Position descriptionThe Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) seeks a dynamic and collaborative leader to serve as Director of Community Partnerships and Participant Experience. This position will establish and lead a comprehensive strategy for community partnership, participant engagement, and public education across a multi-site women's brain health research network.
The Director will cultivate trusted relationships with participants, community organizations, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and local stakeholders to ensure that research is informed by the voices and experiences of the communities it seeks to serve. Through community-engaged research practices, educational programming, and participant-centered initiatives, the Director will help advance equitable participation in scientific research while strengthening the public impact of the Initiative's discoveries.
A central responsibility of this position is fostering meaningful, bidirectional communication between researchers and communities. The Director will oversee a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that provides guidance on ethical and equitable recruitment practices, community engagement strategies, participant protections, and culturally responsive research implementation. The Director will also lead a Participant Advisory Board (PAB) that advises on study acceptability, participant experience, barriers to participation, and opportunities to improve engagement throughout the research process.
The Director will develop and coordinate participant-centered programming designed to foster trust, transparency, and long-term engagement. This includes annual virtual events that connect participants across study sites, as well as biannual in-person gatherings led by local Participant Advisory Boards. These events will provide dedicated spaces for community connection, shared learning, and open dialogue around women's health and menopause experiences while strengthening participants' connection to the scientific mission of the Initiative.
In partnership with investigators across the research network, the Director will ensure that community perspectives inform participant recruitment, study implementation, dissemination of findings, and the overall participant experience. The Director will also lead efforts to communicate scientific discoveries back to participants and community partners in accessible and meaningful ways.
The Director will provide strategic leadership for the Initiative's participant engagement infrastructure, supervising research associates including a Recruitment Manager and Central Call Center Coordinator. Together, this team will develop harmonized recruitment and retention strategies, evaluate outreach effectiveness, build partnerships with community organizations and service agencies, and identify innovative approaches to engage historically underserved and harder-to-reach populations.
Key Responsibilities
-Develop and implement a comprehensive community engagement and participant experience strategy across multiple study sites.
-Establish and sustain partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and public agencies.
-Lead and facilitate Community Advisory Board and Participant Advisory Board activities.
-Design participant-centered educational and engagement programs that foster trust, transparency, and long-term involvement in research.
-Supervise community engagement, recruitment, and participant communications personnel.
-Collaborate with investigators to ensure community perspectives are integrated throughout the research lifecycle.
-Develop public-facing communications and educational initiatives that translate scientific discoveries for participants and community audiences.
-Evaluate engagement, recruitment, and retention efforts using data-driven approaches and continuous quality improvement.
-Promote best practices in community-engaged and participant-centered research across the Initiative.
Qualifications Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Master's degree or higher in education, public health, social sciences, community psychology, health communication, social work, or a related field.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
At least one year of demonstrated experience leading community engagement, outreach, educational, or stakeholder partnership initiatives.
At least one year of experience convening and facilitating advisory boards, community coalitions, or participatory engagement efforts.
Preferred qualifications -Strong program development, project management, and organizational leadership skills.
-Experience designing and evaluating educational programs, workshops, or community initiatives.
-Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
-Commitment to ethical community-engaged research.
Application RequirementsDocument requirements - Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter
Reference requirements- 3 required (contact information only)
Applicants that are chosen for an interview will have their references contacted after the interview
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03122
Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu
Job location Santa Barbara, CA
