Job Opportunity - Research Assistant - Hey Neighbour Collective (HNC)

JOB POSTING: Research Assistant for “Hey Neighbour Collective” Project

Title:  Research Assistant

Employer:  Dr. Meghan Winters, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Work Location:  Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, 2635 Laurel St, Vancouver (with possibility to work from SFU and at times from home)

Status: Part time position (20 hours/week)

Contract Duration: 6 months (Feb-August 2020), with possibility of 6 month extension (September 2020 – February 2021) subject to performance and funding.

Salary:  $920 biweekly (includes 4% pay in lieu of vacation)

Anticipated Start Date:  February 2020

Project Description In many of BC’s densifying communities, multi-unit housing is becoming the norm; however, these housing types can have disproportionately lower levels of connection and community between neighbours, which has significant impacts on health, well-being and community resilience. The Hey Neighbour Collective (HNC) brings together housing providers, researchers, wellbeing experts, local and regional governments, housing associations and health authorities to experiment with and learn about ways of effectively building community, social connectedness and resilience in BC’s fast-growing vertical communities. The Collective emerged from collaboration between staff involved in the City of Vancouver’s 2018 Hey Neighbour! pilot project and a number of advisory committee members working on similar projects. It has now grown into a multi-stakeholder collaboration across BC, which launched in July 2019. More information: https://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/about-us/partner-organizations/hey-neighbour-collective-.html

There are research activities embedded within the HNC, which are supported through a cluster of MITACS internships across Urban Studies and the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU. This position is one of these internships.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate for this job posting will work an average of 20 hours a week (on average, with some flexibility related to project activities). Work will be completed under the supervision of Dr. Meghan Winters (~bi-weekly meetings), although primarily in an independent and self-driven setting. The work will be conducted in collaboration within a team of other study research assistants, and HNC partners, and include frequent in-person meetings. Task will include such items as:

• Contribute to the preparation and launch of HNC processes in three residential buildings as decided by HNC team: could include attending meetings at these buildings, obtaining consent to participate in the process, assisting in meetings and social activities on site, launching survey in three buildings and collecting responses, conducting interviews and other research data gathering activities, proposing possible social and other kind of building-scale interventions

• Identify and analyze relevant administrative data related to health, social connections, and well-being

• Compile interview questionnaires for different resident, property management, municipal government and other stakeholder groups

• Enter and organize research data and assist in analysis of data from field sites

• Manage research data website for project

• Contribute material and ideas to web and social media presence of the HNC

• Assist with literature review and archiving of important research related to HNC

• Assist with presentation of material for HNC based upon literature reviewed and other HNC research framework material, tailor this presentation material upon request

• Assist with Community of Practice and partner meetings, including preparations, note-taking and communications work as requested

Requirements

• Experience in coordination and ability to work independently, with a spirit of initiative and judgment in prioritizing tasks.

• Currently enrolled in Master’s degree in research-related field (MSc or MPH is preferred).

Assets

• Background in population health and social connections/isolation

• Experience with data collection; ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis

• Experience in knowledge translation and exchange activities and report production

• Website management

• Social media content curation

To apply, please forward your CV and a cover letter to mwinters@sfu.ca by January 10, 2020, with “Hey Neighbour Research Assistant“ in the subject line. We will be in touch with candidates after that date.