Part-Time SPAR Coordinator / Clinical Research Associate
Bedford, MA | 18 hrs/week (Mon, Wed, Fri) | $35–$44/hr + benefits
The Bedford Research Foundation’s SPAR program provides a medically supervised pathway for couples affected by HIV or other sexually transmitted infections to pursue fertility treatment with reduced risk of viral transmission. We are seeking a detail-oriented coordinator with a bachelor’s degree in a science or life-science field to support patient care and daily program operations. Clinical, laboratory, or research experience is a plus, but the right organized, compassionate person will be trained.
What You’ll Do
As SPAR Coordinator, you’ll be the primary guide for patients navigating a specialized, often emotionally complex process. You’ll work closely with a small, collegial team of researchers and clinicians in a supportive environment where your contributions directly shape patient outcomes.
- Serve as the first point of contact for SPAR patients — answering questions, coordinating appointments, and providing compassionate, confidential support throughout their journey
- Liaise with referring physicians and fertility clinics to ensure seamless coordination of care
- Maintain meticulous records of specimens, test results, and patient accounts
- Assist with laboratory procedures related to specimen processing and PCR testing
- Handle billing and patient account management
- Support ongoing reproductive health research projects
About the SPAR Program
The Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR) is an international program that makes family-building possible for couples when one partner is living with HIV or another sexually transmitted infection. Using highly sensitive PCR testing to screen semen specimens, the program enables fertility procedures with a dramatically reduced risk of viral transmission — work that sits at the intersection of cutting-edge science and profound human need.
Schedule & Compensation
This role offers a rare combination: consistent, predictable hours with no evenings, no weekends, and no on-call. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:15 AM–2:15 PM — 18 hours per week, with some flexibility.
- $35–$44/hour based on experience
- Partial health insurance coverage (25%–50% of premium)
- Retirement savings plan
What We’re Looking For
You don’t need to have worked in reproductive medicine before — we’ll train the right person. A bachelor’s degree in biology, life sciences, or a related field is required (this supports our laboratory license), but it does not need to be in nursing. What matters most beyond that is that you’re organized, detail-oriented, care deeply about patients, can handle sensitive information with discretion, and want meaningful part-time work that fits around your life.
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, life sciences, or a related field
- Strong organizational skills and comfort managing detailed, confidential records
- Warm, professional communication with patients facing sensitive diagnoses
- Reliability and sound judgment handling private information
- Comfort with Mac OS and standard applications
Nice to have (but not required):
- Background in a clinical, laboratory, or research setting
- Phlebotomy experience — a significant plus
- Active nursing license (RN or LPN), medical assistant, or clinical research coordinator experience
Who Thrives Here
This role is an excellent fit for clinical research coordinators seeking patient-facing responsibilities, laboratory professionals interested in clinical applications, life-science graduates looking for meaningful patient-facing work, and nurses (retired, semi-retired, or re-entering the workforce) seeking purposeful part-time hours — really, anyone with a science background who is organized, caring, and wants meaningful work without sacrificing the rest of their life. The fixed daytime schedule — no evenings, weekends, or on-call — makes this role genuinely compatible with caregiving responsibilities, other pursuits, or simply a well-balanced life.
About Bedford Research Foundation
We are a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) private research institution conducting innovative clinical work independent of traditional government funding. Our small, collaborative team takes pride in the meaningful, specialized nature of our work and the direct impact we have on patients’ lives.
