Families in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8 face the city’s highest rates of food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease; over 80%25 of DC’s food deserts are in these wards. In response, Children’s National Hospital offers a produce prescription and nutrition education program to support families facing food access challenges. We seek a research assistant to support program delivery and evaluation. 

Ideal candidates are passionate about nutrition, health equity, and community-based prevention. Key qualities include: 

• Compassionate, clear communication with families 
• Strong customer service mindset 
• Proactive problem-solving and follow-up 
• Quantitative or qualitative research skills and interest in scholarly work 
  
  Bilingual (Spanish) proficiency is preferred. 
   

Position Summary

Assist staff in the daily execution of program tasks and projects, providing administrative support to Program Manager and Program Coordinator. Responsible for maintaining office files, completing purchase and reimbursement requests, as well as managing financial records. Assist with fundraising by researching funding prospects, drafting communication with prospective donors, and managing logistics for fundraising events. Assist with special projects related to program goals and mission.

Minimum Education
High School Diploma or GED (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
1 year of performing administrative tasks (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Access.
Ability to produce quality reports under tight deadlines.
Ability to maintain composure and professionalism in a busy clinic environment.
Web design and desktop publishing skills a plus.

Functional Accountabilities
Administrative Support

• Maintain office files.

• Complete purchase and reimbursement requests, as well as manage financial records.

• Ability to produce quality reports under tight deadlines.

Special Projects

• Assist with special projects related to program goals and mission.

• May coordinate volunteer effort.

Data and Research

• Will occasionally be tasked with keeping statistics regarding program.

• Ability to produce quality reports under tight deadlines.

• Maintain research databases in a manner which meets IRB requirements for protection of patient privacy.

Teamwork

• Collaborate with co-workers on day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

Customer Service

• Provide excellent customer service to clinical team, patient families, referring physicians.

• Help families navigate complex hospital system and helps with coordination of care.

• Act as advocate for patients and families, facilitating service delivery and removing barriers to care.

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Organizational Accountabilities

Organizational Commitment/Identification 

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance