Job Opportunity - Research and Planning Assistant, BC Healthy Communities

Position: Researcher & Planning Assistant
Hours:  8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Salary: $50,000 (CUPE 374 Union Position)
Location: Victoria, BC (currently working from home with 1-2 days per week in downtown office)
Application deadline: Ongoing until position is filled
Desired start date: End of April               

In the role as Researcher & Planning Assistant, you will work closely with all team members in a variety of ways and will provide important research, evaluation and design and delivery supports to all our projects and activities. 

You bring strong research, writing, and analysis skills, an underlying understanding of key concepts related to planning and public health and a passion for strengthening community health and well-being. You have knowledge about how a wide variety of determinants of health interact to influence health and shape health inequities as well as an understanding of planning concepts. You bring a critical thinking lens and can effectively translate research and evaluation information into easy-to-read reports and resources. 

About Us

BC Healthy Communities (BCHC) is a province-wide not-for-profit organization that facilitates the ongoing development of healthy, thriving, and resilient communities. We provide a range of services, programs, events, and resources to support local and indigenous governments, reginal health authorities, schools and multi-sectoral groups to collaborate around a shared vision for a common purpose.

·      We foster and model principles, processes, and practices of community development, emphasizing the value of listening, learning, respect and active engagement

·      We honour the strengths and experiences of each community, while offering support for capacity building

·      We promote inclusion of a broad range of people and perspectives

·      We take a big picture, whole systems approach, identifying roots of issues and looking for ways to leverage change

·      We support connections, collaboration, and human development at multiple levels: individuals, organizations, sectors and communities.

Our Commitment to You

BC Healthy Communities offers a progressive workplace culture that encourages leadership and learning. The benefits of working at BCHC include:

·         Opportunities for professional development to improve your existing knowledge and passion for healthy communities

·      Remote work (currently a work from home/work from office hybrid)

·      6% vacation your first year

·      Paid health days    

At BCHC we value diversity, and we foster a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We encourage applications from those who may not strictly meet the specific qualifications listed below, but whose unique experience, abilities and perspectives would still make them a strong candidate for the position, particularly those who understand the importance of equity from the perspective of lived experience. We will take into consideration any accommodation measures required to enable candidates to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

Position Links:

• Works across organizational programs and projects, and provides supports for research, evaluation, content development, delivery, and partnership development
• Work closely with, and receive direction from, the Program Evaluation Lead, who provides overall advise for ongoing refinement and implementation of program evaluation activities
• Work closely with, and receive guidance from the Communications Lead, who provides strategic oversight, for the development and promotion of program content, materials, and communications activities
• Work collaboratively with, and support other staff around research, content development, and program delivery activities
• Provide supports and resources to external multi-sectoral groups which may include Indigenous and non-Indigenous local governments, regional health authorities, school districts, not-for profit and community organizations as program offerings and as potential partnership opportunities arise
• Support implementation of a range of other BCHC programs and services

Research, Planning, and Engagement (75-80%)

·         Provide knowledge and expertise to support community focus areas (e.g. healthy built environments, food security, active transportation, social connectedness, healthy housing, age-friendly planning, etc.);

• Contribute toward the design and coordination of community engagement and stakeholder consultation materials, processes, and plans;
• Assist and/or participate in the facilitation of community engagement processes including the collection, assessment and integration of the information gathered;
• With guidance from delivery staff, offer planning knowledge to community partners and multi-sectoral collaborators. Work together to integrate the information and strategies in useful and contextual ways;

·         Provide a range of tools, resources and supports to Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments, health authorities and community groups through grant offerings and other (i.e. Reviewing assessments, engagement strategies and planning documents);

·         Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including health authorities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments and community organizations; and

·         Work with other staff to design and deliver presentations at conferences, events, committee meetings (i.e. LGMA, Area Association Meetings, etc.) as required.

• Conduct research toward the development of tools and resources such as action guides, rapid action resources, infographics, and other;

·         Conduct research toward the development of capacity building offerings such as environmental scans, literature reviews, local and regional data, content/focus area specific information and resources;

• Research and analyze community planning best practice and assist in the development of policy recommendation across community focus areas and in line with BCHC strategic priorities and goals; and

·         Conduct research to support identification of strategic events, partnership, and funding opportunities, healthy community planning processes, and other projects/activities; and

• Work collaboratively with other staff towards the development of special projects and fee-for-service opportunities, such as proposal development.

Data Analysis (10-15%)

·         Provide ongoing data collection for evaluation (i.e. Alchemer, Nvivo) to support the development and implementation of our evaluation frameworks and plans (development of methodologies and indicators, data collection, analysis, development of reports, etc.);

·         Conduct and analyze, a wide variety of types of data (quantitative and qualitative) from a number of data sources (surveys, interviews, focus groups, web analytics and community stories); and

·         Provide knowledge and experience around the links between our data and implementation activities.

Other (10%)

·         Attend, participate and contribute in team meetings, strategic meetings and planning sessions.

·         Collaborate with colleagues to achieve a coordinated approach.

·         Remain current with best training/community planning, trends and opportunities to increase efficiencies.

·         Maintain a respectful, courteous and team spirit environment.

• Foster meaningful and respectful multi-sectoral relationships and represent BCHC dutifully in communities and events across the province.

·         Other duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·         A degree in public health, planning, community development or related field;

·         Minimum of 2 years’ experience in research, planning related;

·         Experience working with community-based organizations;

·         Strong writing skills;

·         Strong sense-making skills;

·         Strong research, analysis and synthesizing skills;

·         A commitment to social justice; and

·         Ability to work well independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience

·         A degree in public health, planning, community development or related field;

·         Minimum of 2 years’ experience in research, planning related;

·         Experience working with community-based organizations;

·         Strong writing skills;

·         Strong sense-making skills;

·         Strong research, analysis and synthesizing skills;

·         A commitment to social justice; and

·         Ability to work well independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.

Competencies

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume https://bchc.applytojobs.ca/research/11853                   Position will be vacant until filled.

If there are any issues with this process, please submit your application to HR RELATED EMAIL and title the subject line of your e-mail:  People & Culture Specialist, Gurmeet Sall at gurmeet@bchealthycommunities.ca