We invite you to explore this opportunity to build on your relationships with members of First Nations communities to ensure First Nations research is done with deep respect for and involvement of First Nations.  Your role will be to support and encourage community members to take part in First Nations research and data management efforts of the Chiefs of Ontario.  The work revolves around building relationships with relevant members of First Nations community members.

This position will be focused on two distinct research projects.  The first is a study of the intergenerational aspects of Diabetes.  It is intended to collect and share the wisdom of First Nations communities about the intergenerational impact of diabetes on mothers and their children.  The second study that the coordinator will support is the development of a web-based interactive tool to help First Nations communities better understand their own unique risks due to COVID-19.  The tool is a mathematical model that explicitly accounts for the unique circumstances and/or considerations that may affect how likely or how severe an outbreak of COVID-19 might be in a First Nations community in Ontario.

The Community Liaison Coordinator will be part of the Research and Data Management sector of the Chiefs of Ontario and reports to the Director of Research and Data Management.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

General:

  • Interview and select candidates to be part of advisory groups
  • Prepare an orientation package for the advisory group with information about the project and Terms of Reference
  • Follow up with advisory group members for meetings, scheduling, participation and engagement
  • Assist research teams in incorporating community input into questionnaires and reports
  • Facilitate collaborations with community members in compiling and sharing findings of research projects. Organize and participate in all relevant meetings for both projects, as required
  • Prepare briefing notes and other documents, as required

Project-specific:

  • Intergenerational impact of diabetes: Recruit mothers with diabetes to form an advisory group that will explore intergenerational impacts of diabetes.
  • COVID-19 model: Identify, recruit and set up meetings with several community members to provide feedback and guide the development of the web-based interactive tools. Facilitate dissemination and implementation of the tool among First Nations communities.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Experience:

  • Experience working with First Nation communities & community based research projects
  • Experience, knowledge, and awareness of First Nation ways of learning, traditions, cultures, values, health systems and intergenerational impacts of government policies
  • Experience and understanding of how to integrate advisor perspective into research projects
  • Experience developing interview questions and conducting interviews

Skills:

  • Relationship building and management skills, including Excellent listening, verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Facilitation or moderating group meetings
  • Writing for a non-academic audience
  • Event planning and logistics (setting up meetings, sending invitations etc.)
  • Running effective and accountable engagement mechanisms
  • Proficient in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Understanding of how to integrate advisor perspective into research projects

Professional characteristics:

  • Project management expertise: Organized, able to work independently AND as a member of a team
  • Trustworthy, reliable, and maintain confidentiality
  • Capacity to work from home in a virtual environment
  • First Nation language use and understanding an asset

EDUCATION

  • BSc for a research-related engagement role, along with training in:
  • Facilitation or group facilitation
  • Equity or cultural training or work related to working with diverse groups
  • Public participation or public engagement training (e.g. IAP2, KT training)

Working conditions:

  • Office work and internet use from home
  • Extensive telephone communication with communities and community members
  • Calls, online meetings, and/or travel (pandemic restriction permitting) to team meetings as required

Requirements:  

  • Must sign a confidentiality form
  • Solid internet connection

Duration:  Dec 2021 to March 2022, on a contract basis (with extension to Sept 2022)

Deadline: Open until Filled

Send letter of application, resume, an example of a research-related writing, and 2 professional references marked confidential to:

Roseanne Sutherland
Chiefs of Ontario
roseanne.sutherland@coo.org