Job Posting: Making It Work Research Coordinator

Position: Research Coordinator
Status: Full-Time Position (37.5 hours per week)
Time Period: Position is available immediately – position end date is March 31, 2020
Remuneration: $45,000 – $55,000 based on experience
Location: Anywhere in the province (position works from home office)

 

The Pacific AIDS Network (PAN) is seeking a Research Coordinator to coordinate and administer activities of the Making It Work community-based research study, funded by a CIHR Operating Grant in the Indigenous Stream. The Coordinator will be an independent, self-starter who will be responsible for: supporting an active and engaged Study Team; developing data collection tools; engaging and supporting case study sites from around the province; facilitating data collection and analysis; leading knowledge translation and dissemination; and leading a community-based process to create a program theory using a Realist Evaluation Framework.

The Coordinator will work in collaboration with the Making It Work Study Team and with the project’s co-principle investigators Sherri Pooyak (The Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research Collaborative Centre (AHA Centre), Dr. Nancy Clark (University of Victoria), and J. Evin Jones (PAN). The Coordinator will work within the Community-Based Research and Evaluation Program at PAN, which is offered in partnership with the CIHR Centre for REACH in HIV/AIDS. The Coordinator will report directly to Janice Duddy, PAN’s Director of Evaluation and Community-Based Research.

 

About the Making It Work Project

The Making It Work: Supporting Community Approaches to Integrated Service Models for People Living with HIV, HCV, Ill Mental Health, and/or Problematic Substance Use Project is an Indigenous-focused, community-based research project in BC. The project’s hypothesis is that linking case management and community development services and ensuring cultural safety for service users would improve outcomes for people living with complex issues. A key facet of this research is understanding how service providers adapt and add to “best practice” case management and community development service delivery models to “make them work” for service users in ways that are culturally safe.

The three primary questions the study is examining are:

1. Does the process of building a set of common evaluation measures for case management and community development programs support improved outcomes at the program and sectoral levels?

2. Does linking case management and community development programs and services improve health and social outcomes for people living with HIV, HCV, ill mental health, and/or problematic substance use?
3. Do Indigenous Service Delivery Models, based on an Indigenous worldview of health and
wellbeing, produce improved health and social outcomes for people living with HIV, HCV, ill
mental health, and/or problematic substance use (regardless of Indigenous heritage)?

The project will build a Realist Evaluation framework and program theory through team discussions,
examination of the literature and by collecting data using a case study approach. The ultimate goal will
be to apply the program theory to develop a comprehensive evaluation tool of case management and
community development programs that will work to improve services for people living with complex
health issues.

 

About the Pacific AIDS Network

The Pacific AIDS Network (PAN) is a vibrant, pro-active member-based coalition that provides a
network to support the abilities and efforts of its 40+ member organizations to respond to HIV, HCV
and related issues in British Columbia. PAN provides face-to-face networking opportunities;
opportunities for mutual support; education and skills development; and opportunities for member
organizations to participate in community-based research and evaluation projects. PAN facilitates
knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) activities and the sharing of evidence-based practices; and
undertakes collective action to influence public perceptions and policies affecting people living with
HIV/AIDS, HCV and those “at risk.”

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Supports the Study Team by organizing monthly team teleconferences and organizing face-toface
team meetings and core-research team meetings
2. Facilitates team meetings and provides agenda and follow-up notes for all meetings
3. Promotes research capacity building among community-based organizations, peer researchers
and other Study Team Members
4. Prepares research ethics board applications
5. Develops, in collaboration with the Study Team, a Realist Evaluation Framework and Context-
Mechanism-Outcome statements through culturally safe consultations including a series of
community meetings that will support the creation of a program theory
6. In consultation with community research sites, develops data collection tools (quantitative
survey and qualitative interview guide) that will be used at four case study sites around the
province (Vancouver Island, Prince George, Cranbrook and an additional site to be determined)
7. Coordinates and participates in data collection with community research sites
8. Coordinates the analysis of evaluation data
9. Recruits, supervises and supports Peer Researchers in each of the case study sites
10. Supports community research sites in capacity building related to the project and works in
partnership with the community research sites to recruit participants
11. Ensures the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of evaluation and data collection
activities; acts as the primary administrative point of contact
12. Coordinates the day-to-day activities of any support staff specifically engaged in the carrying
out the study, as appropriate to the position
13. Supports integrated knowledge translation and communications activities
14. Facilitates and participates in report and publication writing
15. Manages study budget, work plans, and contracts
16. Writes funding proposals as appropriate
17. Works in collaboration with the CBR and Evaluation Program staff at PAN, and, where
appropriate, with the CIHR Centre for REACH and the CBR Collaborative Centre
18. Other duties, as required and special projects identified that reflect both organization need as
well as employee interest

Qualifications:

  • Master’s level education in a related field (or equivalent experience)
  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, group team-building and facilitation skills and ability to
    work independently and within a team
  • Experience with and understanding of working with Indigenous people
  • Experience working with Indigenous communities in a culturally safe way
  • In-depth knowledge of community-based research and/or participatory evaluation principles
  • Advanced understanding of qualitative and mixed methods research, including case study
    approaches
  • Experience with developing data collection tools – i.e. surveys, interview guides, etc.
  • Excellent writing, presentation, and communication skills
  • Experience in or understanding of HIV/AIDS and/or HCV research and understanding of the
    Nothing About Us Without Us Principles
  • Proficiency in applicable software programs (i.e. Microsoft Office, Excel, data analysis software,
    e.g. nVivo, etc.)
  • Some knowledge of Realist Evaluation approach and methods

Characteristics

  • Strong ability to work independently and remotely with team members across the Province
  • Self-starter, able to hit the ground running, able to work independently, dependable
  • Ability and willingness to travel, as required (there are a number of case study sites around the
    province and there may be travel to each of these)
  • Skilled team player who is able to build professional and effective working relationships with a
    diverse group of stakeholders – respected and respectful
  • A hands-on, forward-thinking planner, problem solver and implementer, capable of anticipating
    and dealing with challenges proactively
  • Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, ability to multi-task and manage time well
  • Values diversity, collaboration, transparency and partnerships

 

Application Process:

Please apply through our Charity Village posting. The posting will remain
active until the position is filled (posted on November 26, 2018). Applications will be reviewed as they
are received. Only successful, short-listed, candidates will be contacted. No telephone or email
inquiries please.

We encourage Indigenous individuals, people living with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis C and members of
other under-represented communities to apply