RAIN - Community Engagement Specialist

AGENCY AREA: Program Staff/Outreach

REPORTS TO: Research Project Manager

General Job Description

The Community Engagement Specialist supports research and program activities focused on community health, HIV prevention, and participant engagement. This position combines research support duties with peer-informed engagement to assist clients and participants in a respectful, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed manner. This role works closely with outreach, clinical, and research staff to support daily operations while following established protocols and ethical guidelines. This role currently works with Duke's EASE project and Wake Forest's Cascade project.

Major Duties And Responsibilties

The Community Engagement Specialist will work under the supervision and administrative guidance of the Director of Outreach while carrying out the following responsibilities:

• Assist with participant recruitment, screening, and enrollment activities in accordance with established research protocols and eligibility criteria
• Conduct eligibility screenings using study-defined behavioral risk criteria, following approved procedures and training
• Support biospecimen collection activities by preparing materials, assisting participants, and adhering to all safety and handling guidelines
• Administer or assist with completion of study surveys and assessments while ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and participant understanding
• Support day-to-day operations of the EASE program, including client interactions, assistance with weekly group sessions, and completion of required documentation
• Support day-to-day operations, recruitment, and retention of Cascade project
• Uphold ethical research and peer support practices, including participant confidentiality, informed consent, and culturally responsive engagement
• Provide HIV testing and other testing as required, in accordance with certification, training, and agency protocols
• Support community outreach and engagement activities, including events, resource sharing, and relationship-building with community members
• Maintain working knowledge of and adherence to HIPPA and agency confidentiality requirements
• Complete required program documentation, reports, timesheets, surveys and mileage tracking by established deadlines
  
  

Minor Duties And Responsiblities

• Participate in training, agency and inter-disciplinary meetings and required agency functions
• Provide crisis intervention as needed
• Participate in continuous quality improvement for the department and the agency
• Maintain safe record keeping of client information and research study materials as directed by HIPAA, RAIN, and research teams
• Must be timely and prepared to work during traditional and non-traditional scheduled hours
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor
  
  

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
• Self-starter; able to work with limited supervision
• Expected willingness to remain current on LGBTQ cultural issues
• Expected willingness to remain current on HIV and related medical and cultural issues
• HIV lived experience preferred, but not required
• Substance Use lived experience preferred, but not required
• Phlebotomy certification preferred, but not required (Must be willing to obtain at RAIN's expense if not already certified)
• Two years' work experience in HIV preferred, but not required
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with competence in approaching and beginning conversations with new individuals
• Ability to comfortably navigate cooperative working relationships across the agency spectrum; including but not limited to clients and their families, staff colleagues, volunteers, third party providers, universities, donors and members of the Board of Directors
  
  

Key Compentencies

• Valid driver's license, dependable transportation and vehicle insurance
• Competency in Word and Excel and aptitude and willingness to learn other job specific programs
• Passing score on HIPAA regulations training, understanding of confidentiality and expected willingness to always maintain these standards
• Ability to identify and utilize appropriate community resources
• Ability to demonstrate cultural competency and understanding of the structural barriers impacting health outcomes
• Ability to recognize and maintain personal and professional boundaries as well as practice regular self-care
• Must be willing to be trained and certified as a Certified Application Counselor for the ACA
  
  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be construed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.

RAIN's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, disability or veteran status