Job Details

Director of Community Engagement and Participant Experience - Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI)

Position Number: 7241836
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Position Type: Extension and Outreach

Director of Community Engagement and Participant Experience - Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI)

University of California Santa Barbara

Position overview
Salary range: A reasonable estimate that the University expects to pay for this position at 100% is $92,330 to $164,103 annually. Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: July 15, 2026 or later Position duration: This will be a one-year position with a comprehensive benefits package with the possibility of renewal. Continuation beyond one year will be based on performance and availability of funding. Application Window

Open date: June 15, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Jun 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Dec 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) seeks a dynamic and collaborative leader to serve as Director of Community Partnerships and Participant Experience. This position will establish and lead a comprehensive strategy for community partnership, participant engagement, and public education across a multi-site women's brain health research network.

The Director will cultivate trusted relationships with participants, community organizations, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and local stakeholders to ensure that research is informed by the voices and experiences of the communities it seeks to serve. Through community-engaged research practices, educational programming, and participant-centered initiatives, the Director will help advance equitable participation in scientific research while strengthening the public impact of the Initiative's discoveries.

A central responsibility of this position is fostering meaningful, bidirectional communication between researchers and communities. The Director will oversee a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that provides guidance on ethical and equitable recruitment practices, community engagement strategies, participant protections, and culturally responsive research implementation. The Director will also lead a Participant Advisory Board (PAB) that advises on study acceptability, participant experience, barriers to participation, and opportunities to improve engagement throughout the research process.

The Director will develop and coordinate participant-centered programming designed to foster trust, transparency, and long-term engagement. This includes annual virtual events that connect participants across study sites, as well as biannual in-person gatherings led by local Participant Advisory Boards. These events will provide dedicated spaces for community connection, shared learning, and open dialogue around women's health and menopause experiences while strengthening participants' connection to the scientific mission of the Initiative.

In partnership with investigators across the research network, the Director will ensure that community perspectives inform participant recruitment, study implementation, dissemination of findings, and the overall participant experience. The Director will also lead efforts to communicate scientific discoveries back to participants and community partners in accessible and meaningful ways.

The Director will provide strategic leadership for the Initiative's participant engagement infrastructure, supervising research associates including a Recruitment Manager and Central Call Center Coordinator. Together, this team will develop harmonized recruitment and retention strategies, evaluate outreach effectiveness, build partnerships with community organizations and service agencies, and identify innovative approaches to engage historically underserved and harder-to-reach populations.

Key Responsibilities
-Develop and implement a comprehensive community engagement and participant experience strategy across multiple study sites.
-Establish and sustain partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and public agencies.
-Lead and facilitate Community Advisory Board and Participant Advisory Board activities.
-Design participant-centered educational and engagement programs that foster trust, transparency, and long-term involvement in research.
-Supervise community engagement, recruitment, and participant communications personnel.
-Collaborate with investigators to ensure community perspectives are integrated throughout the research lifecycle.
-Develop public-facing communications and educational initiatives that translate scientific discoveries for participants and community audiences.
-Evaluate engagement, recruitment, and retention efforts using data-driven approaches and continuous quality improvement.
-Promote best practices in community-engaged and participant-centered research across the Initiative.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Master's degree or higher in education, public health, social sciences, community psychology, health communication, social work, or a related field.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

At least one year of demonstrated experience leading community engagement, outreach, educational, or stakeholder partnership initiatives.

At least one year of experience convening and facilitating advisory boards, community coalitions, or participatory engagement efforts.

Preferred qualifications

-Strong program development, project management, and organizational leadership skills.
-Experience designing and evaluating educational programs, workshops, or community initiatives.
-Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
-Commitment to ethical community-engaged research.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter

Reference requirements

3 required (contact information only)

Applicants that are chosen for an interview will have their references contacted after the interview
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03122

Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Job location
Santa Barbara, CA

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03122