Community Co-Director, Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities - Deadline 10.8.2020

Community Co-Director, Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities

50% Temporary Position for Pilot Year. Desired plan is to transition this position to permanent full-time position in Fall 2021.

Established in 2008, the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) supports authentic community-academic research partnerships between Chicagoland communities and Northwestern University that benefit the people being researched and improve health and equity. ARCC advocates for a collaborative approach to research that honors, is driven by, and shares power with communities, as local, cultural, and lived experience experts.

To support ARCC’s commitment to the principles of engagement and equity, the ARCC Community Co-Director position will amplify community-driven perspectives and leadership in ARCC’s vision, culture, and programs. This senior position will reimagine and implement creative strategies to create a pipeline of community stakeholders that upholds ARCC’s goals to center and support the leadership of communities in research partnerships, structures, and institutions. This new position is a key part of the ARCC shared leadership structure and governance, including our Community-Academic Steering Committee. A primary focus of ARCC’s community engagement is Black, Indigenous, People of Color and other marginalized communities most experiencing health inequities in Chicagoland.

ARCC is a program of the Center for Community Health, in Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine serving the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) and Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration and Leadership

• Provide leadership and strategic direction as key decision-making member of ARCC’s shared leadership structure on development and execution of ARCC priorities (capacity, fiscal support, actionable research, and culture of engagement and equity, with emphasis on racial justice).
• Guide the development and implementation of trustworthy community engagement and governance structures and mechanisms in the Center for Community Health and other entities at Northwestern University that leverage academic power and privilege for community benefit.

Community Engagement & Participatory Governance

• Advance community leadership in ARCC decision-making, participatory governance, and resource and opportunity allocation to include:
  • developing strategies and tactics to intentionally engage community representatives and organizations not represented on the ARCC Steering Committee;
  • working with community partners to design and model processes to define, measure, evaluate, and address ARCC’s and Northwestern’s accountability to and share power with communities; 
• Provide consultation to community and academic stakeholders about community engagement strategies and structures in research partnerships, centers, and institutes.
• Nurture and deepen collaborative relationships with university and community stakeholders to increase engagement, impact, and visibility. This includes:
  • working in close collaboration with ARCC Community Engagement Liaison to coordinate and amplify community relationship building & sustainability efforts;
  • actively gathering best practices from peer stakeholders and institutions.

Community Leadership Development & Support

• Lead strategies to build and support leadership development and mentoring of a deep pipeline and collective of community representatives for research engagement roles:
• at the level of individual research partnerships and projects (e.g. Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator, subcontracted partner, consultant, advisory board member); and
• in broader community governance roles at Northwestern (e.g. advisory or steering committee member for centers, departments, institutes, schools, and the institution) and in other multi-stakeholder collaborations. 

Qualifications:

Essential 

• Knowledge and familiarity of Chicagoland communities including local priorities, history, and policy making;
• 8-10 years or more experience working with community-based organization(s) within Chicagoland communities;
• Deep passion for ARCC’s objectives and demonstrable understanding and/or experience with community engagement in academic or health setting; experience incorporating perspectives of multiple communities, including marginalized communities, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of decision-making processes;
• Ability to interact effectively and respectfully with broad range of people (e.g., grassroots leaders, community residents, government officials, healthcare providers); experience working directly with Black, Indigenous, People of Color and other marginalized communities;
• Demonstrable commitment to advancing racial equity through personal and professional efforts; understanding of concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias;
• Good communication and relationship skills, including public speaking, coalition building, group facilitation, and writing;
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member; able to plan and set objectives and identify new opportunities as they arise;
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Services/Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Desirable 

• Long term experience leading the delivery of community support and services to improve community health;
• Experience with developing and/or implementing community leadership and mentoring initiatives; 
• Experience with developing and/or implementing change initiatives focused on policies, processes, and culture within institutions and externally; including organizing and advocacy skills;
• Multilingual verbal and written communications skills;

Position Logistics

• 50% Temporary Part-Time (20 hours per week) Position for Pilot Year. Desired plan is to transition this position to permanent full-time position in Fall 2021. This position is not eligible for benefits during the pilot year.
• Compensation midpoint: $37.50/hour. Compensation will be commensurate with years of experience, expertise and community leadership experience.
• This position reports to the Center for Community Health Co-Directors.
• Location: Due to COVID-19, ARCC is primarily operating virtually. When safe, the office location will be at 750 N Lake Shore Drive, Rubloff Building, 6^th The position will also require some travel throughout Chicagoland communities.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.

To apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your interest, experience and fit with this specific position to ARCC@northwestern.edu by October 8, 2020.