Community Research Coordinator

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

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At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The UBC School of Nursing is co-leading a community-based research project with community partner organizations in Terrace, BC. This project aims to share back key learnings from earlier research about community-led understandings of well-being and the factors necessary to foster well-being among people experiencing social, economic, and health-related vulnerabilities. The core principles of community engagement (respect, reciprocity, community-leadership) and reconciliation underpin all aspects of this project. We are seeking a highly motivated individual, to coordinate community engagement and research activities the Terrace community. They will provide support for the team in Terrace and work to build inclusive and respectful engagement with community members and organizations and facilitate data collection and knowledge mobilization activities. The position is physically located in Terrace, BC.

The Community Research Coordinator will work closely with a multi-disciplinary team inclusive of researchers, community leaders, and people with lived and living experience of economic and social vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty, racism). The Coordinator will contribute to the overall success of this research project by leading various tasks, including building respectful relationships with community organizations and people with lived/living experience, organizing community events including recruitment to participate in research engagement, preparing community appropriate materials, note taking (data collection), and participating in the project's final report. They will be a key contact for the project in Terrace, and will function at the interface among the community and project leadership. The Coordinator will facilitate recruitment, conduct participant informed consent, and contribute to the overall implementation of the project.

The hours per work will vary with the scope and timing of project activities, with an anticipated average of 8-12 hours/week.

Organizational Status
This position reports directly to the Principal Investigator and community co-leads of the project. They will work with the Program Manager at Capacity Research Centre, and will also collaborate with other research staff, co-investigators and community members.

Work Performed

• Build relationships with community members and organizations to help determine strategies for appropriate community engagement for research participation.

• Responsible for community members' recruitment to research activities

• Provide materials and support to facilitate inclusive engagement of community members including providing invitations, sharing research material (e.g., reports) to facilitate engagement in focus groups and travel arrangements as necessary.

• Coordinate community events for data collection and knowledge mobilization (e.g., sharing research findings) as per the project protocol including preparing materials, note taking (data collection), and event logistics such as room bookings and catering

• Draft recruitment scripts and other project documents and materials

• Implement study protocol and interact appropriately with research participants

• Convey sensitivity and relate with participants in a highly respectful way during the data collection process

• Carry out informed consent and participant safety procedures in conjunction with data collection

• Maintain documentation of community engagement and recruitment activities

• Provide incentives to research participants in accordance with research ethics protocol

• Participate in research team meetings and contribute to the interpretation and analysis of research data, as required

• Contribute to the preparation and dissemination of the project final community report.

• Work in cooperation with other members of the research team and communicate verbally and in writing regarding work progress

• Support activities and duties performed by the Principal Investigator, community co-leads, and Program Manager

• Perform other related duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Principal Investigator and community co-leads will monitor the work of the incumbent. Errors or incorrect decisions could potentially result in delays in completing the project or seriously compromise the quality of the research. In addition, if established protocols related to privacy, confidentiality, and safety are not followed confidentiality about sensitive information related to research participants' personal experiences could be breached.

Supervision Received
The Community Research Coordinator will work under general supervision, receiving training in the required research skills, and specific instructions on unusual or complex problems, and exercise some autonomy, discretion, and initiative in determining work procedures and methods. This position will report to and be co-supervised by the Principal Investigator of the project and the core community leaders on the project team.

Supervision Given

This position has no formal supervisory responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills who brings a solid grounding in community engagement.

• Experience working with community not-for profit social service/health care organizations or agencies.

• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential for relating with participants and team members in a respectful way.

• Experience coordinating community events

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, including members of the community, marginalized populations, health and social service providers, and policy makers.

• Demonstrated experience and skill with Microsoft Office software and comfort with other types of computer software (e.g., Adobe Pro).

• Ability to be self-directed, and to work both independently and within a team environment.

• Ability to exercise confidentiality, tact and discretion.