Research and Evaluation Coordinator

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

The contract has an end date of October 31, 2023, however, there is a possibility of an extension up to a maximum of one year from the start date.  

Working for the University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Duties

Project Planning:

The position has overall responsibility for the planning and operation of all PHAC grant-funded Housing for Health Project Research and Evaluation activities:

• Works with the PD and Grant Admin Coordinator in developing comprehensive business plans, operational plans, and strategic planning related to research and evaluation, as appropriate, and ensures it is coordinated. with the programmatic aspects of the project, for the short- and long-term success of the project.
• Assists PD in providing direction within the scope of the project's Research and Evaluation internally, and in coordination with the programmatic aspects of the project to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Works with the PD and Grant Admin Coordinator to identify opportunities for funding, develop funding proposals, and secure funds for expansion and long-term continuation of the project.

Coordination and Quality Control of Research and Evaluation Resources, and for the Overall Project: Oversees the operational planning, coordination and quality control for the Project’s Research and Evaluation activities:

• Ensures that the operation and implementation of the project’s Research and Evaluation activities meet the expectations of the Department of Medicine, Research Services Office at the University of Alberta, and external program funders.
• Identifies and evaluates the risks associated with project activities, and takes appropriate actions to mitigate and/or those risks.
• Continuously evaluates Research and Evaluation project initiatives, to ensure activities and events are occurring as planned and leading to intended immediate and intermediate outcomes, determined through performance measurements corresponding to project activities with quantifiable targets and results where applicable.
• Ensures consistency of quality, accountability, and high standards in all project outputs such as presentations, reports, and publications.
• Monitors and advises the PD on all aspects of the project's Research and Evaluation activities, and coordinates these activities with other programmatic activities of the project, including progress reporting on Research and Evaluation activities.
• Executes the Research and Evaluation plans of the project, develops and delegates tasks for staff, ensuring all timelines and grant deliverables are met.
• Monitors the day-to-day delivery of the project and services related to Research and Evaluation, and provides lessons learned to maintain or improve quality.
• This position will contribute to and lead manuscript preparation, writing, and submissions for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Strategic Relationships and Partnerships: The Research and Evaluation Coordinator works directly in partnership with a variety of stakeholders to achieve the project deliverables:

• Developing and maintaining partnerships with multi-stakeholder groups needed for successful Research and Evaluation activities.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with external and internal networks.
• Collaborate with partners such as developers of pilot developments, municipal leaders as well as other stakeholders to implement Research and Evaluation activities for active living, healthy eating and socially-connecting interventions.
• Participates in stakeholder consultation processes and meetings with internal and external representatives to reach mutually agreeable objectives for data collection and reporting purposes.

Human Resources: Coordination of the activities of in-house resources to meet deliverables:

• Work with PD to determine human resources required for the project’s Research and Evaluation activities, in coordination with other programmatic activities of the project, and advises the Grant Admin Coordinator.
• Supervise/co-supervise and/or provide mentorship to research assistants, support staff, graduate students, student interns and others working on the project’s Research and Evaluation deliverables and outputs.
• Assist in oversight of other research assistants who may be directly supervised by other team members.
• Provide mentorship to the Housing or Health team regarding research design, selection of measures, data collection, data analysis, and data dissemination including writing.
• Design research studies as appropriate.
• Assist in oversight of consultants.
• Assist Research and Evaluation team members with developing timelines and implementation plans related to data collection, analyses and dissemination for their projects and ensures staff provide deliverables on schedule as agreed.
• Oversight of Research and Evaluation results from dissemination activities.
• Provides leadership, mentoring and coaching and helps in resolving issues related to Research and Evaluation, and provides constructive feedback and direction to staff and team members.
• Assist PD when needed with disciplining staff using appropriate techniques.

Financial Resources: Working with the PD and Grant Admin Coordinator, provide oversight of the Research and Evaluation budget and spending to ensure compliance with the university and grant guidelines in the appropriate management and usage of funds:

• Ensure reporting of Research and Evaluation activities to the funder is sound, complete, and accurate.
• Assist the Grant Admin Coordinator with managing the Research and Evaluation funding and budget, and ensure optimal use of resources.
• Assist the Grant Admin Coordinator and PD with identifying variances in the budget and developing appropriate budget adjustments.
• Monitor project resources for Research and Evaluation to ensure project budgets are met.
• Track costs of events related to project Research and Evaluation, and coordinate billing for internal and external collaborations and contracts with the Grant Admin Coordinator.
• Remain aware of and addresses potential developmental, operational, and financial risks and keep the PD informed. 

Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum of a Public Health or equivalent Quantitative Methods Thesis-Based Master’s degree in a health-related area.
• Certification or training in project management is highly desirable.

Experience:

• At least four years of directly related project coordination and staff supervision experience in a research group or related field. If the applicant has a Ph.D., then at least two years of experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with relevant Research and Evaluation methods including research design, selecting measures, designing surveys, data collection, data analyses, data dissemination, manuscript preparation and submission, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated experience working with project management theories, principles, techniques and methodologies to manage all phases of the project’s Research and Evaluation from conception through planning to implementation and dissemination.
• Experience in applying risk management and change management principles and methods is an asset.
• Strong background in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external multi-sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated peer-review publications.

Knowledge/Understanding:

• Understanding of built environment as well as healthy living research is an asset.
• Solid understanding of quantitative research and evaluation methods is required; an understanding of qualitative research and evaluation methods is an asset.
• A broad perspective on health promotion and the determinants of health including theory, knowledge, and practice, particularly as it applies to the built environment and healthy living behaviours.

Ability:

• Ability to coordinate with other administrative and programmatic staff on the project.
• Capacity for self-motivation and self-direction along with a strong results orientation to manage projects and deliver results within required timelines.
• Ability to integrate individual components of issues or project plans to create consistent, unified and comprehensive responses to specific issues.
• Ability to mobilize research team to submit to and garner peer-review publications.

Skills:

• Highly developed skills in research methods involving healthy living and the built environment, and project coordination including planning, development, implementation, delegation, and evaluation.
• Superior skills and proven success in motivating and collaborating with others to build successful partnerships.
• Strong interpersonal skills (including leadership, and internal and external relationship management).
• Critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to develop written and verbal reports, and communicate effectively with senior-level stakeholder representatives.

Logistics

• Periodic travel to nearby towns (potentially overnight) such as Whitecourt and Red Deer is required.
• Full Class 5 Driver's License and own transportation is preferred.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.