Research Coordinator NE

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $19.41 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working directly with the team at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank (GCFB), the Research Coordinator will implement, manage, and refine a streamlined and automated system for creating, packing, delivering, and tracking the tailored food boxes delivered in the Nourishing Tomorrow (NT) program. Nourishing Tomorrow (NT) is a collaborative program and research study that provides medically tailored groceries to low-income pregnant individuals in Cuyahoga County. The program and its underlying research studies are a partnership between CWRU School of Medicine, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and local health care systems, and explores the impact of home-delivered, medically tailored food boxes to pregnant participants with the goal of improving nutrition status, pregnancy, and birth outcomes for mom and baby.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage home delivery program operations and logistics. Assist the research project manager in overseeing the day-to-day operations of a home delivery program designed to reduce barriers to accessing healthy and nutritious food for pregnant individuals participating in a research study. Responsibilities include coordinating food box assembly, quality control, packing, labeling, storage, and distribution in accordance with established protocols. Support inventory management processes by tracking stock levels, monitoring product rotation, and assisting with purchasing food items and cooking tools for participant distribution. Coordinate delivery logistics, including route preparation, driver assignments, and communication with participants. Serve as an on-call point of contact during delivery windows to troubleshoot issues in real time (e.g., address changes, delivery barriers, scheduling conflicts). (30%)
• Serve as a study liaison between the Greater Cleveland Food Bank program team and the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) research team. Participate in regular meetings with CWRU study team members to review program implementation, discuss operational updates, and address challenges or protocol-related questions. Assist with the completion and collection of study implementation forms related to the home delivery program and ensure that required operational and study-related information is accurately documented. Maintain accurate program documentation and complete timely study data entry to support the integrity of participant records and operational tracking systems. (15%)
• Coordinate volunteer recruitment and training. Assist in the recruitment, onboarding, orientation, and training of volunteers to support food packing, distribution, and related program activities. Coordinate volunteer scheduling to ensure adequate coverage for program operations. Provide supervision and guidance during volunteer shifts to maintain safety, efficiency, and quality standards. Step into volunteer roles as needed to ensure continuity of services during staffing gaps or high-volume periods. Foster a positive volunteer experience to support retention and engagement. (25%)
• Support efforts to build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with food suppliers, community partners, and program collaborators. Assist with communication and coordination with external partners to ensure alignment with program goals. Represent the organization in a professional manner during partner interactions and community events as needed. (10%)
• Provide general administrative support, including filing, printing, record organization, supply management, and maintaining orderly office and storage spaces. Assist with preparation of materials for program activities and meetings. Support compliance with organizational policies and documentation standards. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency, streamline logistics, and enhance the overall effectiveness of food program operations. Contribute to the development and implementation of process improvements to strengthen service delivery and participant experience. Assist with tracking key performance indicators and compiling operational data to support ongoing program evaluation when needed. Provide input into refinement of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure continuous quality improvement. (5%)
• Source food items and support procurement. Assist program team in identifying and sourcing food items that align with program nutrition standards and budget guidelines. Support procurement activities, including vendor communication, price comparisons, and coordination of pickups or deliveries. (5%)
• Support additional administrative tasks as needed to facilitate the study. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Frequent contact with the Project Manager and study team to discuss research progress, participant status, and maintain workflow.

University: Occasional contact with the Bionutrition Core and other departments to coordinate participant schedules.

External: Daily contact with GCFB staff. Frequent contact with study participants to coordinate deliveries of food boxes and cooking tools. Frequent contact with GCFB volunteers.

Students: Frequent contact with students.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Supervision of students and volunteers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 2 to 3 years of related experience required.

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred. Experience in public health, behavioral health research, program operations, or service delivery strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience in process improvement, systems development, or operational workflow enhancement is highly desirable. Experience working with marginalized or underserved populations preferred. Bilingual proficiency, particularly in Spanish, is a plus.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail, with the ability to think strategically and understand the broader impact of decisions on program participants, research and program teams, the work environment, and the surrounding community.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and execute responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Flexibility and adaptability, with a thoughtful and creative approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, including community members, volunteers, staff, and neighborhood partners.
• Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of food safety and nutrition principles, or willingness and ability to complete food and nutrition training.
• Commitment to community service and mission-driven work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfort using data management and communication platforms such as Smartsheet and REDCap.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including lifting up to 35 pounds, operating light warehouse equipment (e.g., pallet jacks), and packing, moving, and organizing food boxes.
• Willingness to learn and work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.
• Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Full time (40hrs per week) onsite location at Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Waterloo Community Resource Center, 15500 S Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110. Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds, operate light warehouse equipment such as pallet jacks, pack and move food boxes, etc.

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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