Clinical Trial Nurse

Position: Clinical Trial Nurse/ Nurse Navigator

Supervisor/Manager: VP Research

Classification: Temporary Contract

January 2027 – September 2027

Start Date: January 2027

Location: Remote, South Atlantic region, DMV, South Carolina preferred

Salary: $86.50/hr 13/hrs per week

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is the nation's leading voluntary organization exclusively serving the entire lupus community including persons with lupus, their families, physicians, researchers, and the general public. The Lupus Foundation of America is seeking an exceptionally compassionate, culturally competent Registered Nurse to serve as the Lupus Clinical Trial Navigator in support of a bi-directional partnership with between the Lupus Foundation of America and several academic medical centers conducting lupus clinical trials to support programmatic grant work as a contractor within the LFA. The contractor will be a member of the research team at will report directly to the VP of Research.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This grant-funded role is central to our mission of advancing health equity and improving the lives of all people living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by improving access to clinical research opportunities that have historically excluded their communities. The Navigator will serve as the primary liaison between our Research Accelerated by You (RAY) Lupus Patient Registry and active lupus clinical trials currently enrolling at selected academic medical centers. Working at the intersection of clinical care, patient advocacy, and research operations, this individual will guide registry participants through the education, screening and enrollment stages of the clinical trial process, from initial consultation and eligibility screening through enrollment and ongoing support where needed. This is a unique and mission-driven opportunity to directly impact clinical research diversity while building meaningful, longitudinal relationships with patients from underrepresented communities disproportionately affected by lupus.

The nurse-navigator must maintain great work ethic and display productivity, working both independently and as part of a team in a hybrid and/or remote environment. The individual will work in cooperation with the research team to facilitate collaboration across academic partners and people living with lupus. This individual must also be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing protected health information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Registry Consultation & Patient Engagement

• Conduct structured intake consultations with new RAY registry participants who have indicated interest in participating in a clinical trial to assess disease history, medication profile, research readiness, and participation barriers
• Maintain ongoing, longitudinal relationships with registry participants through regular outreach by phone, video, or secure messaging through screening and enrollment periods
• Provide culturally sensitive education about clinical trials, informed consent, and participants' rights in plain, accessible language using previously curated educational materials developed by the Lupus Foundation of America
• Address common barriers to participation including transportation, scheduling, language access, childcare/caregiver responsibilities, and historical medical mistrust where appropriate

Clinical Trial Screening & Matching (Outbound Flow)

• Maintain current, detailed knowledge of eligibility criteria for active lupus clinical trials at selected academic institutions
• Systematically review registry participants against trial eligibility criteria and flag potential matches
• Conduct pre-screening interviews and coordinate baseline assessments as appropriate
• Prepare warm, informed hand-offs to academic medical center research coordinators with relevant clinical summaries and participant consent

Retention & Ongoing Participant Support

• Maintain contact with enrolled participants throughout trial duration to support adherence and address concerns
• Serve as a trusted first point of contact for non-medical questions, triaging and communicating with the research site as appropriate
• Document participant-reported barriers and solutions to inform ongoing program improvement

Partnership Coordination & Reporting

• Participate in monthly touchpoint meetings with academic medical center research coordinators to review referral pipeline, enrollment status, and protocol updates
• Maintain accurate records in alignment with the RAY Registry database and document all navigator interactions
• Contribute data and narrative content to quarterly and annual grant progress reports and organizational board reports
• Assist in preparation of IRB submissions, data use agreements, and partnership documentation as needed

EDUCATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state(s) of practice
• Minimum 5 years of clinical nursing experience; rheumatology, immunology, oncology, or research experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience working with underrepresented communities in healthcare settings with knowledge related to navigating healthcare access complexities due to social determinants of health
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial processes, including informed consent, eligibility screening, and Good Clinical Practice principles along with Institutional Review Board requirements
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills with the ability to build trust with patients navigating complex healthcare systems
• Experience partnering with academic medical centers and clinical trial teams to coordinate referrals, support enrollment workflows, and manage ongoing stakeholder communication related to clinical research participation
• Comfort working independently in a remote or hybrid environment with minimal day-to-day supervision
• Proficiency with electronic health systems, registry databases, CRM platforms, and maintaining HIPAA compliance while collecting/managing PHI

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Prior experience as a patient navigator, research nurse, or clinical research coordinator (CRC)
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish, or another language representative of the served community
• Familiarity with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical presentation, treatment landscape, and patient experience data
• Knowledge of NIH inclusion policies and FDA guidance on diversity in clinical trials
• OCR Certification or completion of ACRP/SOCRA credentialing
• Experience contributing to grant reporting, complex data capture and academic publications
• Remote; preferred location in the South Atlantic region, DMV or South Carolina

Other Details

• Ability to interact with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• LFA participates in E-Verify.
• Background checks are required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Lupus Foundation of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.