The Office of Pain Policy and Planning (OPPP) supports the coordination of pain research and health care policies across NIH and the federal government, provides support and leadership for the NIH HEAL Initiative, serves as a hub for outreach on pain research, and provides information to the public and government entities on pain and pain research.
The OPPP is searching for a science writer/project manager with knowledge of pain research and public health policies concerning pain. The position would be a full-time contractor position. The OPPP is composed of interdisciplinary team members and resides in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.
Excellent scientific writing and communication skills are required. We are looking for a scientific writer/project manager who collaborates well with colleagues, is a good team worker but is also able to work independently, has strong communication skills, is good at problem solving and critical thinking, manages time effectively, is well organized, and is able to adapt as programs and policy change.
Highlights of the essential work responsibilities include:
- writing and editing materials such as articles, notices of funding opportunities, policy documents, and presentations related to areas of pain research for a variety of national audiences;
- preparing legislative reports in areas related to NIH pain research activities, funding strategies and history, and other areas in which the OPPP participates.
The work also includes:
- preparing high-profile meeting summaries and reports for the NIH Pain Consortium, the HEAL initiative, the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, and other programs in which OPPP participates, including editing and verifying the scientific accuracy of communication products and programmatic or policy materials relevant to pain research and pain policies.
A required skill for this position is the ability to communicate and tailor messages based on the target audiences who may vary widely in their level of scientific expertise, including the general public, health care professionals, people with lived experience, scientists, advocacy groups, and public health policymakers.
Project management skills and experience would be considered a strength. Examples of project management skills include:
- planning and support of meetings supported by OPPP such as the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, the NIH Pain Consortium and the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Initiative;
- designing and coordinating the system for staff communications facilitates the efficient flow of information;
- communicating and collaborating effectively with stakeholders across NIH and the Federal government on relevant projects.
Experience in utilization of various administrative and scientific databases, skills in data collection and analyses to synthesize reports on issues of public health or pain research will be of value to support the activities and reporting requirements of the OPPP.
Ad-hoc work products and documents may include tracking and managing deadlines, briefing staff on the progress of projects, maintaining and using administrative and tracking databases, developing and completing data analyses, and creating other materials related to pain public health policies.
If you are interested in the position, please contact Dr. Linda Porter (porterl@ninds.nih.gov).