OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Through a new initiative, Building Capacity to Engage in Chemosensory Patient-Centered CER (“Project PACE”), STANA aims to usher in a new era of inclusive, patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER). Developing a scalable and sustainable patient–researcher partnership model that empowers patients, researchers, and clinicians to collaborate effectively on chemosensory research can result in outcomes—such as improved screening, diagnosis, and treatments—that directly address the priorities, needs, and lived experiences of those affected.
Position Summary
STANA seeks an Outreach Director for the critical role of growing strategic partnerships with researchers and clinicians to embed more patients in patient-centered CER through the development of an outreach strategy, promotion of STANA’s Patient Partner Cohort (PPC), a group of individuals living with smell and taste dysfunction who are trained to work alongside researchers on projects, and facilitation of collaborations between patients, researchers, and clinicians.
The Outreach Director’s work will also support other key aspects of Project PACE, including expanding the capacity and scalability of the PPC, aligning patient-prioritized topic areas with actionable patient-centered CER study areas such as screening and identification, treatment and care coordination, and health support services, promoting STANA’s Promising Practices for patient engagement, and building long-term sustainability for the model by helping STANA establish an outreach and relationship-management function that can be maintained over time.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to STANA’s Project Lead and working closely with the PPC Director, the Outreach Director will have responsibility for the following:
- Meet regularly (virtually) with the Project Lead and other project team members to review assignments, coordinate outreach activities, and report on progress.
- Develop a written outreach strategy that:
- Defines target audiences, outreach approaches, communications, and engagement opportunities (e.g., events, activities, conferences).
- Identifies new relationships to cultivate with researchers, clinicians, academic institutions, and professional societies relevant to chemosensory research.
- Builds off STANA’s chemosensory ecosystem map and existing relationships.
- Clearly communicates the value of partnering with trained patient partners – not as subjects but as collaborators - to improve study planning, implementation, and dissemination.
- Incorporates input from STANA leadership, including STANA's Board of Directors and Science and Medical Advisory Council (SMAC), under the guidance of the Project Lead.
- Implement the launch of the outreach strategy in coordination with the Project Lead by initiating, building, and expanding relationships with targeted partners.
- Support outreach activities, such as stakeholder workshops, virtual discussions, and other convenings, to introduce STANA and the PPC to potential research partners.
- Introduce and promote STANA’s Promising Practices of Patient Engagement to partners.
- Help establish and implement a consistent onboarding process for new research partners, setting expectations for sustainable patient-researcher partnerships.
- Collaborate closely with the Project Lead and PPC Director to facilitate the matching of Patient Partner Cohort members with research projects, ensuring that patient partners receive appropriate support, that matches are well-aligned with both patient partners’ skills, experience, and interests, as well as research partners' needs, and fostering smooth, effective collaboration throughout the research project lifecycle.
- Lead workstream to establish feedback mechanisms (i.e., survey forms) to assess the effectiveness and experience of patient–researcher partnerships.
- Track outreach activity and partnership outcomes and maintain records to report to the Project Lead for project reporting milestones.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required and/or equivalent.
- Familiarity with the chemosensory field or closely related areas, including experience working with clinicians, researchers, academic institutions, health systems, or professional medical or scientific societies. Knowledge of comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER), a plus.
- Empathy and insight into the challenges faced by individuals living with smell and taste dysfunction, drawing on both general understanding and personal experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing outreach strategies, building and maintaining strategic partnerships, and serving as a relationship manager.
- Effective written, verbal, and electronic communication skills, and knowledge of Microsoft tools (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management software
- Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with a project team and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, managing multiple partnerships simultaneously.
- Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, research, or patient advocacy settings preferred.
Commitment
This part-time position, approximately 6 hours per week for up to 24 months, is supporting a project funded through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program, an initiative of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI® ). The role is contingent on satisfactory individual performance and the successful completion of project milestones and deliverables. Budgeted annual compensation is $10,920. While this role is expected to be primarily remote with virtual meetings and occasional in-person participation at select meetings or conferences, STANA is seeking U.S.-based candidates only.
Fill out the adjacent form to apply.
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATE
Position Summary
STANA is seeking a Social Media Associate to support outreach and engagement across our social media channels, including Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, and Facebook. This role will help strengthen awareness of smell and taste disorders, promote STANA programming, reinforce the STANA brand, grow STANA’s social media presence, support recruitment efforts for our Patient Partner Cohort (PPC), a national network of individuals with lived experience who partner with researchers to shape patient-centered research, and help engage new stakeholder audiences, including researchers and clinicians who conduct research and have a focus on chemosensory disorders.
The ideal candidate is mission-driven, creative, organized, and passionate about storytelling that uplifts patient voices and advances community education.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to STANA’s President, the Social Media Associate will have responsibility to:
- Create and schedule compelling, accessible, and accurate social media content across STANA’s platforms: (Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, Facebook)
- Grow awareness of smell and taste disorders by executing social media posting activities guided by STANA’s content calendar.
- Support PPC recruitment and outreach to research partners through strategic messaging and campaigns on social media.
- Share educational resources, research opportunities, stories, events, and organizational updates on social media.
- Apply knowledge of social media best practices and create high-impact posts that drive engagement, awareness, and measurable results.
- Maintain a consistent brand voice rooted in empathy, collaboration, and patient-centered values.
- Track engagement trends and offer recommendations to strengthen reach and impact.
- Work closely with the STANA team members, especially STANA’s President, to align social content with STANA's current projects, initiatives, timelines and mission objectives.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to create visually engaging social media graphics that comply with social media platform requirements
- Strong writing and storytelling skills, including clear, concise copywriting for social media posts
- Experience managing social media for a nonprofit, health organization, advocacy group, or mission-driven brand preferred
- Background in working with established brand guidelines to produce consistent, high-quality social media content.
- Ability to communicate complex or sensitive topics clearly and respectfully
- Understanding of or interest in patient advocacy, health equity, or sensory disorders
- Reliable, organized, and comfortable working remotely and independently
- Familiarity with Canva or similar tools required
- An understanding of the challenges people with smell and taste dysfunction face, including from personal experience.
Commitment
This part-time position requires approximately two hours per week for up to 24 months. The role is supporting a Project PACE and is contingent on the successful completion of certain milestones and deliverables. The schedule is flexible, with occasional time-sensitive postings that require prompt availability. Budgeted annual compensation is $4,160. The position is fully remote, with a preference for U.S.-based candidates.
Fill out the adjacent form to apply.
STANA is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.