Community Health Outreach Coordinator

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is a world-renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on-site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC-Chapel Hill, the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC, a mid-size city with a small-town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor-league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston-Salem/Greensboro. The NRI offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life, and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance. EHRA Non-Faculty permanent employees are eligible for up to 24 days of annual leave per calendar year. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual's requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte region.

Do you have a passion for working with diverse groups of people? Building community relationships and supporting the health of your community? Then this position is for you!

The primary goal of the Community Health Outreach Coordinator is to manage and support community-based outreach, relationship building, recruitment, and engagement activities. This person will be responsible for forming and managing the lab's community advisory board. They will also lead capacity-building efforts to develop sustainable community collaborations with stakeholders and community members focused on improving the health of underserved individuals. This position will also, coordinate and facilitate community meetings and lead community outreach on topics related to research participation, eating disorders, and type 2 diabetes. The candidate will build relationships with local community partners to assist in the management and execution of collaborative projects aimed at minimizing health disparities and optimizing health and wellness for all community members. They will also assist with the development of meaningful metrics and outcomes to measure the impact of community outreach and engagement. The coordinator will facilitate communication and trust-building activities between the research team and the community. In addition to, maintaining and monitoring a database of community partners, community-based outreach, and engagement activities.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Coordinate community meetings, events, and activities
* Work collaboratively with organizations providing resources, outreach, and education.
* Develop and implement community programs that promote study recruitment and relationship building
* Participate in any community events/committees/associations
* Play a key role in the conceptualization, design, and implementation of outreach programs to educate community members on human studies and lab research findings.
* Demonstrates commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
* Flexibility and strong servant leadership as exemplified by the following: personal humility and integrity, ambition for the organization's well-being, personal accountability for organizational results
* Experience in program planning and coordinating meetings
* A background in human research studies
* Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present an overview of projects to research staff and the community.
* Willingness to work weekends and evenings, as necessary
* Energetic, self-starter with a work style that balances independence and teamwork
* Exceptional written and oral communication skills; strong organizational skills.
* Ability to edit and analyze informational materials or content.
* Ability to work with peers and supervisory staff in a professional manner and to interact effectively with a wide variety of people.
* Demonstrated experience with project coordination, event coordination, or customer service required.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom)
* Experience in public speaking.
* Valid NC Drivers License

* Familiarity with academic research is a plus
* Experience recruiting a diverse participant base from the Mecklenburg/Rowan/Cabarrus County region
* Expertise in community-based or community-engaged research

This position is located in Kannapolis, NC.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.