Research Investigator II - Behavioral & Mental Health

Research Investigator II - Behavioral & Mental Health will work with our team onsite at the Institute for Health Research in Aurora, Colorado. The IHR is seeking a scientist with demonstrated expertise and funding in Behavioral and Mental Health. This includes a background in mental health services research with preference for experience in one or more of the following: Suicide and violence prevention; Quality improvement for care of depression and anxiety in primary care / collaborative care; Perinatal mental health and/or Digital mental health applications / Informatics in mental health research.

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is responsible for building and maintaining an innovative research program and the procurement of research funding from internal and external sources; managing the implementation of an externally-funded or internally-funded research project and/or program to ensure compliance with award requirements; overseeing fiscal management and ensuring the appropriate use of funds; and evaluating projects and forecasting workload and costs to determine budgets and proper allocation of staff.

• Promotes learning in others by communicating information and providing advice to drive projects forward; builds relationships with cross-functional stakeholders. Listens, responds to, seeks, and addresses performance feedback; provides actionable feedback to others, including upward feedback to leadership and mentors junior team members. Practices self-leadership; creates and executes plans to capitalize on strengths and improve opportunity areas; influences team members within assigned team or unit. Adapts to competing demands and new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback. Models team collaboration within and across teams.

• Conducts or oversees business-specific projects by applying deep expertise in subject area; promotes adherence to all procedures and policies. Partners internally and externally to make effective business decisions; determines and carries out processes and methodologies; solves complex problems; escalates high-priority issues or risks, as appropriate; monitors progress and results. Develops work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; coordinates and delegates resources to accomplish organizational goals. Recognizes and capitalizes on improvement opportunities; evaluates recommendations made; influences the completion of project tasks by others.

• Participates in mentoring activities by: seeking opportunities for professional growth and skill development, as well as sharing advanced knowledge and experience with colleagues and/or advising team members through formal or informal mentorships.

• Assists in the management of research projects by: attending trainings and maintaining advanced knowledge of all applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and accreditation standards, and any funding agency, grant, and/or contract management policies, as well as meeting the terms and conditions of the award to ensure compliance for complex and/or large research studies and mentoring team members on following correct processes to achieve a high degree of security, privacy, and safety; leveraging advanced knowledge to identify and develop research methodologies, protocols, and data collection and analysis plans in partnership with research collaborators across multiple, large, and/or complex research studies to ensure quality and scientific integrity and serving as a resource to team members through the process; leading and/or conducting complex qualitative and/or quantitative data collection, cleaning, management, and/or analyses, and providing feedback to team members to maintain the quality, accuracy, and integrity of data; serving as a liaison and building rapport with cross-functional research partners to facilitate communication, coordinate activities, and provide consultation toward achieving project goals; and supporting and/or leading the development and monitoring of budgets, timelines, and/or deliverables for complex and/or large research studies across a research program.

• Contributes to the development of proposals by: leveraging advanced knowledge to lead and/or collaborate on the development and writing of large and/or complex proposals with national impact, including as a principal or co-investigator, from conceptualization to submission and providing oversight to team members; and participating in and/or leading the oversight of pre-award activities (e.g., define and negotiate aspects of the proposal including the scope of work and budget) for complex and/or large proposals that may vary number.

• Advances knowledge of the scientific community by: applying advanced knowledge to assist and/or lead the interpretation and/or presentation of complex data; and lead- and/or co-authoring technical products and peer-reviewed publications and/or developing abstracts, posters, and/or presentations to disseminate research findings locally, nationally, or internationally to clinical partners, collaborators, stakeholders, or wider audiences, as well as serving as a resource on dissemination activities.

• Participates in service to the local and scientific community by: regularly participating in activities in the scientific community such as serving as a reviewer for scientific journals and grant review panels, and participating in committees, conferences, and/or professional organizations.

• Minimum four (4) years of experience serving as a principal investigator designing and conducting research in an externally and/or internally funded research environment.
• Doctoral degree in Health Services, Public Health, Community Health, Health Education, Social/Behavioral Science, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy or directly related scientific field related to health research AND Minimum four (4) years of experience in a scientific field related to health or health services research and/or evaluation or a directly related field.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in a leadership role with or without direct reports.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Research Funding; Systems Thinking; Confidentiality; Data Governance; Stakeholder Management; Project Management; Research & Evaluation Data Collection; Scientific Writing; Research & Evaluation Study Design; Interpretation & Dissemination of Research; Research Ethics; Change Management