Community Research and Leadership Coordinator

Women's College Hospital (WCH) is an academic, ambulatory care hospital in Ontario with a focus on health for women, health equity and health system solutions. If you're ready to be part of a team that is revolutionizing the future of healthcare, then you will want to join an institution where the possibilities for innovation, new discovery and system thinking are limitless. Women's College Hospital is committed to equity, quality and patient safety as key professional values and essential components of daily practice.

Healthcare Revolutionized 2030 is our roadmap to the future. Our strategy is built on the pledge that the founders of our hospital made 140 years ago and reaffirms our commitment to providing equitable, accessible, best-in-class healthcare for everyone – meeting people where they are on their healthcare journey and partnering with them to reach their goals of living their healthiest lives possible. The stage has been set for Women’s to accelerate our priorities and capture the momentum to catapult our system forward to revolutionize healthcare for everyone.

Applicants must reside and be legally eligible to work in Ontario.

Type: New

Temporary Casual, Variable hours

This is a temporary casual position, funded through two grants received from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN).

The individual will work in collaboration with the Women HIV and Health Research Program (WHRP) to ensure the meaningful engagement of community members – specifically women (cis and trans) and gender diverse people in various social positions -- in all activities. WHRP is a feminist and community-based research program that was founded in 2006 with the mission to work with women to carry out research aims to address topics deemed important to them and to optimize their wellbeing. Recently, WHRP has expanded its focus to HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention for cis and trans women and gender diverse people. This position represents one of the first Community Research and Leadership Coordinator role fulfilling the team’s new focus.

The successful candidate for this position will primarily function as the Community Research and Leadership Coordinator (CRLC) for W-PREV: Adapting the Women-Centred HIV Care Model for Women’s HIV/STBBI Prevention in Ontario; as well as for TWIRI (Trans Women and Gender Diverse People HIV/STBBI and Health Research Initiative). In short, the aims of the projects are to adapt a model of care for HIV/STBBI prevention and sexual and reproductive health promotion in Ontario. The CLRC will work closely with the Nominated Principal Applicants (Dr. Mona Loutfy and Ashley Lacombe-Duncan) and Co-Principal Applicant Angela Underhill (Research Manager) and the related Research Coordinators and other CLRCs. The candidate will be essential in collecting and sharing perspectives of women and gender diverse people in diverse social positions and circumstances that position them ‘at risk’ of HIV/STBBI acquisition. This work will require community research coordination, peer leadership and advocacy, and relationship development, which may evolve as the project progresses.

The ideal candidate will be preferred to have experience in community-based research, peer leadership and support, and comfort with a highly independent work environment as well as a team environment. A proven track record of working in successful partnerships with women will be a major asset. Experience in harm reduction settings is also an asset. Travel within Ontario is required.

Summary Of Duties, But Not Limited To

Community Research Coordination

• Acts as a main liaison between WHRP, W-PREV, TWIRI, and relevant stakeholders (community and otherwise) when developing new grants and project ideas
• Contributes to activities – such as presentations and training sessions – with other members of W-PREV, TWIRI, and WHRP
• Contributes to grants including proposals, budgets, and accompanying documents
• Contributes to manuscripts, reports, and other materials developed by W-PREV and WHRP to ensure community voices are reflected
• Takes on research tasks as assigned and as relevant (e.g., screening, consenting, and/or interviewing participants; identifying training needs of new community research associates; contributing to and reviewing knowledge mobilization materials; etc.)
• Completes research team meeting tasks (e.g., create meeting agendas, take minutes, provides feedback on documents, etc.) for assigned teams, working groups, etc.
• Provides support and/or consultation with W-PREV, TWIRI, and/or WHRP and their team members on their research projects, documents, knowledge mobilization tools, and more to ensure women’s needs are represented and reflected in all outputs
  
  

Peer Leadership

• Represents the lived experiences of women and gender diverse people in diverse social positionings within the core research team by staying engaged with the needs of other women living with, affected by, or in a position of ‘risk’ of acquiring HIV/STBBIs (as per epidemiological and public health literature) through formal and informal means, and reporting back to the team as relevant;
• Provides peer leadership and support to women and gender diverse people who engage with the research team and builds rapport;
• Identifies and liaises with community-based organizations and other community partners as a member of the research team;
• Responds to sensitive and complex situations with discretion and care while maintaining strictest confidence of information and materials in accordance with PHIPA;
• Advocates for women and gender diverse people as requested/required;
• Provides peer support and leadership reflective of diversity;
• Provides information about social agency programs and services and other community resources to the research team;
• Participates in internal and external committees and/or attends meetings related to the role
  
  

Relations Advocacy

• Promotes knowledge and understanding of the root, and past, present, and ongoing experiences of stigma and discrimination for women, as well as those living with and/or affected by HIV/STBBIs or those who may be at higher risk of acquiring HIV/STBBIs (and understand the systems that contribute to this risk);
• Practices the principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression;
• Practices meaningful engagement with community members;
• Establishes effective working relationships with researchers, women and gender diverse people, service providers, other community agencies and resources;
• With the support of the broader WHRP and W-PREV team, collaborates with allies and other researchers across Canada;
• Works to centre the experiences of women in all of WHRP’s and W-PREV’s activities
  
  

Qualifications

• A lived experience and understanding of the experiences of women in diverse social positioning in Canada, particularly those positioned as needing HIV/STBBI prevention care;
• Skills in peer leadership and support;
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience of established participation in research beyond being a participant is preferred;
• Proven ability to engage in participant interactions, which negotiate complex boundaries of self-disclosure;
• Experience or knowledge of community-based research;
• Experience building and nurturing relationships with peers, community agencies, and researchers;
• Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills;
• Proven ability to work as a team member;
• Ability to prioritize at a high level;
• Effective problem-solving skills;
• Ability to have and use diplomacy and tact at all times;
• Good work and attendance record required;
• Demonstrated WCH vision mission and values;
• Demonstrated understanding of The Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS and The Meaningful Engagement of Women living with HIV/AIDS
• Experience with community-based research and knowledge dissemination an asset
• Proven record of successful research and/or community partnerships with women living with/affected by/at risk of HIV/STBBIs preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to WCH vision, mission and values
  
  

Why Choose Us?

• Be part of a dedicated team committed to excellence.
• Shape the future of healthcare in a supportive environment.
• Enjoy competitive benefits and an excellent defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP).
  
  

Women's College Hospital is a fully affiliated teaching hospital of the University of Toronto and is committed to fairness and equity in employment and our recruitment and selection practices. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, members of racialized groups, women and any others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under our Access for People with Disabilities policy. Applicants need to make their requirements known in advance.