Community Engagement Coordinator

The Rafie Laboratory in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech is seeking a community research coordinator who has experience in community engagement, participant recruitment, community needs assessment, and substance use prevention. The coordinator will support activities associated with the grant funded project, “Scaling Up Participatory Action Planning to Address the Opioid Epidemic in Rural Virginia Communities.”
The position is responsible for:
• Management and coordination of research activities associated with the project in Prince Edward, Smyth, and Halifax counties in Virginia.
• Identify and approach relevant community stakeholders to introduce the project and solicit participation in project activities.
• Plan and coordinate all community research team meetings and activities.
• Ensure acquisition of all required research evaluation tools (surveys)
• Coordinate and assist in implementation of community dissemination events of the prioritized strategies within the three counties.
• Facilitate action planning and implementation of workgroups within each county.
• Maintain documentation of activities and outcomes of workgroups.
• Participate in analysis and summation of data.

Candidates should have applied research experience in community engagement, community needs assessment, and/or qualitative research methods; Working knowledge and experience with substance misuse prevention and control programs; Good organizational and communication skills; Familiarity with Excel and data spreadsheets; Ability to work independently; Position will require travel and is located in Prince Edward, Smyth, or Halifax, Virginia.

A degree in the social sciences or related field; Experience conducting focus groups and key leader interviews; Experience in coalition building; Familiarity with Prince Edward, Smyth, or Halifax, Virginia.

4

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Restricted

43,500 - 55,000

40

11/09/2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.  This position is is fully remote, but based in one of the following three Virginia Counties: Halifax, Prince Edward, or Smyth.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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