Smartwear Project Coordinator - Social Justice Working Group

Competition 2420

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position is 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 a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary range of $59,822 to $82,266. This position has an initial appointment of 1 year, with the possibility of renewal.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.

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 Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine is the largest department in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta with over 250 academic faculty members and over 400 trainees (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents).The Department of Medicine's core mission is to undertake outstanding education, research and high-quality clinical care to provide the best possible health outcomes for Albertans. We have 14 divisions that work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary, multicultural and ethnically diverse collegial environment.

(iSMART), the Institute for Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations at the UofA, is a multi-faculty, multidisciplinary Institute, has unparalleled infrastructure; a worldwide network of collaborators; and a unique concentration of world leaders in wearable technologies and textiles, healthcare, critical disability studies, medical humanities, social justice, and fine arts. We have successfully developed products, policies, and practice guidelines that were all driven by unmet user and healthcare needs.

Position Summary

The Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta is seeking a Project Coordinator to join the Social Justice Working Group (SJWG) within the Smartwear Revolution—a groundbreaking, transdisciplinary research initiative funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The Smartwear Revolution aims to co-create wearable smart textiles that enhance mobility, reduce injury, and promote equitable access for aging adults and people with disabilities.The SJWG is focused on embedding principles of accessibility, social justice, and health equity into all aspects of the project. Reporting to the Senior Research Administrator and the SJWG Principal Investigator, the Project Coordinator plays a central role in coordinating human-participant research, stakeholder engagement, co-design activities, and project operations across three core domains: People with Lived Experience (PLEX), Social Justice in Design and Policy, and Healthcare System Engagement.

Duties 

• Coordinate all SJWG research activities, meetings, timelines, and deliverables
• Facilitate communication between Co-Investigators and research domains, ensuring milestone tracking and knowledge sharing
• Coordinate onboarding, ethics, and safety training for trainees and collaborators
• Manage data, privacy protocols, and ethics submissions in compliance with university policies
• Liaise with broader Smartwear bodies and other Working Groups to support interdisciplinary collaboration
• Support inclusive co-design and accessible engagement processes (hybrid/in-person)
• Track project timelines, tasks, budgets, and contracts; support reconciliation and purchasing
• Maintain SJWG web presence, social media, and internal communications tools
• Contribute to knowledge mobilization strategies and public engagement events

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field required; PhD or postdoctoral experience is an asset
• Minimum 3 years of experience coordinating large research projects involving human participants
• Strong commitment to accessibility, disability justice, social justice, EDI, or health equity (academic, professional, or lived experience)
• Experience completing ethics applications and managing research data
• At least 2 years of experience in project management; formal training is an asset
• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana), budgeting software, and website/social media platforms
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications 

• Cross-disciplinary research or project coordination experience
• Experience with accessible communications or inclusive event design
• Background in arts, design, choreography, or curatorial practices
• Familiarity with University of Alberta systems (e.g., PeopleSoft)
• French or Indigenous language fluency is an asset