Social Accountability Coordinator

While this position welcomes applications from the public, please note that preference will be given to current employees at the University of Alberta. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop down menu when applying.

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement this position has an approximate appointment of 2 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package found at Faculty & Staff Benefits and annual salary range of $76,135 - $104,709. 

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person, with on site work primarily taking place at North Campus, Edmonton. 

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.

Working for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta is one of the world's elite academic health sciences centres, where top students are taught by award-winning educators and mentored by renowned scientists in a dynamic learning environment.

We conduct our teaching, research and patient care in accordance with the highest international standards. We work with our partners in education, research and health care for the greater good of the local, regional and global community.

Position Summary

A social accountability unit is being developed by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD). The purpose of this unit is to lead and coordinate work from across the FoMD that relates to social accountability – our responsibility to direct education, research, and service activities towards addressing the priority health concerns of the communities that we serve (Boelen & Heck, Defining and measuring the social accountability of medical schools, 1995). This unit is critical to supporting the vision and mission of the FoMD.

The Program Coordinator for the social accountability unit reports to the FoMD Social Accountability Lead and will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the unit. This includes finding and developing resources related to best practices, supporting grant applications, coordinating meetings, supporting the activities of the Social Accountability Steering Committee, and working directly with community representatives. The program coordinator is responsible for managing the social accountability unit and any affiliated staff and/or trainees, executing the strategic direction of the unit, and managing the unit’s budget and finances. In addition, the program coordinator will liaise regularly with other Faculties within the College of Health Sciences and across the University of Alberta to ensure the work of the Social Accountability Unit is coordinated with other relevant initiatives and community consultations.

This position is responsible for the overall management of all operational needs and projects. The position manages information, emerging issues and oversees the portfolio’s administrative operations. As a member of the social accountability unit’s leadership team and its leadership committees, the position provides expert advice and counsel to the partners.

In all facets of this role, this position endeavors to integrate and advance the University’s commitments to equity, diversity and inclusivity. This position understands, fulfills, and promotes the health, safety and environment responsibilities identified in university policy.

Duties

Program Support

Strategic Initiatives:

• Works with program area and institutional staff to ensure operational plans are in alignment with the strategic direction of the social accountability unit. Implements action plans based on objectives by assigning the right resources to achieve concrete results and respond to organizational priorities
• Provides comprehensive advice, recommendations and perspectives on current organizational activities and issues related to areas of expertise
• Develops and implements formal administrative structures to ensure key performance targets are met
• In partnership with the leadership team, establishes clear performance expectations for all matters pertaining to operations of the unit; measures performance regularly and recognizes achievement. Holds self and area accountable for meeting performance objectives. Intervenes when area performance is waning. Motivates and/or removes barriers to achievement
• Works collaboratively with the Social Accountability Lead to develop short term and long term plans. Completes budget and administrative planning. Understands the scope, objectives and deliverables and creates process, procedure or tools to support the group’s achievements
• Works collaboratively with colleagues and partners across the College of Health Sciences and the University of Alberta to identify joint objectives and initiatives encouraging feedback on operations, services and processes
• Coordinates solutions to operational challenges

Financial Management:

• In conjunction with the Service Partner (Finance) and the social accountability lead oversees the financial transactions across all sources of funds, monitors key financial data and analytics for Unit,  coordinates Unit Financial reporting for external sponsors for grants and  manages budgeting assumptions, targets, contingency plans and risk mitigation
• Responsible for monitoring social accountability unit trust and operating budgets and spending to ensure appropriate resource allocation
• Ensures the scope and cost of initiatives are planned, monitored and controlled. Demonstrates responsible use of scarce resources. Identifies, lobbies and secures resources as required; reallocates resources as necessary
• Leads and oversees financial reporting and forecasting  for the social accountability unit to the program funder, and preparation of financial materials for the social accountability unit business case and agreement
• Responds to and takes corrective action to amend financial issues

  Human Resource Management:

• In collaboration with the HR Partner for the area, provides advice and support on human resource issues (e.g., hiring, performance management, ER/LR).
• Manages space allocation, furniture, furnishings and office equipment in one or more locations.

Project Management:

• Coordinates meetings, agendas, minutes and manages all documents associated with the Social Accountability Steering Committee and any subcommittees
• Prepares ad hoc reports as requested on unit activities including: completion of strategic objectives, timely and accurate reporting for all grants, and multi-year planning
• Coordinates reimbursement, honorariums and travel arrangements for staff and community representatives
• Organizes symposia, conferences, lectures, seminars and/or meetings, including the recruitment of sponsors or strategic partners
• Reviews organizational policies and procedures and recommends changes that support social accountability unit objectives and deliverables
• Assists in the preparation of research grant applications and contract proposals. Seeks out and identifies potential sources for future funding. Performs literature searches
• Assists with the grant administration activities for the social accountability unit including reporting updates on all program activities and projects, as well as KPI and financial reporting. Evaluates current business processes for operational and financial efficiencies
• Manages all external contracts for the office. Oversees collection of revenue from conferences and/or other training sessions hosted by the social accountability unit
• Assists with drafting and formatting manuscripts for submission
• Oversees project evaluation and closure activities

Communication

• Acts as the first point of contact for the FoMD on issues related to social accountability and community engagement
• Responds to specific inquiries about the program from students, faculty, staff, and the general public
• Screens, directs and processes phone, electronic and in person queries
• Maintains the social accountability unit website
• Develops, designs produces and oversees communications and publications for internal (within FoMD and the University of Alberta) and external (public-facing) purposes
• Works directly with community representatives to reduce barriers to community engagement
• Helps to develop and uphold best practices in community engagement, including compensation and recognition
• Builds and maintains relationships with external and internal networks and partners, including collaborators, funding agencies, suppliers, etc.
• Develops and maintains working relationships with relevant partners across the College of Health Sciences and the University of Alberta. This includes collaborating on community engagement activities relevant to the FoMD, sharing resources, and ensuring the work of the Social Accountability Unit aligns with College and the University of Alberta strategic plans 

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a Masters degree in a relevant field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Training and experience in qualitative and quantitative methods, including the ability to code and synthesize qualitative data and perform statistical analyses
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience leading and supervising teams; experience with planning and managing in a growing organization
• Excellent interpersonal skills; experience working with Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, members of rural communities and/or other equity-deserving communities would be an asset
• Proficiency with Microsoft office, Google applications, statistical software, grant and/or manuscript writing is required
• Facilitation, negotiation and problem solving skills and the ability to handle challenging situations
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment and establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Integrity and an ability to maintain confidentiality, handles sensitive information with discretion
• Experience in project management, developing research proposals/grants, strategic planning and staff supervision is required. Knowledge of performance management and metrics is required, along with ability to develop and implement a robust system for tracking performance at a project/program level
• Excellent people leadership and conflict management skills
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to set priorities; ability to handle a high work volume and manage competing deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with job design and organizational development, recruitment, selection, and performance management in unionized environments, and at the University of Alberta, are strongly preferred
• Experience accomplishing financial objectives by forecasting requirements; developing annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions
• Experience working with advisory committees
• Excellent critical analysis and problem solving skills; the ability to provide information and advice to employees at all levels in the department
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to preparation of briefs and presentations for a range of audiences and stakeholders
• Collaborative style and agile to adapt to changing needs and be responsive to supporting impacts in supporting our strategies
• Working knowledge of university processes and procedures is an asset
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft financials and Human Capital Management (HCM), and uPlan is an asset

Application Instructions

Please apply with the following doucuments:

• Cover letter and resume as one document
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion philosophy statement

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