Visiting Research Coordinator, Illinois Youth Tobacco Survey - Health & Kinesiology

Visiting Research Coordinator, Illinois Youth Tobacco Survey Kinesiology & Community Health
Job SummaryThe Visiting Research Coordinator supports the Illinois Youth Tobacco Survey (ILYTS) and related public health research and evaluation activities within the Geiger Lab. The Visiting Research Coordinator leads project planning (including communication, outreach, and engagement activities), implementation, data collection, and dissemination. This role also incorporates evaluation expertise, including designing evaluation plans, applying evaluation frameworks, and helping to translate findings for diverse audiences to inform tobacco control and youth prevention strategies, as well as additional audiences, depending on the project/project scope.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Survey Implementation

* Plan and lead engagement and outreach activities, including meetings, workshops, informational sessions, and community events.

* Serve as the primary point of contact for school administrators and ensure they have all the necessary materials, information, and support required for successful survey implementation

* Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders while developing materials such as presentations and promotional content.

* Gather, analyze, and report feedback and outreach results to improve engagement strategies and increase program visibility.

* Track and document school participation decisions, including acceptance, declination, and followup status, to support survey planning and reporting.

* Implement and manage parental consent procedures in alignment with school and districtspecific policies and research requirements.

* Plan, organize, and execute the ILYTS across schools and communities statewide.

* Coordinate with government agencies, school districts, community partners, and other interest holders to ensure timely and accurate survey administration.

* Manage project timelines, logistics, communications, and documentation to support high-quality implementation.

* Coordinate the purchase of project supplies and services in line with institutional and funding guidelines.

* Collaborate with IHEC's Data Manager to ensure compliance with data security, ILYTS reporting requirements, and state-level data management protocols.

Data Collection, Management & Statistical Analysis

* Implement survey instruments, sampling strategies, and data collection protocols in collaboration with research partners and interest holders.

* Support teammates in statistical analyses using appropriate quantitative methods and software to examine trends, patterns, and determinants of youth tobacco use.

* Ensure data integrity, quality control, and adherence to research standards and IRB-approved procedures.

Reporting & Interest Holder Engagement

* Produce professional, comprehensive reports for interest holders, including policymakers, school partners, state agencies, and public health communities using survey findings.

* Participate in conferences (in-person and virtual), interest holder meetings, and dissemination events to share results and support evidence-based decision-making.

* Contribute to manuscripts, data briefs, infographics, and public-facing communication materials.

Professional Development & Knowledge Advancement

* Stay current on research, policy changes, and best practices related to youth tobacco use, tobacco control, and public health surveillance.

* Apply emerging knowledge to improve study design, analysis approaches, and dissemination strategies.

Evaluation Leadership & Expertise

* Develop and implement evaluation plans for survey, outreach, and dissemination activities, defining evaluation questions, logic models, outcomes, indicators, and data collection strategies.

* Lead process, outcome, and quality improvement evaluations, selecting appropriate methodologies to meet project and stakeholder needs.

* Design and administer evaluation tools, including surveys, checklists, fidelity measures, and feedback instruments.

* Monitor implementation fidelity to ensure alignment with project protocols and objectives.

* Analyze and interpret evaluation data to assess effectiveness, identify improvements, and support datadriven decision making.

* Translate evaluation findings into actionable recommendations for internal teams, school partners, and statelevel stakeholders.

* Prepare clear evaluation reports, presentations, and data visualizations tailored to diverse audiences.

* Strengthen evaluation capacity by developing processes, templates, and tools, and providing basic training or technical assistance.

* Integrate evaluation findings into ongoing and future planning to enhance program quality, reach, and impact.

Travel Requirements

Approximately 5% travel within Illinois and occasionally out-of-state conference travel.

Required Qualifications

* Master's degree in public health.

* One year (12 months) of experience coordinating public health research, evaluation or surveillance projects.

* Experience working with a variety of communities and interest holders, including government agencies, schools, and community organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

* Graduate and/or undergraduate training in epidemiology.

* Experience working with schools.

* Background in survey research, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, preferably in tobacco control or adolescent health.

* Applied practice using the CDC's Program Evaluation Framework.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

* Knowledge of survey methodology, research design, and data collection techniques.

* Demonstrate a basic understanding of REDCap for data entry and management, as well as Canva for developing communication and outreach materials.

* Ability to perform descriptive and basic inferential statistical analyses to support evaluation projects as needed.

* Statistical analysis proficiency (SPSS, SAS, or R) skills.

* Excellent organizational and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

* Strong communication skills, including documentation and interest holder engagement.

* Ability to identify problems, answer questions accurately, and collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 7/6/2026. The budgeted salary range for this position is $53,000 - $58,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Tuesday, June 2. Apply for this position using the 'Apply Now' button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload the following:

• Resume / CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three references

Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact AHS-HR@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1036334

Job Category: Research

Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu