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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Research Program Manager
Job Summary:
The Office of Community Health within the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health seeks an experienced Research Program Manager to lead and coordinate a diverse portfolio of community-centered health initiatives that advance health and well-being across Wisconsin, as well as play a key role in building up DFMCH’s community engaged research profile. Working closely with faculty, staff, community partners, and healthcare providers, this role will provide strategic oversight of multiple interconnected projects and funding sources, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, timelines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations are all met. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong research program management, communication, and relationship-building skills, who can effectively navigate complex environments, manage competing priorities, leverage data to inform decision-making, and foster partnerships that support meaningful community impact to the benefit of the communities we serve.
- This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
- This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.
Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities will be given first consideration
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects (within an overall program)
- Ability to consistently maintain a high level of attention to detail and demonstrate organizational skills
- Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) with a keen sense of responsive, professional business communication
Key Job Responsibilities:
Develops policies, procedures, and institutional agreements on behalf of the program - 5%
Plans and directs the day-to-day operational activities of one or multiple research programs or units according to established research objectives in alignment with strategic plans and initiatives - 30%
Serves as a unit liaison and subject matter expert among internal and external stakeholder groups, collaborates across disciplines and functional areas, provides program information, and promotes the accomplishments and developments of scholars and research initiatives - 10%
Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee - 20%
Assists in the development, coordination, and facilitation of trainings and workshops for internal and external audiences to disseminate research program developments and information - 10%
Plans, develops, and implements processes and protocols to support research aims - 10%
Monitors program budget(s) and approves unit expenditures - 15%
Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Office of Family Medicine and Community Health
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin is a leading clinical department within the School of Medicine and Public Health. DFMCH is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research. Our 18 clinics provide primary care to more than 170,000 patients, yielding over 375,000 patient visits annually. Each year, we train more than 160 residents (at sponsored and academic partner sites) and 300 medical students. Learn more: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/.
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $82,000 annually but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026.
Required Qualifications:
- Experience in community engaged research and/or outreach within public/community health
- Experience in supervising program staff in health projects
- Experience collaborating with team members, collaborators, and community stakeholders
- Experience with complex funding portfolios and budget management
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in higher education, research, government, healthcare, or other complex shared governance environments
- Experience in supervising staff in health projects
- Experience in overseeing multiple portfolios including sponsored projects from federal and foundational partners
- Experience in working with diverse communities to improve community health
- Experience in working with healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes through community partnerships
Education:
Bachelors Degree preferred
How to Apply:
For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.
- Cover Letter Required
- Resume
Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees.
Contact Information:
Karl Wichman, kfwichman@wisc.edu, 608-263-4532
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
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Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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