Patient Engagement Officer

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 250 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is seeking top talent for its Patient Engagement Officer position.  The Patient Engagement Officer will contribute to the development and execution of communications materials that support our research initiatives, with a particular focus on the recruitment and retention of study participants. This team member will serve as a critical point person helping to centralize and streamline communications around Foundation-sponsored and -supported studies from ideation to execution.

The Patient Engagement Officer works enthusiastically and respectfully with multiple internal teams and outside agencies and has a clear understanding of what is needed in each step of the content creation process. This is a versatile opportunity with the possibility of growth for a persuasive writer and detail-oriented operations manager who works well individually and as part of a team.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Team Operations: Support daily operations of the Patient Engagement team through meeting management and administrative tasks including utilizing internal platforms, managing vendor platforms, circulating draft and final materials, shipping materials, and others as needed. 
  • Includes managing submissions to the Institutional Review Board (IRB), maintaining a library of approved content and working closely with external IRB liaisons. 
  • Includes maintaining a high level of organization in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment. 
• Writing: Write fresh and engaging content for the Foundation’s research initiatives through email, web, newsletter, and any other materials as needed. 
  • Includes working with internal and external partners to support communications for the Foundation’s landmark Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). 
  • Includes fastidious attention to detail to ensure content adheres to the Foundation’s style guide. 

Qualifications and Skills:

• History of proven experience in project management and/or communications.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality work quickly and under pressure, working cross-functionally and with urgency across different stakeholders. 
• Excellent writing and attention to detail. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Travel expectation – 10%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in healthcare, clinical research, community outreach or related work
• Fluency in Spanish

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $70,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with MJFF paying 90 percent of the premiums).
• Competitive dental and vision plans.
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Employer paid life and disability insurance.
• 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO); 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4.
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done. 

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. MJFF provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.

Vaccine Statement: 
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. MJFF has made the decision to require all staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated by date of hire and proof of vaccine is required. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after both doses of two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, because of medical or religious reasons, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing their specific qualifications and interest in the position.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.