Research Coordinator I - Bilingual Patient Recruitment & Community Engagement

The USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is seeking a highly motivated Bilingual Research Coordinator I - Patient Recruitment & Community Engagement to support community-engaged research and implementation initiatives, including the California Right Meds Collaborative (CRMC), a statewide initiative designed to improve medication safety, medication effectiveness, and chronic disease control through comprehensive medication management (CMM).

The primary responsibility of this position is to develop and implement patient recruitment and engagement strategies to enroll diverse participants into clinical and pilot programs. The successful candidate will build and maintain collaborative relationships with patients, community organizations, healthcare providers, health plans, pharmacies, and other community partners to promote participation, improve retention, and expand equitable access to CMM services.

In addition to patient recruitment, the Research Coordinator will assist with program coordination, participant education, data collection, regulatory documentation, grant proposal support, outreach activities, and program operations. This individual will work closely with investigators, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, community health workers, and external partners to ensure successful implementation of grant-funded initiatives.

This position is ideal for an energetic individual who enjoys working directly with patients and communities, possesses exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, and is passionate about improving health outcomes through innovative healthcare programs and community-engaged research.

Responsibilities

Patient Recruitment & Community Engagement

• Lead recruitment and enrollment of participants into clinical and pilot programs, with particular emphasis on engaging Spanish-speaking and historically underserved populations.
• Develop and implement innovative patient recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies.
• Conduct outreach primarily through phone calls, but may include outreach through clinics, community organizations, pharmacies, community events, health fairs, and other community settings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare providers, health plans, community organizations, pharmacies, and referring partners to increase awareness of and participation in California Right Meds Collaborative and similar programs.
• Educate patients regarding CMM and the importance of medication optimization, research participation, and program benefits using culturally and linguistically appropriate communication.
• Screen potential participants for eligibility and coordinate enrollment activities.
• Maintain ongoing communication with participants to improve retention and successful completion of study activities.
• Assist with development and implementation of culturally responsive recruitment strategies for diverse populations.

Program / Study Coordination

• Coordinate participant scheduling, follow-up visits, surveys, and program/study-related activities.
• Maintain accurate program/study records, regulatory documentation, and participant files in accordance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with informed consent, participant education, and program/study documentation.
• Collect, enter, and manage research and program data using approved electronic systems.
• Coordinate specimen collection and other program/study procedures, as appropriate.
• Monitor recruitment progress and prepare routine enrollment reports.

Program Support

• Support development of recruitment materials, educational resources, presentations, newsletters, social media content, and other outreach materials.
• Participate in program meetings and provide updates on recruitment metrics, program activities, and participant engagement.
• Maintain databases and prepare recruitment and program performance reports.
• Support continuous quality improvement initiatives related to recruitment and participant experience.

Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with investigators, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, community health workers, healthcare providers, health plans, and external partners.
• Represent the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at community outreach events, stakeholder meetings, and professional conferences, as appropriate.
• Participate in educational and professional development activities related to clinical research, implementation science, CMM, and community engagement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or combined education and experience consistent with USC requirements.
• Minimum one year of experience in research, healthcare, community outreach, patient navigation, project coordination, or a related field.
• Fluency in both English and Spanish (written and verbal) required.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with diverse patient populations.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success recruiting and retaining participants for clinical research studies, implementation programs, or community-based health initiatives.
• California Pharmacy Technician license or experience working in pharmacy practice.
• Experience working with ambulatory care, chronic disease management, medication therapy management, or other clinical initiatives.
• Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, Patient Navigator, Care Coordinator, or similar community-facing experience.
• Experience working with medically underserved and Spanish-speaking communities.
• Familiarity with REDCap, electronic health records, or other research databases.
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), HIPAA, and human subjects research regulations.
• Experience preparing educational materials, outreach campaigns, newsletters, presentations, or social media content.
• Experience supporting grant-funded programs or clinical implementation projects.

Desired Characteristics

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Outstanding relationship-building and community engagement skills.
• A passion for improving health for all and expanding access to innovative healthcare services.
• Cultural humility and the ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
• Initiative, creativity, and a proactive approach to recruitment and problem-solving.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Excellent follow-through and accountability.
• Professionalism when interacting with patients, healthcare providers, health plans, and community partners.
• Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Work Schedule

• Full-time position.
• Occasional evening or weekend community outreach events may be required.
• Local travel within Southern California may be required.

The hourly rate range for this position is $32.01 - $33.76. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Why Join USC Mann?

The USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the nation's premier schools of pharmacy, internationally recognized for excellence in education, research, clinical innovation, and community engagement. Ranked among the top pharmacy schools in the United States, including #1 among private schools, USC Mann is a leader in advancing CMM, precision medicine, drug discovery, health services research, health economics and policy, regulatory sciences, and innovative models of patient care.

As part of USC Mann, you will join an interdisciplinary team of nationally recognized faculty, pharmacists, researchers, and healthcare professionals committed to improving health outcomes and improving health for all through collaborative research, community partnerships, and implementation of evidence-based healthcare innovations.

This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact by connecting diverse communities with innovative healthcare programs while contributing to research and implementation initiatives that are shaping the future of pharmacy practice and patient-centered care.