RESEARCH COMM & ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST II, DCRI

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Research Comms and Engagement Specialist II

Seeking Experienced Research Comms and Engagement Specialist with a Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The DCRI’s Research Communications & Engagement (RC&E) team is seeking an experienced Research Comms and Engagement Specialist II to join our team. We encourage people from every race/ethnicity, belief, gender, sexual identity, background, and culture to join our team as we build a diverse and inclusive institute that represents the full diversity of the research communities we serve.

This team member is responsible for co-leading the development and implementation of engagement programs on DCRI-led clinical research projects. The DCRI’s engagement programs are designed to engage a broad range of collaborators in the clinical research process, ranging from national associations to community-based organizations, patients, caregivers, and people with lived experiences. The DCRI’s engagement programs ensure that these collaborator insights and preferences are integrated into the research process, from conception to the meaningful sharing of results with intended beneficiaries.

The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal, project management, and communications skills with a strong attention to detail. The candidate must be able to work with and manage teams of people, without having direct supervisory responsibilities. This position requires a background including an understanding of patient or community engagement, and a desire to learn about clinical research engagement and communication. Other skills of interest include Spanish or other foreign language fluency, experience engaging with underrepresented communities in clinical research, and competency in the use of a wide range of engagement strategies.

** NOTE: This position may have an opportunity to work remotely. All Duke University and Duke Health remote workers must reside in one of the following states or districts: Arizona; California; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois; Maryland; Massachusetts; Montana; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia or Washington, DC., Washington (State), Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Maine, Ohio and New Hampshire

About DCRI Research Communications & Engagement (RC&E)

The DCRI’s RC&E team is a specialized health communications and engagement agency serving external research sponsors (e.g., NIH, FDA, biopharma industry). We are fully billable and accountable to our research sponsors. Recognizing that engagement and communications are inextricably linked, our team comprises clinical research communicators and engagement specialists with decades of experience developing compelling, informative, and strategic communications and engagement approaches in support of our research programs and studies. Our programs support research operations, including recruitment, retention, ongoing engagement, and translation of research into care.

The DCRI has a long history of engaging representative stakeholders at every step of the research process. Key to the success of the DCRI’s RC&E team is our Research Together program, which builds and sustains equitable, authentic, and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in our research communities, including patients and their caregivers. This foundation supports the integration of stakeholder values and beliefs into the research development and dissemination process. The DCRI’s RC&E team uses a holistic, inclusive approach to develop culturally relevant engagement and dissemination strategies that promote meaningful collaborations between and among our researchers and research communities.

About the Position

The Research Comms and Engagement Specialist II supports our engagement programs, co-leading the development and implementation of systems to support value-driven, inclusive, person-centered engagement models; implementing community engagement strategies at a local and national level; documenting stakeholder preferences and beliefs; and incorporating them into research processes. This team member is supported and developed by the Research Comms and Engagement Specialist III or Manager on the project.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in the project management of the entire engagement portfolio of work for a given sponsor or project, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery.

Co-lead the development of engagement plans for a given sponsor or project, and the execution of those plans.
Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Identify, plan, and develop strategies that embed health literacy and attention to cultural nuances in study processes and study informational materials.

Review and provide input into research site and participant awareness, and recruitment and retention plans.
Suggest innovative strategies to meet research participant diversity goals that address barriers and overcome recruitment and retention challenges.
Facilitate relationships with local and national community organizations and research advisors representing patients, caregivers, and people with lived experiences in order to optimize research engagement and participation.

Manage documentation and processes around the payment of research advisors and community organizations.
Manage the translation process of relevant materials to reach diverse populations.
Act as the team liaison for relaying the input of external research advisors (patients, caregivers, people with lived experience) to the study team, sponsors, and partners.

Develop initial draft of timelines and co-manage to ensure that all deliverables are completed to the satisfaction of the DCRI clinical operation teams, principal investigators, and sponsors and follow relevant regulations, standard processes, policies, and procedures.
Collaborate with other functional groups within the organization to support project goals.
Track and report feedback received on deliverables to identify areas of success and opportunities for improvement.

Co-manage IRB submission and updates.
Provide input for the development of proposals for new work and project budgets.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge and experience in the coordination, planning, and implementation of engagement strategies.
Foundational therapeutic knowledge, including medical terminology.
Working knowledge of, and skill in applying, applicable clinical research regulatory requirements, i.e., Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.

Ability to understand and interpret clinical protocols and associated study specifications.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to take initiative and work independently.

Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results.
Good teamwork and leadership skills.

Strong customer service skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, and clients.

Strong software and computer skills, including proficient use of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred degree in life sciences, communications, public health, clinical research, or related field.

Experience

Two years of clinical research engagement experience OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

MinimumQualifications

Education

W orkrequires a bachelor’s degreein English, journalism, graphic design, o r relatedfield.

Experience

Twoyears of clinicalresearch communications experience OR AN EQUIVALENTCOMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Dukeis an Affirmative Action/Equal OpportunityEmployercommitte d to providingemployment opportunity without regard to an individual’s a ge, color,disability, gender, gender expression, genderidentity, genetic information,national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, o r veteran status.

Dukeaspires to create a community b uilt on collaboration, innovation, creativity,and belonging. Our collect ive success depends on therobust exchange ofideas—an exchange that is be st when the rich diversityof our perspectives,backgrounds, and experienc es flourishes. To achievethis exchange, it isessentialthat all members o f the community feel secure and welcome, that thecontributions of all in dividuals are respected, and that all voices are heard.All members of ou r community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

< span> EssentialPhysicalJob Functions: Certain jobs atDuke University and Duke UniversityHealth System may include essential job functions that r equire specificphysical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision forrequests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiringdepartment.