Community Research Liaison - School of Public Health

We are hiring a Community Research Liaison (Casual, 15 hrs/week) to join the UTHealth Houston School of Public  in Houston. In this role, you will support participant recruitment, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and research activities for community-based health promotion and aging research studies. Responsibilities include coordinating outreach events, communicating with participants and community partners, assisting with data collection activities, and supporting day-to-day project operations. Experience recruiting participants for research studies, preferred.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

The Community/ Research Liaison o support community-based public health research projects in the Houston area. This position will primarily support community-engaged research initiatives focused on improving health outcomes through partnerships with local organizations, churches, and community stakeholders. Additional project areas may include nutrition, chronic disease prevention, healthy aging etc. Research activities take place in community and faith-based settings and emphasize culturally responsive programming, participant engagement, and applied public health research.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Interviews and establishes rapport with study participants to encourage complete, accurate responses and
  continuing participation in the study. May work in the field, either going to homes, places of business, or
  specified study areas.
• Contacts potential study participants for recruitment and scheduling for a research study.
• Build rapport with participants to support engagement, retention, and accurate data collection .
• Assist with participant recruitment, outreach, and community engagement activities .
• Conduct field-based research activities in community, church, and partner organization settings throughout
  the Houston area.
• Assist with biometric and health-related measurements, including height, weight, blood pressure, and
  Veggie Meter assessments, depending on study protocol requirements .
• Conduct field observations related to intervention implementation and participant experiences.
• Follow research protocols and maintain accurate study records, data entry, and project documentation
• Utilize research equipment and assist with preparation, transportation, setup, and breakdown of study
  materials and supplies
• Maintain participant confidentiality and adhere to IRB and UTHealth research guidelines.
• Collaborate professionally with faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Experience working on community-engaged research projects and with diverse community populations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain community partnerships.
• Experience recruiting and retaining participants for research studies.
• Familiarity with REDCap, Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Experience coordinating community events, outreach activities, or health promotion programs.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and maintain attention to detail.
• Experience working with faith-based organizations, community organizations, older adults, and historically underserved populations is highly desirable.

Minimum Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required

Minimum Experience:

• None

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.