Program Coordinator II, Community Based Research Initiative; Community Engagement & Research Coordination

Program Coordinator II, Community Based Research Initiative (Community Engagement & Research Coordination)

Job Category: Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Requisition Number: PROGR
001457

• Posted :
  September 2, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Showing 1 location

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
1731

E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA

Job Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Executive Director and Program Principal Investigator, the INSPIRE Programs Coordinator will manage the day-to-day operations of CDU’s growing portfolio of INSPIRE community-based research programs—INSPIRE Faith, INSPIRE CA, and INSPIRE USA. The Coordinator serves as the primary operational point of contact across these programs, combining research-program coordination, community relationship-building, and oversight of the digital engagement and data-capture platforms (in partnership with the technology team) that enable the programs to operate  role blends hands‑on, place-based community partnership (primarily through INSPIRE Faith) with the coordination of predominantly online, largely automated statewide, and national programs.

A central purpose of the role is to strengthen community trust in research and to broaden the participation of Black/African American/Hispanic communities and other communities of color in clinical research and trials, ensuring that community voice and priorities shape how the work is designed and carried out.

About the Center:

The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), a partner in the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) alongside UCLA and Cedars‑Sinai, is building a community‑centered clinical research enterprise through its Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) in South Los Angeles. The INSPIRE programs are a family of community‑based research initiatives advancing health and brain health across diverse populations.

INSPIRE Faith is a deep, place‑based partnership with faith institutions requiring regular in‑person engagement with community partners; INSPIRE CA, and INSPIRE USA are digitally delivered, largely automated programs conducted primarily online, with select live sessions led by physicians and study staff. Together they build on CDU’s longstanding legacy of community engagement and health‑equity research.

This work advances a national commitment to health equity: expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities, building lasting trust between communities of color and the healthcare system, and increasing the participation of Black/African American communities and other communities of color in research and clinical trials. As a historically Black graduate institution, CDU pursues these goals in partnership with peer institutions and community organizations, treating community relationships not as a means of recruitment but as the foundation of research that is shaped by, accountable to, and beneficial for the communities it serves.

The INSPIRE Programs Coordinator is central to this mission, serving as the trusted community bridge that connects faith and community partners to research and trial opportunities and helps ensure that the science reflects the priorities of the community.

• Manage the day-to-day operations and coordination of the INSPIRE research programs (Faith, CA, and USA), ensuring each program runs smoothly, on schedule, and in alignment with study protocols and the Center’s mission
• Coordinate in‑person activities for INSPIRE Faith—anticipated at approximately two days per week of on‑site engagement with community partners—and support the logistics of live sessions conducted by physicians and study staff across all programs, including scheduling, participant coordination, and event execution.
• Coordinate and support program staff, students, and volunteers across the INSPIRE programs, including onboarding, task coordination, and training
• Support participant recruitment, retention, and outreach across programs, including coordinating culturally appropriate promotional and educational materials (in collaboration with the communications team)
• Attend community meetings,…