Rural Development Research Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Project & Research Assistant (Temporary 3 Months)

Organization: The Rural Collaborative
Location: Remote (must be located in WA state)
Position Type: 30 hours / week for 3 months
Reports To: Workforce Development Project Lead

About The Rural Collaborative

The Rural Collaborative is a member-driven organization supporting rural hospitals throughout Washington State. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared resources, The Rural Collaborative helps rural healthcare organizations strengthen operations, improve workforce stability, and ensure access to quality healthcare in rural communities.

Position Summary

The Rural Collaborative is seeking a highly motivated and resourceful Project & Research Assistant to support the development of the Rural Workforce Development Resource Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to help rural hospitals identify and leverage workforce development opportunities across Washington State.

This temporary position will be responsible for researching and collecting workforce development resources, organizing and validating information, gathering hospital best practices and success stories, and preparing content in a structured format for a marketing firm to transform into a professionally designed guide.

The ideal candidate is exceptionally organized, curious, proactive, and comfortable working independently while engaging with hospital leaders and external stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Research & Resource Collection

• Conduct comprehensive research on workforce development programs, grants, educational partnerships, training opportunities, scholarships, loan repayment programs, and other workforce-related resources available to rural hospitals in Washington State.
• Identify and gather information from government agencies, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, healthcare associations, and other relevant sources.
• Verify the accuracy and relevance of information collected.

Data Organization & Content Development

• Organize research findings into a clear, logical, and user-friendly format.
• Develop resource summaries and content outlines for inclusion in the guide.
• Maintain project tracking tools and resource databases.
• Prepare information and supporting materials for transfer to the marketing firm responsible for final guide design and publication.

Hospital Engagement

• Communicate directly with rural hospitals throughout Washington State to gather workforce development best practices, innovative programs, and success stories.
• Schedule and conduct interviews or information-gathering conversations with hospital representatives.
• Collect and document examples that may be featured within the guide.

Project Support

• Assist with project timelines, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Participate in project meetings and provide progress updates.
• Support other workforce development project activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a research assistant, project assistant, project coordinator, administrative support, or similar role.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and compiling information from multiple sources.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Outlook.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in healthcare, workforce development, education, nonprofit organizations, or public sector environments.
• Experience interviewing stakeholders and documenting best practices.
• Familiarity with Washington State workforce development programs and resources.
• Experience developing reports, guides, toolkits, or resource documents.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Resourcefulness: Ability to locate information and solve problems independently.
• Self-Motivation: Works effectively with limited supervision and takes initiative.
• Organization: Maintains accurate records and manages multiple tasks efficiently.
• Communication: Builds positive relationships and communicates professionally with a variety of stakeholders.
• Analytical Thinking: Evaluates information and identifies meaningful insights and trends.
• Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, high-quality work.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of computer work and virtual meetings.
• Ability to travel occasionally within Washington State, if requested.

Why Join This Project?

This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to a meaningful statewide initiative that will help rural hospitals strengthen their workforce pipelines and improve access to healthcare in communities across Washington. Your work will directly support hospitals as they address one of the most critical challenges facing rural healthcare today.