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- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
This position is funded for 1 year(s); continuation past 1 year(s) will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Parents And Children Together (PACT) initiative, directed by Dr. Dawn Witherspoon with Associate Director, Dr. Martha Wadsworth, and the Coping and Regulation of Environment Stress (CaRES) Lab, directed by Dr. Martha Wadsworth invite applications for a Clinical Research Coordinator to serve as the Assistant Director of Community Relations.
The Clinical Research Coordinator will join the PACT multidisciplinary team of investigators and community members and organizations who collaborate to promote the health and well-being of children, youth, and families from a variety of backgrounds through culturally sensitive and community-engaged research.
The Clinical Research Coordinator will also support a NIMH-funded study in the CaRES lab, investigating the efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) program, a group-based, team-building coping and empowerment intervention developed specifically to meet the needs of youth growing up in poverty.
This position serves as a key liaison between researchers and community partners throughout the greater Harrisburg region.
The Clinical Research Coordinator will develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, including Latine-serving agencies; support recruitment and outreach efforts; monitor research collaborations; and represent PACT at community events and on community boards.
In addition, the Clinical Research Coordinator will support the day-to-day operations of PACT by managing the shared lab space, maintaining recruitment databases, coordinating and facilitating meetings and trainings, tracking outreach activities and budgets, and supporting website and social media initiatives.
Another responsibility of the role will be to assist the BaSICS Project Director with participant recruitment, scheduling, screening, and communication with partner agencies.
More specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Attend community outreach events and serve on community boards; build and maintain relationships with community members and organizations; act as a liaison between these groups and PACT Investigators
- Support PACT Investigators with research project protocol development and data collection as needed
- Develop, revise, coordinate, and facilitate trainings for PACT outreach and communication
- Manage and oversee the PACT shared space in Harrisburg, including workflows and policies; identify and assist in resolving shared space concerns.
- Coordinate PACT meetings; create meeting agendas
- Generate reports and deliver presentations to stakeholders
- Maintain PACT Recruitment Database and develop recruitment plans to assist PACT projects
- Track outreach, dissemination, and Community Advisory Board budgets and related expenditures.
- Track and document PACT training completion
- Collaborate with the PACT Human Research Technologist (Community Engagement)
- Assist BaSICS Project Director with scheduling and screening participants; attend recruitment events
Important Work Modality Information:
- 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 would be done at the PACT lab in Harrisburg, with regular offsite work.
Qualifications:
- Ability to be detail-oriented and multi-task
- Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to support communication, scheduling, reporting, and project coordination.
- Demonstrated experience in community engagement, outreach, and partnership development, including developing and sustaining relationships with a wide range of community members and organizations
Due to the demographic of the greater Harrisburg region and the interaction the Clinical Research Coordinator will have with the community, being bilingual in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None
Application Instructions:
Applicants must upload a cover letter of interest, highlighting relevant skills, in addition to a CV or resume.
The College of the Liberal Arts is supportive of flexible and/or remote work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible and/or remote work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
Please note that this is not a fully remote position.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $59,580.00 - $86,400.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- 3+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Authorization to work in the U.S. (Penn State does not sponsor staff employment visas)
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Demonstrated experience in community engagement, outreach, and partnership development
- Ability to be detail-oriented and multi-task
- Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
- Valid driver's license, ability to operate a motor vehicle, and successful motor vehicle records check
- Successful background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, and FBI fingerprint check
- Flexible schedule including evenings and weekends; onsite work in Harrisburg with regular offsite work
- Experience managing recruitment databases, coordinating scheduling/screening, and supporting project operations
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
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