Research Specialist Jobs in Ohio
Research Specialist jobs in Ohio are in steady demand, concentrated in academic research institutions, healthcare systems, and policy and market research firms, with openings at every level from entry-level research assistant through senior specialist. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are the primary hiring hubs, where institutions such as The Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, and Procter and Gamble consistently recruit research specialists. The most in-demand specialties include clinical research, market and consumer research, and policy analysis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 7+ Research Specialist jobs
Salary Grade
Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $52,705 and $66,672, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.
Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.
Job Description
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Research Agreements Specialist is responsible for assisting the Executive Director of Research Compliance with the review, negotiation, and processing of research and service agreements for the university. Serving as an integral member of the agreements team, this position ensures that all agreements are executed in alignment with university policies, sponsor requirements, and the appropriate agreement type. The portfolio includes a wide range of agreement mechanisms from sponsored research and service agreements, material transfer agreements, data use agreements, and other specialized or miscellaneous research-related contracts. Negotiation of these agreements is a highly technical activity requiring both scientific and legal fluency, as well as a strong commitment to upholding the university's positions on key terms while balancing faculty needs and institutional risk. This role also contributes to the university's conflict-of-interest and research integrity compliance programs by offering support with transactional responsibilities as needed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (The responsibilities described below reflect the core functions of this position within Agreements and Conflict of Interest. As institutional priorities, regulatory requirements, and operational needs evolve, specific duties may be modified or rebalanced to support departmental objectives, provided such changes remain consistent with the position's functional role and classification.)
- Manage agreements in accordance with university policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Review all sections of research agreements for sponsored projects administration. Evaluate requests in terms of compliance, circumstances, terms and conditions, appropriate templates, language, legal implications, and more. Identify appropriate risk level, Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) involvement, and necessary revisions. Prepare and negotiate the terms and conditions of all research-related agreements. Assist in the preparation of various types of agreements, including Data Use Agreements and Material Transfer Agreements. Manage the intake and storage of Addgene agreements. Meet with external stakeholders to negotiate terms and conditions. Propose and facilitate appropriate amendments. Develop and implement automation using AI in the workflow around the review and processing of all agreements. (75%)
- Support conflict-of-interest and research integrity compliance programs by assisting with ensuring federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies are met. Lead the AI automation efforts in these spaces. Maintain thorough records. (20%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)
CONTACTS
Department: Daily contact with the executive director of research compliance, and the other staff of the pre award and compliance offices.
University: Daily contact with CWRU principal investigators, researchers, and staff.
External: Regular contact with investigators at our affiliate hospitals, and contracting agents at partner organizations, companies, educational institutions, and other collaborators to negotiate and/or monitor agreements as appropriate.
Students: Occasional contact with graduate students and postdocs as needed for an agreement review.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
No staff supervisory responsibility.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 3 to 5 years administrative experience, preferably in administrative areas such as law, management, or health care.
Education: Bachelor's degree required. Prefer LLM or JD.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Technical and administrative leadership skills to analyze, evaluate, and communicate contractual matters relating to areas of research compliance.
- Ability to learn and execute AI automation techniques to improve process.
- Maintains confidentiality and communicates tactfully regarding sensitive information.
- Works independently and is able to balance a variety of tasks.
- Solid critical thinking skill with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to achieve common goals. Communicate effectively and professionally, orally and in writing.
- Ability to create a supportive, advocacy-oriented environment.
- Service-oriented, collaborative approach to customers and peer relationships.
- High degree of maturity, independent judgment, and critical thinking.
- Sophisticated understanding of academic and medical organizational cultures across institutions.
- Advanced competence utilizing MS Office suite, Google Sheets and other Google programs, and other various computerized databases.
- Ability to meet consistent attendance.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment.
Hybrid Eligibility
This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.
EEO Statement
Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.
Reasonable Accommodations
Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.
.
Salary Grade
Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $52,705 and $66,672, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.
Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.
Job Description
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Research Agreements Specialist is responsible for assisting the Executive Director of Research Compliance with the review, negotiation, and processing of research and service agreements for the university. Serving as an integral member of the agreements team, this position ensures that all agreements are executed in alignment with university policies, sponsor requirements, and the appropriate agreement type. The portfolio includes a wide range of agreement mechanisms from sponsored research and service agreements, material transfer agreements, data use agreements, and other specialized or miscellaneous research-related contracts. Negotiation of these agreements is a highly technical activity requiring both scientific and legal fluency, as well as a strong commitment to upholding the university's positions on key terms while balancing faculty needs and institutional risk. This role also contributes to the university's conflict-of-interest and research integrity compliance programs by offering support with transactional responsibilities as needed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (The responsibilities described below reflect the core functions of this position within Agreements and Conflict of Interest. As institutional priorities, regulatory requirements, and operational needs evolve, specific duties may be modified or rebalanced to support departmental objectives, provided such changes remain consistent with the position's functional role and classification.)
- Manage agreements in accordance with university policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Review all sections of research agreements for sponsored projects administration. Evaluate requests in terms of compliance, circumstances, terms and conditions, appropriate templates, language, legal implications, and more. Identify appropriate risk level, Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) involvement, and necessary revisions. Prepare and negotiate the terms and conditions of all research-related agreements. Assist in the preparation of various types of agreements, including Data Use Agreements and Material Transfer Agreements. Manage the intake and storage of Addgene agreements. Meet with external stakeholders to negotiate terms and conditions. Propose and facilitate appropriate amendments. Develop and implement automation using AI in the workflow around the review and processing of all agreements. (75%)
- Support conflict-of-interest and research integrity compliance programs by assisting with ensuring federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies are met. Lead the AI automation efforts in these spaces. Maintain thorough records. (20%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)
CONTACTS
Department: Daily contact with the executive director of research compliance, and the other staff of the pre award and compliance offices.
University: Daily contact with CWRU principal investigators, researchers, and staff.
External: Regular contact with investigators at our affiliate hospitals, and contracting agents at partner organizations, companies, educational institutions, and other collaborators to negotiate and/or monitor agreements as appropriate.
Students: Occasional contact with graduate students and postdocs as needed for an agreement review.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
No staff supervisory responsibility.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 3 to 5 years administrative experience, preferably in administrative areas such as law, management, or health care.
Education: Bachelor's degree required. Prefer LLM or JD.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Technical and administrative leadership skills to analyze, evaluate, and communicate contractual matters relating to areas of research compliance.
- Ability to learn and execute AI automation techniques to improve process.
- Maintains confidentiality and communicates tactfully regarding sensitive information.
- Works independently and is able to balance a variety of tasks.
- Solid critical thinking skill with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to achieve common goals. Communicate effectively and professionally, orally and in writing.
- Ability to create a supportive, advocacy-oriented environment.
- Service-oriented, collaborative approach to customers and peer relationships.
- High degree of maturity, independent judgment, and critical thinking.
- Sophisticated understanding of academic and medical organizational cultures across institutions.
- Advanced competence utilizing MS Office suite, Google Sheets and other Google programs, and other various computerized databases.
- Ability to meet consistent attendance.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment.
Hybrid Eligibility
This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.
EEO Statement
Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.
Reasonable Accommodations
Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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See All 7 Research Specialist Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Specialist JobsResearch Specialist Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Specialist Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Technology & Software
What Ohio Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research specialist jobs across Ohio.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, biology, or public health
- Experience designing and executing quantitative or qualitative research studies
- Proficiency with statistical analysis software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or Stata
- Strong written communication skills for preparing reports, briefs, and publications
- Familiarity with IRB protocols and research compliance requirements
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a team environment
Research Specialist Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research specialist in Ohio?
Most research specialist roles in Ohio require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline such as biology, psychology, public health, or social sciences, with many positions at universities and health systems preferring a master's degree. Ohio does not issue a state license specific to research specialists, but clinical research professionals often pursue credentials such as the Certified Clinical Research Professional designation through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Building experience through university labs, nonprofit research centers, or internships at Ohio health systems is the most direct path.
Which companies hire research specialists in Ohio?
Employers hiring research specialists in Ohio right now include Case Western Reserve University, Owens Corning, and Veeva Systems, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ohio's concentration of major academic medical centers, consumer goods companies, and policy research nonprofits creates consistent year-round demand for the role.
Which Ohio cities have the most research specialist jobs?
Columbus, Cleveland, and Ohio have the most research specialist openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because of The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and a growing base of market research and analytics firms, while Cleveland's concentration of health system research at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals drives strong demand there, and Cincinnati benefits from corporate research roles at large consumer goods and healthcare companies headquartered in the region.
Are there remote research specialist jobs in Ohio?
Yes, and more than many fields, because a significant portion of research specialist work involves data analysis, literature review, report writing, and coordination tasks that translate well to remote settings. About 83% of research specialist openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the analytical nature of the role. Positions requiring hands-on lab work or in-person participant interaction are the most likely to remain fully on-site.
How can I get hired as a research specialist in Ohio with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research assistant or coordinator role, often posted directly by Ohio universities and hospital systems for candidates who are recent graduates. Institutions such as The Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital run active research programs that regularly bring on entry-level coordinators and study assistants to support ongoing trials and projects. Lateral moves from adjacent roles such as data analyst, lab technician, or program associate are common, and earning a certification in clinical research or completing a graduate-level research methods course gives applicants a measurable edge in competitive applicant pools.
Where can I find and apply to research specialist jobs in Ohio?
You can find and apply to research specialist jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings from employers actively hiring. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 7 Research Specialist Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Specialist Jobs