scoping review data, school procurement policy, budget, and menu planning data, in‑depth interviews and journey mapping.

• Analyze implementation data, including scoping review data, school procurement policy, budget and menu data and qualitative data from in‑depth interviews and journey mapping with school personnel.
• Contribute to progress reports, deliverables, and toolkits for school implementation; co‑author manuscripts and practice briefs.

• Assist with planning and logistics for the 5‑week study away program (in ~June every summer for three summers), including scheduling site visits, coordinating with farmers, processors, and school districts, and helping develop educational materials and activities for students, ensuring integration of research insights.
• Direct or co‑direct the study away program, which may include being on‑site with students.

• Track deliverables to funders and partners; support budget monitoring and subaward communications and coordination related to school implementation activities.

The salary information provided below is for a full‑time position and will be prorated for part‑time.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Systems, Public Health, Nutrition, Implementation Science, Agricultural/Environmental Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience with research methods such as evidence syntheses, implementation research, or qualitative research.

• Experience with stakeholder‑engaged and interdisciplinary research (e.g., coordinating school‑based or community food…