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About the Job

The Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation (ISRDI) is launching a new initiative: The National Institute on Aging Demography and Economics Coordinating Center (NIA DECC). This coordinating center will help 16 NIA-funded Demography and Economics of Aging (D&E) Centers realize their full potential to generate impactful research, to facilitate new and innovative collaborations, and to broaden the community of aging scholars. NIA DECC has four objectives: (1) serve as the administrative hub of the D&E Centers; (2) facilitate synergistic collaborations to catalyze new aging research; (3) expand the impact of the D&E Centers’ research through effective dissemination; and (4) coordinate tracking and reporting to reduce redundant effort and increase productivity. 

Join the NIA DECC team as we support transformative research across the country that is advancing knowledge in the demography and economics of aging and studies of older adults, including on Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The DECC Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the DECC and serve as a key liaison across NIA DECC stakeholders.   The ideal candidate will:

  • Have a passion for facilitating cutting-edge transdisciplinary health research
  • Have the ability to see large and small problems and take the initiative to define and solve them, when possible. 
  • Enjoy a position connecting with people, virtually and in-person.
  • Be eager to connect stakeholders to one another and to the resources they need to advance aging research.
  • Have a proven track record of successfully managing a high volume of emails and written requests

Responsibilities:

Coordinate Day-to-Day Operations (20%): Manage a holistic view of DECC research-development and dissemination activities, timelines, and budget to support efficient use of resources, appropriate mitigation for schedule delays and problems, and successful completion of project deliverables. 

  • Maintain a project timeline and track progress on required activities
  • Track center metrics for annual and semi-annual reports to NIA
  • Schedule DECC meetings, attend and take notes, share minutes, and track key action items and follow-ups
  • Monitor NIA DECC budget and provide updates to Co-Directors 

Manage the Administration Hub (30%): Help D&C centers understand research regulation and best practices for reporting, including answering questions and finding solutions related to center management. 

  • Serve as a key liaison for NIA DECC Co-Directors, NIA program staff, and the D&E center directors and administrators.
  • Serve as a resource for center administrators, directors, and other key contacts at D&E centers: responding to email, answering questions on Slack, and enlisting other experts as necessary.
  • Coordinate evaluation activities (meetings and reports for the external evaluator)
  • Organize shared resources for centers on Google Drive or other platforms.
  • Help develop and support reporting and tracking tools for centers 

Manage NIA DECC research events (30%): Facilitate research collaboration across D&E centers and dissemination of research results through DECC events.

  • Help coordinate virtual and in-person events: contact guests, manage logistics, and track participation
  • Host virtual events (via Zoom): large, open events such as webinars and smaller, invitation-only meetings (such as emerging scholar program virtual meetings).
  • Coordinate and host in-person events at academic conferences such as networking social events, hosted meals, directors' meetings, and NIA DECC exhibits.
  • Coordinate an annual NIA DECC in-person 2-day research workshop (starting in 2026-2027 academic year): disseminate a call for abstracts and workshop applications, help develop workshop program, serve as key contact for attendees, and manage event logistics.        

Support DECC programs and dissemination (20%): Facilitate research collaborations across D&E centers and dissemination of research results through DECC programs.

  • Help administer a pilot grant program: disseminate call for proposal, help coordinate review process, and serve as key contact for pilot grant awardees for reporting and budget.
  • Support NIA DECC Communications Manager with weekly emails and newsletter: collect content from centers, NIA, and other sources and serve as back-up to send communication.
  • Help maintain NIA DECC website: Collect content from centers, NIA and other sources and make updates to the website.  

Pay Range: $31.25- $39.43 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience
Work Location: This position is eligible for hybrid or fully onsite work arrangements. The selected candidate must work from the ISRDI offices at least 2 days a week. ISRDI is located at 50 Willey Hall in Minneapolis, MN. 

Travel: The successful candidate will be required to travel 2-3 times per year.


Qualifications

Required:

  • BA/BS in a social science or health field (e.g., sociology, public health, gerontology, public affairs) with at least 4 years of work experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 8 years
  • Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills and proven ability to implement systems to keep multiple people organized
  • Demonstrated ability to identify and define problems and then to develop solutions 
  • Experience successfully managing a project with multiple streams of work, several contributors, and competing deadlines
  • Ability to work independently with limited supervision, as a part of a team, and with changing priorities
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and use new technologies
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Additional selection criteria*: 

  • Master’s degree and/or professional experience in a social science or health field related to the demographics and economics of aging (e.g., sociology, public health, gerontology, public affairs) 
  • Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience working on federal grants, especially from the National Institutes of Health, and the related requirements and regulations on budgets, human subjects research, data sharing plans, and/or grant reporting. 
  • Experience with technical writing and/or public communication

*Are you excited about this job and meet the required qualifications, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred qualification? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply because you just may be the right candidate for this role.