Community and Student Engagement Coordinator - Grande Prairie

Competition 2352

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

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is in-person at the Northwestern Polytechnic Health Education Centre in Grande Prairie.

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 Northern Alberta Medical Program

The Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP) offers medical students the unique opportunity to complete their education in Grande Prairie and communities across northern Alberta.

Students will gain hands-on experience in northern communities while earning their MD from the University of Alberta. NAMP is hosted by Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) in Grande Prairie, AB. NWP and U of A will welcome the first cohort of medical students in Fall 2025.

Funded by the Government of Alberta, NAMP is part of a broad provincial strategy to improve healthcare in the North and address physician shortages in underserved areas.

Research shows that students who train in rural and regional settings are more likely to practice there after graduation. By educating future physicians in northern Alberta, NAMP aims to improve access to healthcare across the region.

Position Summary

Under the direction and supervision of the Medical Education Expansion Manager, the Community and Student Engagement Coordinator is a member of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Northern Alberta Medical Program’s administrative team. This position will be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with community partners in northern Alberta and establishing or sourcing out opportunities for students to engage with communities.

This position is based in Grande Prairie at the Northwestern Polytechnic Health Education Centre, located in the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

Occasional flexibility in work hours may be required during peak periods of the academic year to meet operational needs.

Duties 

• Build community relationships to ensure that NAMP has a robust and respected community presence in Northern Alberta and ensure communities are involved with and feel invested in the program.
• Provide administrative oversight for the NAMP Community Engagement committee to ensure continued engagement opportunities
• Create and maintain a resource of available community resources and opportunities for students, including housing, recreation, activities, and other needed information.
• Compile a list of remote/rural community-based events that would be appropriate for NAMP to participate in to highlight health education and career opportunities.
• Host informational displays at local student recruitment activities and relevant community events.
• Offer presentations to communities or organizations that want to learn more about the Northern Alberta Medical Program and/or who are looking for how they can be involved.
• Organize key aspects of planned events such as venue arrangements, catering, programs, and event staffing as required.
• Liaison with members of the FoMD Development team to assist with ensuring donations from the community partners are properly processed and recognised.
• Identifying and tracking sponsorship opportunities and ensuring sponsors for activities are appropriately recognised.
• Work with the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) and local Attraction and Retention committees to ensure communities are connected to the NAMP students in their communities in an appropriate manner.
• Work with other relevant MD Program members to conduct regular stakeholder reviews to track progress and adapt strategies to meet regional needs.
• Organize, schedule, facilitate and plan opportunities throughout the year for NAMP students and their families to engage with northern communities.
• Coordinate in-person opportunities for students to meet with NAMP teams to discuss their overall experience at the campus and provide feedback.
• Create and maintain a calendar of events that are relevant to students
• Collaborate with students to ensure that activities planned meet the needs and interests of the students in the program.
• Collaborate with relevant parties to ensure appropriate Grande Prairie orientation plans for NAMP students and assist as needed with NAMP student orientation week in Edmonton
• Collaborate with the Office of Advocacy and Wellbeing (OAW) and other MD Program counterparts to ensure students are well supported before they arrive and throughout the year.
• Establish relationships and maintain a directory of local organizations with volunteer opportunities for Students in Service (SiS) / Social Justice Community of Service and Scholarship (SJ CoSS) initiatives.
• Advertise for and recruit volunteer Patient Mentors living with a chronic medical condition or disability to mentor medical students.
• Support financial transaction processing. This might include initiating payments for preceptors, standardized patients, patient mentors etc, ensuring that payments are accurate and processed in a timely manner; acquisition of any required supplies and equipment for the program; and/or securing catering for events and activities.
• Provide assistance and general program support to other areas within NAMP as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• A post-secondary degree in education or business administration is required; a combination of education and/or experience will be considered.
• Professional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous environment.
• Strong multi-tasking skills: should have the ability to be flexible and adaptable in a complex environment, and possess strong problem-solving skills and decision-making within a larger team.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Adept time management and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and accurately complete tasks independently.
• Excellent technical skills (computers and other office machines), including aptitude in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google calendar, Google sites, Google Apps; familiarity with Cally, assess.med, exam.med programs, and the ability to learn new software platforms as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Community Engagement knowledge and experience.
• Event planning experience.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.