MPF Federal, LLC seeks an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator (ACRC) to provide on-site clinical research support at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, IL, and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC). RTC Great Lakes is the U.S. Navy’s only recruit boot camp and processes more than 35,000 recruits each year. This role helps carry out pathogen surveillance, vaccine effectiveness evaluations, and prospective epidemiologic studies of infectious respiratory and enteric diseases and emerging pathogens among basic military trainees. The schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, with early mornings or occasional weekends to match recruit intake cycles.

Compensation: $55,000 - $60,000 Annually. (Final salary determinations are based on a variety of factors)

The office requiring support conducts ongoing, laboratory-based surveillance of US military populations in unique environments to quantify and study the etiology of infectious illnesses. Test specimens are collected from ongoing surveillance programs and from special investigations of febrile illnesses and pneumonia among military personnel or civilians (recruits, forces afloat, deployed forces, outbreaks of concern, and border populations). In addition to the utilization of portable, rapid assay technologies to identify pathogens in the field, test specimens and limited epidemiologic data, when approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), are provided to the laboratory where diagnostics and, in some instances, in-depth pathogen characterization is conducted. Results are provided to sponsors, the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, local investigators and collaborators, and, when applicable, county health units to guide proper responses that ultimately affect both the readiness of US forces and the safety of public health.

Responsibilities

• Work under the supervision of the Assistant Clinical Research Supervisor, the Clinical Research Program Manager, and the Principal Investigators (PIs) to support Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) Directorate studies.
• Screen, identify, and enroll eligible U.S. Navy recruits into NHRC OID-sponsored clinical protocols following IRB-approved procedures.
• Administer the informed consent process according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Department of the Navy (DoN) guidelines for vulnerable or subordinate populations.
• Explain study objectives, voluntary participation rights, procedures, potential risks, and privacy safeguards clearly to recruits, both in large-group briefings and at individual intake stations.
• Track enrollment numbers, consent forms, refusal logs, and attrition data across training divisions.
• Collect biological specimens as each protocol specifies. These may include nasal, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal swabs, saliva, urine, capillary or venous blood, and fecal samples.
• Process, aliquot, label, and catalog specimens following standard operating procedures (SOPs) and Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) precautions.
• Run point-of-care diagnostics and devices when a protocol requires them.
• Package and prepare biological specimens for courier or temperature-controlled ground or air shipment to the NHRC reference laboratory, in compliance with IATA and DOT Dangerous Goods shipping regulations.
• Maintain chain-of-custody documentation and biorepository tracking logs.
• Collect clinical, demographic, epidemiological, and symptom data from enrolled recruits, paper questionnaires, and military electronic health records.
• Enter data accurately into electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs) and study databases within established timelines.
• Resolve data queries, review study files for missing or discrepant data, and take part in routine internal quality control audits.
• Protect confidential recruit records and Protected Health Information (PHI) in strict compliance with HIPAA and Privacy Act requirements.
• Coordinate site logistics with RTC medical clinics, recruit divisional leadership, base health services, and FHCC facilities.
• Maintain laboratory and recruitment supply inventories, monitor expiration dates on test kits, media, and collection tubes, and reorder supplies before they run out.
• Monitor laboratory and field equipment such as centrifuges, freezers, transport coolers, and temperature monitors, and record daily maintenance logs.
• Prepare meeting agendas, coordinate weekly situation reports (sitreps) for San Diego-based project managers, and help document protocol deviations.
• Provide surge support during seasonal pathogen outbreaks or public health responses within the recruit training regiments.
• Participate in annual training, site visits, and command-level biosafety inspections.
• Performs other duties as directed by their supervisor.

Requirements

• At least two (2) years of college completed, with coursework in biological sciences, public health, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Biology, Microbiology, Nursing, Health Sciences, or a closely related field is preferred.
• Experience with clinical trial protocols, data collection, and patient recruitment.
• Working knowledge of clinical research methods, GCP, and Human Research Protections (45 CFR 46; 21 CFR 50, 56).
• Skill in handling infectious materials, including pipetting, centrifuging, sterile technique, and cold-chain sample preservation.
• Proficiency in data entry and database management, including electronic data capture (EDC) systems such as REDCap and the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to handle high-volume data collection under tight military operational timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work with patients and clinical staff and to present professionally to large groups of military personnel.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and prioritize effectively.
• Experience with infectious disease surveillance is preferred.
• IATA/DOT certification for shipping Dangerous Goods (Division 6.2 Biological Substances) is preferred.
• Ability to work in clinical intake areas, recruit barracks and processing centers, and biosafety laboratory spaces, with routine exposure to biological specimens and respiratory pathogens. The role requires universal precautions and routine PPE use, including respirators or masks, gloves, eye protection, and lab coats.
• Ability to walk between base facilities, stand for long periods during recruit muster, and lift up to 30 lbs (cooler cases, centrifuge buckets, specimen supplies).
• Must stay current on all vaccinations the site requires for staff working in a healthcare setting.
• Must be able to wear a respirator properly and pass a fit test. Facial hair interferes with the mask’s seal.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) and base driving privileges at RTC Great Lakes.
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable T3/Secret Clearance.

Benefits

MPF Federal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. We offer a competitive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical benefits, PTO, holiday pay and more.