ABOUT I-ASC
I-ASC (the International Association for Spelling as Communication) is a growing nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing communication access for nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking people through training, education, advocacy, and research. Our work spans collaborative research initiatives, practitioner training programs, and broader community engagement. We partner with researchers working to better understand the motor, sensory, regulation, and communication needs of nonspeaking people. As I-ASC continues to expand its reach and impact, we are investing in dedicated staff capacity to support this growth.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Research and Training Specialist is a newly created, in-person, full-time position based at our offices in Herndon, VA. I-ASC has entered an exciting phase of growth in its research mission, with new funding, emerging partnerships, and a developing infrastructure of advisory bodies, data collection, and field-based collaboration. This role exists to help build and sustain that infrastructure from the ground up. The Specialist will be a central coordinator for I-ASC's research activities, helping to move multiple interconnected workstreams forward with organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
In addition to research coordination, this role includes meaningful contribution to I-ASC's practitioner training operations, supporting the day-to-day logistics that keep our training programs running. The balance of the role is weighted toward research, with training support as an important but secondary responsibility.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a mission-driven environment, is energized by building systems and processes, and wants to grow alongside an organization doing consequential work in the disability and communication access field.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Research Coordination (Primary)
- Serve as the operational hub for I-ASC's research initiatives, coordinating across staff, researchers, advisory bodies, partner organizations, and funders
- Support the formation and ongoing coordination of the Research Advisory Committee as well as the Nonspeaker Research Council, including logistics, scheduling, communications, meeting preparation, and follow-up
- Coordinate data collection activities across partner sites using I-ASC's field-based data platform, supporting site onboarding, troubleshooting, and data quality review
- Assist in aggregating, organizing, and synthesizing data and field-based insights in preparation for internal analysis and reporting
- Lead coordination of I-ASC's Annual Research Report, gathering inputs across workstreams including literature findings, data platform summaries, advisory body activity, research partnerships, and use of funds
- Support literature review efforts by organizing sources, tracking citations, and preparing structured summaries as directed by research leads
- Manage research partnership communications, maintaining clear and timely outreach with academic collaborators, research labs, and field-based partners
- Track progress across research workstreams, flagging priorities and deadlines to ensure that commitments are met on time
- Maintain organized research records, documentation, and shared filing systems
- Help prepare research summaries, presentations, and other outputs for internal stakeholders and external audiences
Practitioner Training Support (Secondary)
- Support recruitment and application processing for training cohorts, including applicant communications and status tracking
- Assist with cohort setup, participant onboarding, and ongoing cohort management throughout the training cycle
- Assist with graduation processes including documentation, certificates, and follow-up communications
- Support the Prerequisite Program, which prepares individuals for full cohort participation
General Organizational Support
- Contribute to cross-functional projects and evolving organizational priorities as directed
- Maintain and help improve internal systems for tracking tasks, timelines, and program data
- Participate in team meetings and organizational planning processes
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly for varied audiences
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy across all work products
- Demonstrated ability to manage time and priorities effectively across multiple concurrent workstreams
- Experience in project coordination, program operations, or administrative support
- Proficiency with standard office and collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, project management platforms)
- Collaborative, approachable style with the ability to work well across teams and with people of diverse backgrounds
- Dependable and self-directed, with a track record of following through on commitments with minimal oversight
- Comfortable working in an environment where some structures are still being built, and able to bring organization and initiative to ambiguous situations
Preferred (Not Required)
- Experience in a support role within a research setting (e.g., research coordinator, lab or program administrator)
- Experience supporting professional training, certification, or continuing education programs
- Background in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
- Experience or background in the disability field, working with nonspeaking individuals, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
Pay: $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
