Clinical Scientist Assistant 2 - HYBRID

Discover Vanderbilt Health : With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region. Organization: General Pediatrics Job Summary: As a Clinical Scientist Assistant II, you will serve as a senior scientific and operational leader within Dr. William Heerman’s research program. In this role, you’ll provide scientific oversight and administrative leadership across multiple federally funded and foundation-supported studies focused on pediatric obesity prevention, physical activity, nutrition, and community-based health interventions. Working independently with general guidance from the Principal Investigator, you’ll use advanced scientific knowledge and judgment to help drive the success of the research portfolio. You will oversee key components of the program, including research implementation, regulatory compliance, personnel supervision, grant development, dissemination of findings, and coordination of center-level activities. You’ll also function in a chief-of-staff–type capacity for the laboratory—helping ensure that scientific priorities and day-to-day operations stay aligned. This includes supporting strong execution across projects, maintaining high staff performance, and promoting effective stakeholder and community partner engagement. In addition, you will supervise research personnel, coordinate work across investigators and community partners, and play a substantial role in producing manuscripts, grant proposals, and scientific presentations that advance the impact of the program. Schedule and location: You will generally work a traditional daytime schedule Monday through Friday. Flexibility is key, however, as occasional inquiries may need your attention during evenings and weekends. Your office will be located at 2146 Belcourt Ave., Nashville, TN, with the option to work remotely from home a couple of days per week. Required qualifications: You will need a Ph.D. and at least three years of relevant experience, along with the advanced scientific expertise necessary to support the expanding scope and complexity of this research program. . DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt Health is committed to advancing the health and well-being of children through exceptional clinical care, groundbreaking research and comprehensive education. As part of a world-class academic medical institution, we combine compassionate, family-centered care with innovative science to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients and their families.                                                                                                                                                  We are proud to be affiliated with  Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt , consistently ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals. Our multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, researchers and educators collaborates to ensure every child receives the highest quality care—from routine check-ups to complex medical treatments.                                                                       For additional information, please visit   https://pediatrics.vumc.org/about-department-pediatrics KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Scientific Oversight and Research Operations Provide scientific and operational oversight for multiple ongoing research projects and clinical studies. Direct implementation of funded research protocols, ensuring adherence to study milestones, timelines, and deliverables. Oversee regulatory activities, including IRB submissions, protocol modifications, reporting requirements, and compliance with institutional and sponsor regulations. Monitor study recruitment, participant retention, data collection quality, and project performance metrics. Coordinate activities among investigators, collaborators, and research staff to ensure successful completion of funded research objectives. 2. Staff Management and Program Leadership Provide direct supervision, mentoring, and performance management for research coordinators, research assistants, and other laboratory personnel. Develop staffing plans and assign responsibilities across projects to maximize efficiency and productivity. Lead regular project and personnel meetings and establish operational priorities for the research program. Support hiring, onboarding, training, and professional development of research staff. Serve as the primary operational liaison between laboratory personnel, institutional offices, and collaborating partners. 3. Grant and Manuscript Development Contribute substantively to the preparation of grant applications, progress reports, and competitive renewals. Assist investigators with study design, literature reviews, data interpretation, and development of research plans. Lead and support preparation of scientific manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and dissemination products. Coordinate responses to sponsor requests and reporting requirements. Identify opportunities to enhance research productivity and support growth of the research portfolio. 4. WeGrowHealthy Center Coordination and Community Engagement Coordinate selected activities of the WeGrowHealthy Center and related collaborative initiatives. Facilitate engagement with community partners, advisory boards, and stakeholder groups. Support planning and execution of meetings, events, and center-wide initia