Embedded Patient Engagement Specialist (Pasadena, CA)

The Embedded Patient Engagement Specialist owns an onsite recruitment and patient engagement presence that accelerates enrollment and improves the patient experience. This role drives full-cycle patient recruitment – from working inbound leads and physician referrals, through EMR and chart review, phone pre-screening and visit scheduling, to helping patients navigate the screening process and supporting show rates through randomization.  

Building strong relationships with physicians and site staff and partnering closely with Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs), the Embedded Patient Engagement Specialist helps remove barriers to participation, strengthen referral pipelines, and support timely, high-quality trial execution. This position is embedded in a clinical trial site, may support additional sites as needed, and reports to an offsite Manager, Patient Recruitment.  

What You’ll Do 

• Serve as the on-site face of Profound Research, building relationships with investigators and site staff and maintaining a consistent on-site presence to keep recruitment aligned with study goals 

• Own the full recruitment cycle for assigned studies – from chart review and patient outreach through pre-screening, visit scheduling, and follow-up through randomization 

• Be the first point of contact for prospective participants, delivering a patient-centered experience that drives both enrollment and retention 

• Respond to inbound inquiries within 24-48 hours and conduct appropriate pre-screening assessments in line with study protocols and inclusion/exclusion criteria 

• Attend Pre-Site Visits (PSVs), Site Initiation Visits (SIVs), and physician meetings to contribute to study-specific recruitment planning and share performance updates with investigators and internal stakeholders 

• Maintain accurate, timely records across CTMS, scheduling tools, screening logs, and third-party recruitment platforms 

• Apply working knowledge of GCP, FDA regulations, and internal policies across all patient interactions and documentation 

• Represent Profound Research at occasional community events and health fairs, and support expansion of the patient database across therapeutic areas 

• Share best practices across sites and actively contribute to improving recruitment capabilities over time 

Requirements 

Essential Qualifications 

• Strong ability to build relationships with investigators, site staff, and patients 

• High level of comfort in high-volume outreach environments, both inbound and outbound 

• Strong communication skills and professional phone presence with a patient-first mindset 

• Proficiency in medical terminology across multiple therapeutic areas 

• Strong technical aptitude, including experience with CTMS and patient tracking systems 

• Results-oriented mindset with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet enrollment goals  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Associate’s degree or higher 

• Experience in a call center, sales, or performance-driven environment 

• Experience supporting multi-site clinical research operations 

• Demonstrated experience driving patient recruitment and engagement in a clinical research setting