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The purpose of this position is to coordinate, review, edit, and finalize scientific manuscripts and grant proposals for submission by the Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE), a major health services research center within the Department of Surgery. SORCE is a multidisciplinary research center established by the Department of Surgery supporting research to improve the quality of surgical care at the local, regional and national level. SORCE collaborates with a variety of academic and community partners and institutions providing expertise in design/deployment of health services and patient-oriented outcomes projects for research and clinical quality improvement.
This position supports SORCE and collaborating faculty by coordinating in the preparation of manuscripts and presentations, editing for consistency, clarity, grammar, and syntax. This position will also assist in the development, writing, and submission of funding proposals, including editing proposal narratives and writing supporting documentation. They will conduct background research and literature reviews as needed. Candidates must be proficient in manuscript preparation and possess the ability to work collaboratively and independently to achieve stated goals. This position reports directly to a senior project manager. The majority of work will be performed independently with little day-to-day direction while working within a dynamic, high-volume, and collaborative team environment.
This position requires someone with a history of successful writing and editing efforts for peer-reviewed publications and funding applications. Competitive candidates will possess a proven ability to compose clear and concise communications and to proofread accurately. The successful candidate must be able to adjust to shifting priorities and work collaboratively and professionally with members of the University at all levels in order to meet project deadlines. It will be necessary for the individual in this position to be able to juggle priorities; ensuring priorities are completed efficiently under time pressure. They must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, meticulous attention to detail, and possess excellent organizational skills. This is a position that requires independent problem-solving and excellent project management skills. The timeline for project execution to milestone achievement is short; therefore, success requires a candidate with high skill level and independent resourcefulness.
SORCE is committed to encouraging diversity and inclusion and to being a workplace where such values are at the forefront of our daily interactions and our work as a research center. We value and seek diverse team members who are passionate, innovative, and collaborative. All candidates are encouraged to address as part of their cover letter how their experiences and perspective could potentially contribute to diversity and inclusion at SORCE.
The Department's Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE) was established in 2005 with a mission to assess the impact of surgical procedures on patients, society, and the healthcare system and improve the practice of surgery through education, training, and policy initiatives. To date, SORCE has received over $100 million in grant support and currently operates an annual budget of over $6 million. SORCE has grown into a multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from across health science disciplines, including over 25 UW faculty from 15 departments and 4 schools, and clinicians at clinical practice sites across the Washington State. In addition, SORCE provides a collaborative resource base for junior faculty from all Surgical Divisions as well as cross-departmentally. More information about SORCE is available at http://uwsurgery.org/sorce.
The individual in this position must operationalize and manage multiple timelines and priorities on the projects. They will need expert skill in working with both staff and faculty. This position will have multiple stakeholders to whom they will be accountable.
The main areas of responsibility for this position are as follows:
Editing and Publication = 50%
Research and Writing = 40%
Funding Application Development = 10%
I. Editing and Publication (50%)
Translate specialist writings into a common vocabulary necessary for interdisciplinary research projects. Synthesize materials submitted by multiple collaborators. Review materials for accuracy and completeness of information; appropriateness of information for audience, purpose, and objective; overall organization; depth, level of detail, and scope; and appropriateness, effectiveness, and accuracy of graphics, diagrams, and other visuals.
Engage with external collaborators to incorporate their feedback, refine messages, and finalize scientific manuscripts for submission.
Apply sophisticated copy-editing skills to polish and finalize materials, maintaining continuity of writing style among different writers and throughout the material. Review materials for style, including: tone; structure; consistency; concise, precise, and specific writing; active and engaging writing, and; overall readability.
Substantive editing, including improving readability by shortening sentences, eliminating redundancies, rearranging sentences to improve transitions, and clarifying exhibits and references.
Apply intermediate level publishing skills to create and modify tables, graphs, and other graphics, and to lay out and format materials for submission.
Apply impeccable proofreading skills to edit materials for form, including correcting errors such as typos, and mechanics such as incorrect capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. Will also verify and correct aspects such as: grammar; commonly confused words; quotations and parentheses; and adherence to editorial/house style. This position will ensure bias-free language, consistency of formatting, and correctly correlating parts.
Insert and manage references and citations.
II. Research and Writing (40%)
Writing assignments may include background sections for peer-reviewed publications, reports to funders, major multidisciplinary grant reports, SORCE publications, website and social media content, other documents for SORCE communication and development activities and more.
Work closely with SORCE Leadership, affiliate faculty, research staff, and others to create and finalize products.
Provide writing and editing services on project deliverables and written materials for both internal and external dissemination.
Create outlines, drafts, and text for a variety of writing projects. Guide the development of creative graphics, tables, and info graphics.
Play a key role in the development and implementation of training to promote better scientific writing and editing skills in collaborators, staff, and students.
Support other scientific communications functions as needed.
III. Funding Application Development (10%)
Work independently while in close collaboration with SORCE Leadership (Executive Director, Medical Director, Associate Directors, and Administrator), affiliate faculty, research staff, and others to support the development and submission of large, multidisciplinary, and collaborative funding proposals to a wide range of funding agencies and organizations, including both public and private external entities and also internal UW funding sources.
Collaborate with SORCE Leadership and PIs to identify public and private funding opportunities. Provide guidance and support to PIs, project coordinators and others regarding grant guidelines and procedures governing state, federal, and private grant proposal submissions.
Monitor web sites and other sources for funding announcements and maintain a strong working knowledge of available funding opportunities.
Conduct literature reviews and background research as needed, producing synopses to be incorporated into funding applications and publications.
Write a variety of content for funding applications, including supporting documentation such as budget justifications, according to a recognized and approved style, logic, and policy of funding organizations.
Create and maintain templates and 'boilerplate' documents to support the proposal development infrastructure; maintain a knowledge base consisting of project descriptions, research personnel academic biographies, and professional profile documents.
Record and maintain data on proposal submissions and track annual numbers and funding amounts requested and awarded.
Other proposal support tasks such as developing proposal style guides, performing final quality control reviews, and working with graphics and production staff to coordinate final proposal production, packaging, and delivery.
Interface with subcontractors and partners to collect and refine needed text, biosketches, project descriptions, and related material.
Assemble all pertinent materials for final submission. Facilitate the review and approval process. Ensure overall accuracy and quality of all grant proposal documents.
Support investigators in ensuring the timely completion of grant applications.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Health or Social Sciences, Public Health, or related field
Type and Years of Experience:
3-4 years of experience, preferably in an academic, healthcare, or non-profit setting, with notable responsibilities for technical writing and editing; combination of education and experience may be substituted on a case by case basis.
Candidates of non-traditional educational or experiential backgrounds are encouraged to apply – please address applicability of education/experience in cover letter
OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience writing and coordinating multidisciplinary sponsored research and private grant proposals with multiple collaborators for a variety of funding sources.
Ability to thrive under deadlines, able to use independent judgement and produce a quality work product.
Strong written communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals, particularly where technical information must be conveyed in a clear and convincing way.
Communications skills to interact with diverse groups of individuals; to research, secure and/or provide information, clarify situations, resolve problems, and ensure cooperation among individuals. Ability to understand, follow, and provide clear direction.
Organizational and time management skills to coordinate projects and people, prioritize and track multiple projects simultaneously, and meet aggressive and critical deadlines.
Experience with computer software for word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks/assignments. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite of products required, particularly Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Superior command of the English language including rules and usage. Knowledgeable in using/adhering to AMA, APA, and/or Chicago style manuals, and various other academic style guidelines.
Ability to function effectively as part of a team, while also moving projects forward independently. Ability to adeptly manage multiple priorities and timelines. Spends his or her time and the time of others on what’s important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what can help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
Writing and/or editing sample may be required.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s or PhD in English, Journalism, Communications, Health or Social Sciences, or Public Health
5 – 6 years’ in similar positions
Experience using reference/citation management software.
Excellent problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to use rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probe all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at first answers.
Knowledge of medical terminology and clinical practice.
Experience working with academic medical faculty.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
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