Addiction Research Area Specialist Intermediate/Associate (Underfill) - Clinical Intervention Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking highly motivated and self-led candidates to be part of our growing team of researchers dedicated to reducing stigma and public health impacts from substance use, improving access to care, and supporting the well-being of people who use substances. The Clinical Intervention Specialist will deliver manualized interventions to research participants for one or more multi-year research studies (i.e., research therapist). This position provides the opportunity to work at the intersection of therapy, community engagement, public health, and innovative research to improve substance use disorder prevention and care services throughout the State of Michigan, particularly in underserved rural areas.

The person in this position will gain experience delivering manualized substance use interventions, case management support, and engaging patients in rural and underserved communities. This role offers the opportunity to work with a thriving and positive team, connect directly with clinics and patients, and receive career mentoring and growth opportunities in the field of substance use care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver manualized brief interventions via evidence-supported approaches such as: motivational interviewing, harm reduction/risk reduction, trauma-informed care, patient-centered counseling, and others.
• Develop study materials and provide training to support study aims, including individualized substance use support, safety, risk reduction, and resource allocation.
• Engage with participants in rural communities using strong interpersonal skills that foster engagement, trust, and collaboration, including excellent assessment, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Identify and respond appropriately to clinical risks, including overdose risk, withdrawal concerns, suicidal ideation, and self-harm risk by conducting risk assessments and carrying out action plans per existing study protocols.
• Support research program implementation activities with clinic partners, such as conducting assessments, delivering training, and providing consultation on substance use-related care.
• Support participant recruitment and enrollment, data collection and analysis, and day-to-day study activities for one or more multi-year research studies.
• Adhere to institutional regulations and study protocols related to patient confidentiality, safety, data integrity, and quality, as well as study scripts, workflows, documentation requirements, and standard operating procedures.
• Other responsibilities as needed to fulfill study aims and objectives.

Requirements

Qualifications required to be considered for this position at every level:

• Prior training and experience providing counseling/behavioral health support or clinical services to individuals with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, or related psychosocial needs.
• Prior training and experience with substance use disorder treatment approaches, including motivational interviewing and ability to provide person-centered, nonjudgmental, and evidence-informed care to people who use substances, including individuals who may experience stigma, barriers to treatment, or complex social needs.
• Familiarity with patient care and clinical care environments, including mental health, primary care, substance use disorder treatment, community health, or integrated behavioral health settings.
• Ability to deliver manualized interventions and assessments, identify client needs and risks, support safety planning, document clinical encounters, and appropriately escalate needs.
• Ability to take independent initiative and manage time effectively to meet project and participant goals, with strong attention to detail, organization, and strategic planning.
• Excellent multi-tasking and problem-solving ability, and strong record-keeping practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with people who use substances, research staff, and community partners.
• Ability to work and engage with participants and teams remotely; access and comfort with technology, remote communication, virtual meeting platforms, and electronic documentation systems is required.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to the office in Ann Arbor, MI, with possible travel to rural clinics or community sites throughout the State of Michigan.

For the Research Area Specialist Intermediate level, candidates must also have:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field of study.
• 4-5 years of professional experience in a related field.

For the Research Area Specialist Associate level, candidates must also have:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field of study.
• 1-3 years of professional experience in a related field.

Desired Qualifications

Additional qualifications that will help individuals succeed in this role at any level include:

• 3+ years of direct clinical experience providing counseling/behavioral health support or case management to individuals with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions delivering substance use-focused interventions using motivational interviewing, harm reduction, treatment readiness, trauma-informed care, overdose education and prevention, contingency management, or other evidence-informed approaches.
• Previous experience conducting substance use, mental health, suicide risk, overdose risk, or psychosocial assessments in a clinical, community, research, or integrated care setting.
• Experience developing safety plans, relapse prevention plans, risk reduction plans, treatment engagement plans, or referral plans with individuals who use substances.
• Prior experience delivering manualized interventions, structured counseling protocols, or study-specific behavioral health interventions with fidelity to a treatment manual or research protocol.
• Previous clinical research experience, particularly experience working on a clinical trial, implementation study, behavioral intervention study, or community-engaged research project.
• Experience delivering services or maintaining participant engagement through hybrid models, including in-person visits, telehealth, phone-based counseling, text-based follow-up, or remote study procedures.
• Prior experience providing behavioral health support in primary care, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, community health, rural health, federally qualified health center, emergency department, or harm reduction settings.
• Experience working directly with rural, underserved, under-resourced, or stigmatized populations, particularly people who use substances or individuals facing barriers to substance use disorder treatment.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, such as physicians, nurses, peer recovery coaches, social workers, care managers, research coordinators, community health workers, clinic staff, or harm reduction providers.

Additional qualifications for the Research Area Specialist Intermediate level include:

• Master's degree in a related field of study.
• Currently licensed or eligible for clinical licensure in the State of Michigan (such as LMSW, LLMSW, LPC, LLPC, LLP, LMFT, or equivalent credential).

Additional qualifications for the Research Area Specialist Associate level include:

• Master's degree in a related field of study.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on your very first day.
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings.

Schedule

• 40 hours per week, typically within 5 days (9 AM to 5 PM or 8 AM to 4 PM based on manager's approval).
• Some weekend or evening shifts may be required to meet research grant goals/needs.
• Flexible hours available for remote participant-facing or research activities, based on manager discretion and approval.

Work Locations

• Hybrid model with onsite work days at offices in Ann Arbor, MI.
• Travel to community sites and collaboration with research partners (including the Department of Veterans Affairs) throughout the State of Michigan may be required.
• Reliable transportation is required to meet in-person role requirements.