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Unit: School of Public Health MBU

Department: Center for Society and Health

The Community Engagement Lead will coordinate and implement community engagement activities for an intervention designed to promote positive youth development opportunities in Richmond, Virginia. The primary responsibility of this position will be to lead implementation of the SEED Method (Stakeholder Engagement in Question Development and Prioritization), a systematic, evidence-based framework for engaging community stakeholders in collaborative research, health problem-solving, and action planning. SEED activities will engage middle- and high-school-aged youth, their caregivers, and youth-serving providers.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Recruiting members of a Community Research Team that will advise the project.
2. Recruiting participants and planning and facilitating 18 SEED engagement meetings involving youth, caregivers, and youth-serving providers.
3. Recruiting participants and facilitating focus groups.
4. Managing a petty cash account and coordinating participant incentive payments in accordance with university policies.
5. Organizing and facilitating a community action planning meeting.
6. Supporting community action teams in implementing strategies to address priorities identified through the SEED process.
7. Supervising a community engagement assistant and graduate assistants working on the project.

The Community Engagement Lead will also represent the VCU Center on Society and Health at meetings with community partners and contribute to written progress reports documenting community engagement activities. The position requires travel to community locations
throughout the City of Richmond and occasional evening and weekend work to accommodate participants' schedules.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience engaging with residents and community-based organizations in historically under-resourced neighborhoods.
• Experience organizing and facilitating community meetings, focus groups, or other group discussions.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals from varying backgrounds, including community residents, service providers, and research partners.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Experience demonstrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills as part of a project team.
• Experience using verbal and written communication skills to work effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience using interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills. 
• Ability to provide reliable transportation to attend in-person meetings and other work-related activities at various locations throughout the City of Richmond.
• Availability to work non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed to accommodate participants' schedules.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and presentation software (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Canva, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in public health or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience engaging and facilitating group discussions with middle and high school aged youth and their caregivers living in public housing communities in the City of Richmond.
• Experience conducting community-based participatory research.
• Experience implementing or supporting behavioral interventions focused on positive youth development or youth violence prevention.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing grant-funded projects.
• Experience supervising or coordinating the work of project staff or research assistants.

For priority consideration, please submit your application by 10/30/2026

Salary Range: $25 - $35

Benefits: All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU. Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employee type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 25

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Cian Brooks
Contact Email: Brookst10@vcu.edu