Drug Checking & Community Outreach Specialist (Health Behavior Society)

About the role

The Drug Checking & Community Outreach Specialist administratively coordinates research protocol implementation, typically for a single study. The role ensures efficient logistical implementation of study activities and provides administrative support for all related issues.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all activities of a research study to ensure validity of findings.
• Work with the Principal Investigator or senior research staff to develop operational plans to meet research goals.
• Develop tools and procedures for data collection and study processes.
• Collect and organize data per study requirements, including participant interviews, administering questionnaires, conducting background research, and laboratory processing.
• Ensure adherence to protocols and procedures.
• Assist with setup of data collection system and enter and organize data.
• Oversee record management for the research study.
• Oversee budget expenditures for study operations.
• Assist in coordinating study meetings and participate in study meetings, providing updates on protocol implementation status and making recommendations on operational issues.
• Conduct literature searches to provide background information.
• Other duties as assigned.

Drug Checking & Community Outreach Duties

• Perform on-site point-of-care drug checking with an infrared spectrometer and test strips on a mobile van and/or at fixed sites in partnership with local service providers.
• Collect, record, and manage sample- and project-level data for a variety of audiences.
• Conduct community outreach.
• Research, develop, and implement communication and educational materials.
• Be on-call one weekend per month to respond to lab equipment alerts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience doing community outreach in syringe services or other harm reduction and/or drug checking programs.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive large vehicles.

Skills

• Administrative Skills – Awareness
• Data Entry – Awareness
• Interpersonal Skills – Awareness
• Literature Reviews – Awareness
• Oral and Written Communications – Awareness
• Organizational Skills – Awareness
• Project Coordination – Awareness
• Research and Analytical Skills – Awareness