Research Associate I (Community Manager)

Job Responsibility:

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I (COMMUNITY MANAGER)

Job Posting #: 926971

Union: Non-Union

Site : Toronto General Hospital

Department: UHN OpenLab

Reports to : Project Lead, Overdose Response Network

Hourly Range : $35.67 - $44.59 hourly. Commensurate with experience and consistent with UHN Compensation Policy

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Status: Temporary Full-time (one year contract, with the possibility to extend)

Posted Date : December 1, 2023

Closing Date : Until Filled

The University Health Network, where “above all else the needs of patients come first”, encompasses Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute of Education. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research and education. With a long tradition of ground breaking firsts and a purpose of “Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning”, the University Health Network (UHN), Canada's largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world.

About OpenLab

OpenLab is a design and innovation hub within University Health Network, Canada's leading academic research hospital. Its transdisciplinary team addresses the most complex challenges at the intersection of health and its social determinants. Projects range from improving the process and experience of care in hospitals, to developing and supporting new models of aging in the community. (

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic, innovative, and entrepreneurial teammate who has a strong background in grassroots community mobilization, community development, stakeholder management and has experience working in harm reduction and with people who use drugs (PWUD) in Toronto.

As a member of UHN OpenLab, you will be working on the Overdose Response Network project to rollout and evaluate a novel peer-to-peer harm reduction approach across several supportive housing and shelter sites in Toronto. UHN OpenLab has designed and is currently building an app that connects individuals who would otherwise use drugs alone to a network of trusted peers who can come to their aid in case of an opioid overdose. As a Community Manager, you will work with our established community advisory committee, and program staff of partner organizations in various buildings to understand their specific needs, design and execute the rollout plan, and collect feedback to inform future iterations of the approach. As the eyes and ears of the project, you will collaborate with other members of the project team, including designers, developers and researchers, to translate those needs and feedback into executable improvement plans. This level of collaboration will involve performing site visits and collecting feedback and information through formal and informal conversations with PWUD, harm reduction workers, and other community members. A car is not required for this position. You will also work with harm reduction service providers to keep them updated on project progress and ensure that their needs are also considered. As a member of the team, you will take over established relationships with community members and service providers and build new ones.

Duties

1. User Engagement

• Facilitate meetings with PWUD
• Engage community members where they are at and support them to identify issues
• Identify key community resources
• Assist with implementing data collection tools such as surveys, qualitative interviews, focus groups, etc.

2. Partner Relations

• Act as the point of contact with housing/shelter partners, including periodic check-ins
• Build and maintain relationships with harm reduction agencies in Toronto
• Build and maintain relationships with PWUD in the community

3. Training

• Develop training program to onboard new participants in the program
• Deliver training to housing/shelter partners and PWUD

4. Writing and reporting

• Write up regular progress reports for each of the sites
• Document problems and issues as they arise

5. Works in compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and its regulations, reporting hazards, deficiencies and contraventions of the Act, in a timely manner. Including proof of COVID vaccination.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree from a recognized university in social sciences (applied health science, gerontology, community development, etc.) or equivalent combination of training and experience
• 5 years of related experience required
• Prior experience working in harm reduction, supportive housing, shelters, and/or with PWUD
• A proven track record of engaging people from highly diverse communities, with a wide range of ethnic, cultural and social-economic backgrounds
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to form strong relationships with external partners
• Comfortable working with PWUD
• An ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, using both the Google and Microsoft suite of collaborative tools
• Experience with a wide range of communications platforms including video conferencing technology, social media and print.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English. Ability to speak other languages is an asset
• Ability to work effectively on your own and as part of a team.

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

Vaccines (COVID and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known in advance. Any information received related to an accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

University Health Network thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.