Job Description Summary
Title: Faculty Specialist (Program Manager) – University of Maryland College Park – Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Heath Research (CESAR)
Job Description Summary:
The Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) seeks a full-time Faculty Specialist to support a multidisciplinary team of researchers leading multiple clinical trials and other state and federally funded research projects.
This position at the Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) will support new initiatives focused on nature and mental health and existing anthropological research within our teams. The position will primarily involve overseeing the development of new nature-informed therapy pilot studies within existing research infrastructure across US- and South Africa-based sites as well as to lead new internal projects that include both research, campus programming, and education with Dr. Jessica Magidson. Additionally, this position will work in collaboration with Drs. Magidson and (Andrea) Lopez to support existing anthropological, community-based research on our team based both in Washington, DC and rural Maryland. These studies also include a component focus on ethnographic assessments of natural environments in relation to mental health.
Organization Summary Statement:
The Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland, College Park, was created in 1990 as a college-wide interdisciplinary research center. CESAR is dedicated to addressing the problems substance use disorders may create for individuals, families, and communities in Maryland and around the world. Our practical action-oriented studies and evaluations focus on improving access to treatment for substance use disorders and supporting long-term recovery. In addition, we evaluate novel approaches to supporting and training peers. Our work spans the State of Maryland, including several projects in DC and Baltimore as well as reaching rural areas of both Western Maryland and the Eastern shore. In addition, CESAR has several clinical trials located in Cape Town, South Africa.
Key Responsibilities:
Key responsibilities include:
• Overall project management
• Regulatory oversight, including assisting with IRB submissions and study protocols
• Training and supervising other staff and students
• Supporting data management and other data analysis as requested, including data cleaning, data quality assurance
• Assisting in the implementation of effective data flow systems as specified by study protocol
• Overseeing follow-up, retention and compliance rates, as well as other administrative responsibilities to support study operations
• Preparing presentations, manuscripts, and grant proposals in the broad areas of nature mental health and nature informed therapy
• Supporting qualitative data collection, management, and analysis
• Supporting the implementation of internal funding awards that involve campus and community programming
In addition to work on the active research projects in the lab, additional duties in this position include but are not limited to: assisting with administrative responsibilities to support the research program and events, assisting with presentations for scientific conferences and manuscript/grant preparation, supporting oversight and mentorship of students and staff in the lab, and capacity building to support training of other team members. There will be opportunities for manuscript co-authorship and conference presentations if of interest.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: BA/BS in Social Sciences (Psychology, Public Health, Anthropology, or related field) from an accredited college or university
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to organize and manage time and multiple tasks
• Attention to detail and excellent written skills
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity working with underserved populations
• Ability to maintain effective communication and working relationships with other study team members
• Program management, event planning, project coordination, and anthropology/qualitative research skills
• Prior qualitative research experience, especially working with diverse populations
Preferences:
• Master’s degree (MA/MS) in Social Sciences (Psychology, Public Health, Anthropology or related field)
• Prior experience with manuscript and grant writing
• Experience developing research protocols and preparing IRB submissions
• Familiarity with electronic data capture tools (RedCap) and statistical software (NVIVO)
Job Risks: Occasional onsite presence involving participant-facing data collection in a health care service delivery setting
Physical Demands: Works in an office environment; regularly requires sitting for long periods of time in front of a computer; driving to the campus for onsite meetings and fieldwork sites
Licenses/Certifications: Must have valid driver’s license to drive to in-person meetings and fieldwork sites in Maryland and DC
Position Location: The position is a hybrid role and will involve participant-facing on-site data collection as well as remote research coordination. This position will be based at the University of Maryland, College Park, the flagship campus of University of Maryland, located only 5 miles outside of Washington DC with occasional travel to off-site study locations as needed
Additional Job Details
Required Application Materials:
Cover Letter
Resume
Transcript(s) – unofficial
Writing Sample
List of References (2-3)
Best Consideration Date: 4/20/26
Posting Close Date: 4/20/26
Open Until Filled: N
Financial Disclosure Required
No
Department
BSOS-Ctr for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research
Worker Sub-Type
Faculty Regular
Salary Range
$49,500-$75,000
For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.
Employment Eligibility
The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.
The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.
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