Research Project Coordinator

Competition 2125

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

This position has an end date of March 31, 2028, and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Working at 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 FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

The University of Alberta is home to North America’s only freestanding Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. We provide academic training in rehabilitation science, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. Our researchers lead their field in areas such as spinal cord injury, mental health, robotics, language development, and the impacts of COVID-19.

The Physical Therapy Department has an overarching focus of creating a diverse and inclusive environment, elevate the Department (and the profession) through 4 Strategic Themes: develop and strengthen teaching, foster partnerships, enhance research and knowledge translation/implementation.

Position Summary

The Research Project Coordinator is responsible for project management and application of specialized knowledge to manage and coordinate activities of the day-to-day implementation and knowledge mobilization activities for the Alberta's Remote Management of Shoulders Program (ARMS UP) study protocol. The Research Project Coordinator position includes full-time hours (35 hrs/week) over the term of the position. This is a new position that is required to complete the specified study evaluation.

Position responsibilities include developing standardized tools and resources to assist implementation at new study sites using co-design and collaborative approaches, building and maintaining relationships among a large and diverse team of stakeholders (health system and community practitioners and administrators, researchers, research contracted organizations, funding agencies, and the patients), coordinating the day-to-day operations across multiple clinical sites in Alberta and with the research operational teams, managing the overall milestones and targets to ensure timely completion of the virtual Rapid Access Clinics (v-RACs) research implementation and evaluation, and other tasks as they arise during the project.

Duties 

1. Overall project management and coordination of research activities: (60%)
   • Oversee research implementation and evaluation activities providing continuous reporting to the PI and leadership group.
   • Develop and implement work plans to achieve project goals and deliverables.
   • Review and assess research team workloads, provide support and redistribute work as necessary. Create, manage, and track milestones and timelines.
   • Manage budgets and deliverables.
   • Process and track project expenses and purchase project supplies.
   • Develop and submit project materials including standard operating procedure documents adapted for the various clinical stakeholders.
   • Develop study agreements with participating sites/contractors
   • Coordinate site activities with stakeholders, ensuring access to, and utilization of, resources for booking, performing and evaluating v-RAC appointments
   • Organize/Lead community of practice meetings with providers to undertake ongoing real-time assessment of barriers and facilitators to v-RACs and to promote standardization of processes across sites
   • Create training materials for study sites.
   • Create and maintain a repository of patient and provider resources to address barriers and facilitators working in collaboration with the operational and qualitative team to develop or collate the needed resource materials
   • Coordinate and manage project activities including data analysis and reporting while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
   • Set up new sites for implementation of vRACs, including site visits (in person &/or virtual) for training purposes, working in collaboration with the operational and qualitative research team
   • De-activate sites as appropriate under the direction of the Principal Investigator
   • Oversee coordination of meetings for implementation sites and ARMS UP operational teams (qualitative, quantitative, health economic, TeleRehab 2.0).
   • Develop a system for maintaining project files (electronic, paper, web-based) in a logical and easily retrievable fashion including creating shared systems for each project team.
   • Assemble study-specific source documents and prepare project files to ensure all documentation is maintained to meet regulatory and contract requirements.
2. Communication Responsibilities (25%)
   • Initiate and maintain good relationships with individuals/site working with the project:
     • Ensure clear and timely communication regarding implementation and study activities using virtual, hybrid and in-person approaches
     • Maintain open lines of communication with internal and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to the following:
       • University of Alberta Robotics Research Lab
       • Alberta Health Services partners
       • Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute
       • Edmonton Bone and Joint Centre
       • Southern Alberta Shoulder Screening Initiative (i.e., Lethbridge Sport Medicine Clinic)
       • Participating rural site providers
       • Institute of Health Economics
       • Patient advisors
     • Address questions and concerns from participating sites and stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner.
     • Create and coordinate newsletters, social media and marketing (website, Twitter, Facebook), links to partners' social media, and various forms of outreach to increase awareness of the project for patient recruitment, public education, partner and networking opportunities, and knowledge translation, for example.
     • Develop a study-specific website to provide access to resources
     • Lead the development of a quarterly e-newsletter working in collaboration with the operational and qualitative team members
     • Organize semi-annual team meetings (virtual or hybrid formats)
3. Knowledge Mobilization/Dissemination Responsibilities (15%)
   • Develop briefing reports throughout the evaluation to share with participating research sites to promote sustainability of implementation of intervention
   • Develop PowerPoint presentations, webinars and podcasts to share with participating research sites and other external stakeholders to facilitate implementation of intervention being evaluated
   • Prepare summaries of data analyses (quantitative) including figures and tables for research publications, posters and presentations
   • Oversee preparation, development and submission of research outputs, based on research results, including manuscripts to be submitted for peer review, conference presentations and posters,
   • Oversee preparation, development and dissemination materials appropriate for lay public, patients and non-researcher stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health-related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience in project coordination training in a health-related field with a minimum of 2 years of directly related training and experience working collaboratively in a fast-paced academic and clinical environment is required.
• Demonstrated proactive organizational and excellent time management skills with demonstrated problem-solving and multi-tasking abilities with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize work effectively
• Superior interpersonal skills and verbal/written communication skills to deal effectively with varied and diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Understands and applies the UAlberta principles of Access, Community and Belonging (also referred to as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).
• Proven ability to strategize and develop creative and efficient solutions, and work independently with minimal supervision. Demonstrated initiative within scope of responsibilities
• Proven experience with literature reviews and proven ability to perform in-depth searches on various databases, websites, etc. to support project activities.
• Demonstrated superior attention to detail and high levels of accuracy are required
• Demonstrated high standard of professionalism and proven ability to build and maintain strong collaborative working relationships including: working collaboratively in a team environment while managing competing priorities; being persuasive, engaging, clear and credible communication to gain support and commitment in varied situations
• Strong working knowledge of relevant UAPPOL policies, procedures, and best practices
• Proven intermediate-user level knowledge, skills, and abilities working effectively / efficiently with a wide variety of computer technologies and programs including: MS Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel); Google Applications, Google suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Forms); Zoom/video conferencing, website maintenance, PeopleSoft (Campus Solutions), knowledge of Adobe
• Health profession background is preferred.