Advertising Summary: The VCU Department of Psychology seeks a full-time Project Coordinator to support an applied research program focused on the measurement, implementation, and improvement of evidence-based practices in school and community settings serving children and youth.

Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences 

Department: Psychology

Department Summary: We are a community of students and faculty passionate about psychology as a scientific discipline, and we use and practically apply our discoveries to improve the lives of individuals and communities. We welcome students to contribute to our research labs and community-based partnerships as part of their learning experiences and work toward their degree.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The VCU Department of Psychology seeks a full-time Project Coordinator to support an applied research program focused on the measurement, implementation, and improvement of evidence-based practices in school and community settings serving children and youth. The Project Coordinator will be primarily responsible for coordinating the day-to-day execution of PRISM - an IES federally funded measurement project “Developing and Validating a Technically Sound and Feasible Self-report Measure of Teachers’ Delivery of Common Practice Elements”, with opportunities to collaborate on additional projects within the broader research program, including intervention research in community mental health settings.

This position is well-suited for candidates who enjoy managing complex projects, working closely with schools and research participants, and overseeing high-quality data collection and management processes.

The Project Coordinator will support this work under the mentorship of Bryce D. McLeod, PhD and Kevin Sutherland, PhD, and is set to begin Summer 2026. Dr. McLeod's research centers on the evaluation, implementation, and sustainment of evidence-based programs and practices for youth in school settings. The primary project is designed to iteratively refine and validate a pragmatic teacher-report measure designed to support the implementation and sustainment of prevention programs in elementary schools.

This position is funded for one year, with the possibility of continuation contingent upon the award of additional grants. Employees acknowledge that this is a grant-funded position and that continued employment is dependent on the availability of such funding.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of research projects and monitor study timelines and milestones
• Manage IRB submissions, modifications, and compliance
• Support recruitment, enrollment, and retention of teacher participants, including school visits and participant communication and compensation
• Oversee and participate in data collection and data management processes both online (Qualtrics) and in person (live classroom observations), and conduct qualitative interviews with teacher participants
• Train and supervise observational coding staff, including monitoring coding quality and reliability
• Supervise undergraduate research assistants supporting data entry and related tasks
• Contribute to lab operations and collaborative activities, including research meetings and dissemination efforts

This position operates out of VCU’s Monroe Park Campus and may offer flexibility for some remote work. This position requires frequent travel to local school sites in the Greater Richmond area. The candidate must have reliable transportation to and from school sites.

The VCU job series for this position is Lab/Research Technician in the Research and Innovation job family. For more information, please see VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges here. 

Note: This position is restricted and continuation is dependent upon grant funding.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• An undergraduate or master's degree in psychology, education, or related field
• Keen attention to detail
• Experience working with data and statistical databases (REDCap, SPSS, Qualtrics)
• The ability to handle multiple responsibilities including daily tasks and planning for longer-term projects
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to work autonomously and within the structure of a large research team
• Demonstrated experience to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing large research projects preferred

Salary Range: $37,000 - $42,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 3405B - Lab/Research Technician Base