Human Research Technologist (Community Engagement)

This position is funded for 1 year; continuation past 1 year will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding. This is a 75% full-time equivalency (FTE) position, working 30 hours per week and eligible for benefits associated with full-time roles.

About the role

The Parents And Children Together (PACT) initiative, directed by Dr. Dawn Witherspoon with Associate Director Dr. Martha Wadsworth, invites applications for a Human Research Technologist to serve as a community engagement and outreach coordinator. The anticipated start date is as soon as possible.

The Human Research Technologist will work as part of the PACT multidisciplinary team of investigators, community members, and community organizations who collaborate to promote the health and well-being of children, youth, and families from varied backgrounds through culturally sensitive and community-engaged research.

This position requires a flexible schedule to include evenings and weekends, primarily to accommodate the availability of participating families and outreach events. Onsite office work will be done at the PACT lab in Harrisburg, with regular offsite work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain relationships and partnerships with family, youth, and Latine-serving organizations in the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania region, and track these efforts.
• Support recruitment and assessment activities of PACT-affiliated projects.
• Perform administrative duties including data collection, recruitment tracking, and meeting documentation.
• Attend team meetings and provide regular updates.
• Train and oversee volunteers and students in activities related to outreach, recruitment, and data collection.
• Attend community events to share information about PACT and describe PACT-affiliated projects.
• Maintain and track the impact of the PACT website and social media.
• Support PACT Investigators with research project protocol development and data collection occasionally.
• Collaborate with the PACT Assistant Director of Community Relations.

Requirements

• Associate Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams) for communication, recordkeeping, and data tracking.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to be detail-oriented and multi-task.
• Due to the demographic of the greater Harrisburg region, bilingualism in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check.
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check required.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Robust retirement plans.
• Substantial paid time off including holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Generous 75% tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children.

Pay

The salary range for this 75% FTE position is $36,888.00 - $53,532.00 (reflective of a 100% FTE range).