Patient Engagement Specialist

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 300 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 for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Patient Engagement Specialist position.  Reporting to the VP, Head of Patient Engagement, this role contributes to the operations of the Patient Engagement team and the development and execution of its core projects to further patient-centric best practices across the Parkinson’s disease clinical research landscape. This role serves as a critical point person between internal and external (e.g., study partners, vendors, patient community members) stakeholders, receiving and integrating inputs and approvals as helpful and required.

This position may be hybrid-flex with the opportunity to work from the Foundation’s office in NYC or based remotely from anywhere within the U.S.

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
  • Create and implement processes to streamline projects
     
• Communications and Relationship Management:
  • Develop and cultivate positive working relationships with external collaborators and partners: program and study partners, key opinion leaders and the patient and participant community
  • Steward current and potential partners with clear, compelling and respectful outreach such as emails, talking points, presentations and website copy
  • Provide feedback and inputs on varied Foundation and partner projects as requested

 Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge in project management and communications
• Knowledge of multi-stakeholder projects
• Ability to manage shifting priorities, working cross-functionally across different stakeholders
• Commitment to and knowledge of principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in personal and/or professional settings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with sharp instinct to effectively share information
• Effective team player with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and comfort in navigating ambiguity
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
• Knowledge in healthcare, clinical research, or community outreach is a plus
• Willingness to travel up to 20 percent annually, including occasional weekends
• Bi-/multi-lingual is a plus

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation 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 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) 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. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

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.