Staff Scientist

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The CANOE Partnership: Cancer Awareness, Navigation, Outreach, and Equitable Indigenous Health Outcomes U19 Cooperative Agreement seeks to improve cancer outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities nationally, with an emphasis on the Washington State (WA) catchment area of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium. Our Overall Specific Aims are: 1) Improve rates of cessation of commercial tobacco smoking among a nationally recruited sample of AI/AN adults; 2) Improve rates of lung cancer screenings among our Tribal partner populations in the Consortium's catchment area; 3) Prepare the next generation of researchers in Indigenous cancer equity and provide them with resources to obtain preliminary data to inform future cancer equity research in Indian Country; and 4) Develop infrastructure to support equitable engagement of Tribal partners and Indigenous Frameworks in cancer research.

We are seeking a Staff Scientist for the newly funded U19 CANOE Partnership: Cancer Awareness, Navigation, Outreach, and Equitable Indigenous Health Outcomes study in the Public Health Sciences Division (PHS). Level and salary are commensurate with experience.

The Staff Scientist for the CANOE Partnership will play a key leadership role in supporting the U19-funded Cancer Awareness, Navigation, Outreach, and Equitable Indigenous Health Outcomes (CANOE) study within the Public Health Sciences Division. Specializing in mixed methods analyses, the Staff Scientist will focus on qualitative research and evaluation within AI/AN communities. This role involves developing and conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups, leading data analysis, overseeing cultural adaptation of study materials, and contributing to manuscript writing and publications. The Staff Scientist will be supervised by the Multiple Principal Investigators (MPIs) and coordinate with other scientific staff as appropriate.

The Staff Scientist will specialize in mixed methods research, focusing on the development and implementation of qualitative components within the CANOE Partnership. Responsibilities include leading qualitative analyses using the Indigenous Evaluation Framework, supporting research project assessments, supervising staff within the Administrative Core, and fostering collaboration with Tribal partners. The role requires a deep understanding of community-based participatory research and culturally adapting materials for AI/AN populations.

Primary duties:

Mixed Methods Research & Analysis (35%)

Specialize in mixed methods research and analyses, focusing on qualitative research methodologies.
• Develop interview and focus group guides tailored to AI/AN communities.
• Conduct qualitative interviews and focus groups with community partners.
• Lead the analysis of qualitative data, ensuring culturally appropriate interpretations.
• Conduct the qualitative components of the Indigenous Evaluation Framework.
• Oversee the implementation of cultural adaptations of study materials.
• Use and adapt the Community Engagement Survey for AI/AN populations.

Program Leadership & Coordination (25%)

• Work with internal and external partners to define project goals, resources, and priorities; allocate and monitor effort and progress, redistribute or negotiate addition of resources as required; and ensure deliverables are completed within projected timelines.

Project Assessment & Support (20%)

• Support the Research Projects in their assessments
• Support use of culturally adapted Common Data Elements across Projects and evaluations to ensure consistency

Manuscript Writing & Publications (10%)

• Contribute to manuscript writing and publications, collaborating with MPIs and other researchers.
• Present findings at conferences and workshops to disseminate research outcomes.

Community Engagement & Capacity Building (10%)

• Support the Cultural Connection Council implementation
• Support implementation of the Annual CANOE Partnership meeting
• Support implementation of the Pilot and Career Development Award program

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD or equivalent experience.
• Experience in community-based participatory research, Indigenous methodologies, qualitative methods and analyses, cultural adaptation of materials for AI/AN populations, and quantitative survey adaptation and administration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD with 2+ years of experience.
• Strong mixed methods analytical and organizational skills.
• 1-2 years of experience in a leadership/supervisory role.
• Proven track record of successful management of people and projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to think outside the box.
• Ability to identify problems and troubleshoot solutions with limited direction.
• Research or programmatic experience working with AI/AN populations and Tribal organizations.

The annual base salary range for this position is from $82,123 to $185,000 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), paid holidays (up to 13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 12 months for professor track faculty, up to 6 months for other scientific staff).