Program Specialist I

Overview

This position has been budgeted for $5,858.67 per month and is non-negotiable.

Recruitment is only open to current SDSU Research Foundation employees.

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Program (ChAAMP) is a treatment research center dedicated to improving mental health care for youths with anxiety and depression. Our goals are to develop efficient, effective interventions for these common youth problems, to improve the lives of impacted families, and to ease the burden on the providers and systems dedicated to their care. The center is affiliated with the Department of Psychology and JDP in Clinical Psychology at San Diego State University and directed by Dr. V. Robin Weersing.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI), the Research Coordinator will perform a variety of duties in support of the day-to-day operations of a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for anxiety and depression in youth. The incumbent will coordinate multi-site research activities, including serving as a liaison to data collection sites, monitoring participant flow through the trial, managing the study website, and conducting randomization reveal sessions with participating families. The Research Coordinator will also assist with regulatory compliance and grant administration and may contribute to the dissemination of the research through academic writing and publication.

Responsibilities

Research Management & Coordination 35%

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of a clinical trial, including serving as a liaison to data collection sites, monitoring the case flow of participants to interventionists, and tracking participant progress through the study.
• Coordinate with the website developer to maintain the study intervention website.

Schedule & Conduct Randomization Reveal Sessions 35%

• Coordinate with recruitment staff and performance sites to schedule randomization reveal sessions.
• Conduct randomization reveal sessions and treatment orientations with participating families (English/Spanish) over video conference/telehealth platforms.

Financial Grants Management & Regulatory Compliance 15%

• Assist the PI with grant administration, financial oversight, and purchasing.
• Maintain regulatory compliance, including IRB requirements and protocol adherence.

Academic Writing & Publication Support 10%

• Contribute to research dissemination through support of academic writing and publication.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

• Perform additional research and administrative tasks as directed by the PI.

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities

• Proven capability in planning and executing complex, multi-component projects.
• Strong effectiveness in team-based, interdisciplinary work environments.
• Creative and analytical thinking skills for addressing research challenges.
• Familiarity and comfort with web design and technical support.

Education & Experience

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in appropriate field related to program/project, or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis
• Two years of progressively responsible experience in technical or administrative assignments

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, public health, or related field appropriate to program/project (additional experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis)
• Minimum 2+ years of experience in research with clinical populations of children and adolescents
• Experience with clinical trial methodology and regulatory compliance (GCP, IRB processes)
• Preferred 2+ years of experience in research with youth with anxiety and depression

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.