Project Coordinator I

Position Summary

The Collaborative Lab for Energy Access Research and Solutions (CLEARS), based in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, seeks a Project Coordinator I (Field Research Operations) to support its field research portfolio in Ghana and Eastern Africa. The lab’s work spans household air pollution and child health, clean cooking and energy access, climate and health, and research training, and is anchored by a long-standing partnership with research centers and Universities in Africa.

The Project Coordinator will provide operational, data management, and research coordination support across the lab’s active studies, which include longitudinal cohort follow-up, randomized field trials, and survey-based research. This position will work closely with faculty investigators and international partners to support field implementation, data workflows, logistics, and cross-institutional coordination.

The role requires strong organizational skills, technical proficiency, and the ability to operate effectively in both academic and field-based research environments.

Position is based in New York, NY. The position requires international travel, primarily to Ghana. Work involves both office-based coordination and field-based research activities in rural and urban settings.

Responsibilities

Field Research Coordination- 30%

• Support implementation of the lab’s field research projects in Ghana under the guidance of principal investigators.
• Coordinate field activities including household recruitment, survey administration, and intervention rollout in close coordination with international partners
• Assist in training, scheduling, and supervision support for enumerator teams in collaboration with local research partners.
• Monitor field progress and support adherence to study protocols and timelines.
• Identify and escalate operational issues to senior research staff and investigators as needed.

Data Management and Quality Assurance-25%

• Support the design, implementation, and maintenance of electronic data collection systems (e.g., ODK or similar platforms).
• Conduct routine data cleaning, validation, and quality assurance checks.
• Maintain organized and well-documented datasets using R and/or other statistical software.
• Support version control and documentation of research workflows using GitHub or equivalent platforms.
• Assist in preparing datasets for analysis and reporting purposes.

Logistics and Field Operations Support-20%

• Assist in procurement processes, inventory tracking, and management of field supplies.
• Coordinate shipping and distribution of materials between US and Ghana-based teams.
• Support logistical planning for field travel, accommodations, and on-site operations.
• Maintain records of field operations, budgets, and inventory in coordination with administrative staff.

Stakeholder and Project Coordination- 15%

• Serve as a liaison between Columbia University, the Kintampo Health Research Centre, and other academic and government partners.
• Coordinate meetings, document action items, and track project deliverables across teams.
• Support preparation of presentations, reports, and summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in communication of project updates to funders and collaborators.

Research Support-10%

• Contribute to synthesis of research findings for non-technical and policy audiences.
• Assist in preparation of reports, briefs, and presentations related to project outcomes.
• Support data visualization and basic exploratory analysis in collaboration with research staff.
• Support IRB and related research compliance tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of research goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in research support, project coordination, or related field, preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while following structured research protocols.
• Strong problem-solving and adaptability in field settings.
• Experience working in collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Master’s degree in public health, environmental policy, environmental science, economics, or related field (or in progress).
• Experience supporting field-based research projects or public health studies.
• Familiarity with electronic data collection tools (e.g., ODK/REDCap or similar platforms, or willingness to learn).
• Working proficiency in R and/or other statistical software.
• Experience using GitHub or similar version control systems (or willingness to learn).
• Exposure to GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Strong interest in energy systems, environmental health, or sustainable development.