Community Engagement Specialist

Job Title: Community Engagement Specialist
Supervisor: Nora Byington

About the Position

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) is dedicated to fostering healthy brain function across the lifespan through early neurobehavioral and mental health assessment, innovative targeted interventions, informed policy-making, compassionate child-advocacy, and community education. The MIDB's mission of basic and clinical research in the field of neurobehavioral development is supported by a M Health Fairview multi-specialty clinic and multiple research service hubs including: Analytics, Informatics, Neuroimaging, Center for Neurobehavioral Development (CNBD), Translational Neuroscience, Neuromodulation, TeleOutreach, Community Engagement and Education (CEEd), and Clinic-Research Integration.

MIDB is seeking to hire a community engagement specialist within the CEEd Hub to lead the design and implementation of innovative, community-driven initiatives at the University of Minnesota. This role will establish and sustain a youth community advisory board (CAB) that ensures youth voices guide research priorities, while also advancing harm reduction and workforce development activities in partnership with community organizations. The Specialist will collaborate with faculty, community leaders, youth, and health system partners to co-create solutions that expand access to medications for opioid use disorder, inform Navigator workflows, and build long-term infrastructure for equitable, trauma-informed care. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in participatory engagement, strong cross-sector collaboration skills, and a passion for centering community voices in public health research and practice.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Establishment of a Youth Community Advisory Board (50%)

• Serve as the University representative and liaison to support the development of a youth-driven community advisory board (CAB).
• Partner with community-based organizations to co-design the CAB structure and processes in ways that prioritize youth leadership and decision-making.
• Facilitate the recruitment and onboarding process - ensuring youth have ownership over membership, leadership, and agenda-setting.
• Create processes for ongoing feedback loops between the CAB and research teams at UMN.
• Ensure sustainability through financial planning, mentorship, and succession strategies.

Community Co-Design of Navigator Workflows (25%)

• Co-develop trauma-informed Community Navigator workflows for in-person and telehealth-accompanied MOUD continuum of care.
• Gather and integrate feedback from community advisors, peer leaders, and MMU staff to shape training content, performance expectations, and deployment models.
• Develop a blueprint for co-developing context-specific and community-informed health workforce models.

Naloxone & Buprenorphine Access Mapping (25%)

• Engage community partners to identify mapping priorities and data gaps.
• Conduct qualitative data collection on barriers and facilitators to naloxone and buprenorphine access.
• Collaborate with the Healthy Communities Data Portal Team to direct their work in creating a dynamic, GIS-based access map of naloxone and buprenorphine availability across Minneapolis, overlaid with MMU deployment zones, overdose hotspots, and social risk factors.
• Assist with dissemination of findings and integration into Navigator dashboards.

Other duties as assigned

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 4 years of relevant work experience.
• Research experience in public health, neuroscience, or another related field.
• Demonstrated proficiency in qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Experience in community engagement and partnership management.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years humanitarian experience in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and migration programs.
• Skilled in community engagement and accountability (CEA), health promotion initiatives, and project management.
• Proficient in needs assessments and designing data tools.
• Experienced in partnership management and stakeholder collaboration, including with government, NGOs, and donors.

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) is dedicated to fostering the healthy brain function of children across the lifespan with the mission to set and maintain a healthy trajectory for all children toward positive life outcomes through early neurobehavioral and mental health assessment, innovative targeted interventions, informed policy-making, compassionate child-advocacy, and community education. The MIDB's mission of basic and clinical research in the field of neurobehavioral development is supported by its Neuroimaging core, which fosters collaborations within departments at the University of Minnesota and across institutions to build teams with the highest possible degree of expertise.

Pay Range: $35-$36/hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).