Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS

Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B

Job Title Knowledge Translation Coordinator

Department HDRN Communications | Population Data BC | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range $5,468.83 - $7,878.17 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date March 9, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date Mar 31, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
Population Data BC is a multi-university, data and education resource facilitating interdisciplinary research on the determinants of human health, well-being and development.

We support secure research access to individual-level, de-identified longitudinal data on 4.8 million residents living in British Columbia, linking data across various sectors such as health, education, early childhood development, workplace and the environment. Population Data BC (PopData) also offers a professional specialization certificate in Population Health Data Analysis, training researchers across Canada and around the world.

Key objectives of Population Data BC are to:
1) Make more data sets available for research
2) Facilitate cross-linkages among the data sets in a privacy sensitive manner
3) Provide strategic leadership to ensure streamlined researcher access to these data
4) Provide educational and other opportunities to ensure full and best use of those data

The Knowledge Translation Coordinator is responsible for developing and executing knowledge translation activities for Population Data BC to support educational and other opportunities to ensure full and best use of linked, population-based data. The Knowledge Translation Coordinator is a skilled communicator with a passion for health research, an ability to transform data into compelling narratives, and a talent for creating accessible and informative tools to streamline workflows. The incumbent works with various PopData partners such as Health Data Research Network Canada, the UBC Faculty of Medicine and UBC Department of Medicine (Data Science and Health (DASH) Initiative), various data providers and the broader research community to develop reference resources for researchers.

The KT Coordinator designs and executes designated KT projects to support both overall organizational and partner/stakeholder goals, including project/report design/layout, writing, creation of audiovisuals, graphic visual design, event KT, and may also provide design and implementation of communications tasks as needed.

Organizational Status
Population Data BC is based at the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), which is in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. We are a key member of the International Population Data Linkage Network, through which we have promoted international research collaborations and fostered working groups on privacy and access to data.

The Knowledge Translation Coordinator will work with relevant initiatives such as Health Data Research Network Canada and UBC DASH. HDRN Canada is a research-enabling, distributed network that supports multi-regional, person-focused research. The network comprises every national, provincial, and territorial centre that holds population-wide health data. The UBC Data Science and Health (DASH) Initiative was founded by the UBC Department of Medicine in 2020, led by Dr. Anita Palepu, the Department Head and Dr. Teresa Tsang, the Associate Head of Research. DASH supports researchers to identify, access, and analyze health data in BC. Since its inception, DASH has evolved into the central hub connecting local and international researchers, health authorities, and industry working to develop a harmonized data ecosystem in BC and leverage big health datasets to accelerate clinical innovation.

The Knowledge Translation Coordinator reports to the Strategic Communications Manager. As a main contributor to one of Population Data BC\xe2\x80\x99s key objectives, the incumbent is expected to liaise and work with relevant staff, faculty, and researchers at UBC DASH and Population Data BC\xe2\x80\x99s key partners: Health Data Linkage Network Canada (HDRN), UBC Faculty of Medicine and UBC Department of Medicine, data centres and HDRN member institutions across Canada, and data providers/stewards. Specific deliverables and projects will be accountable to the relevant stakeholders/partners.

Work Performed

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  Works independently under general direction from the Strategic Communications Manager and in collaboration with PopData partners on strategic KT/Communications projects (e.g. newsletter and web copy, presentations and reports, videos, infographics, web and print visuals).
• 
  Develops and implements knowledge translation frameworks and communications plans, including branding and standard processes
• 
  Identifies key messages and provides leadership, direction and guidance on translating these key messages for various audiences as needed
• 
  Provides strategic recommendations regarding KT activities.
• 
  Responsible for managing all aspects of knowledge translation activities and projects
• 
  Establishes efficient mechanisms for sharing of information for use by researchers and users
• 
  Provides KT/comms specialist support to events and researcher outreach roundtables
• 
  Works with Strategic Communications Lead to oversee the tracking and monitoring of relevant KT/comms activities and outputs.
• 
  Liaises with stakeholders and experts internally and externally to meet information needs; consults with relevant stakeholders to determine visual/design needs and executes KT project design.
• 
  Develops, plans, and executes communications and knowledge mobilization strategies in collaboration with stakeholders, including through web, social media, and other digital channels.
• 
  Participates in the development and dissemination of related communications and promotional materials to support awareness of various research and data resources and training offered by PopData partners (i.e. website content, marketing materials, social media, reports, and plain language summaries).
• 
  Develops and utilizes processes to monitor and evaluate knowledge translation and mobilization strategies.
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  Supports PopData and partner organizations in the identification of opportunities to improve awareness of various initiatives.
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  Liaises with research community members and key partners to strengthen connections, share information, and create opportunities for partnership.
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  Strategizes and manages the dissemination of research findings through various KT activities.
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  Communicates project goals, directing program outputs, and working with partners to disseminate findings.
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  Identifies gaps and opportunities for improving existing KT activities.
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  Liaises with subject matter experts and specialists to develop resources for researchers, such process maps on the data request and access pathways and the available datasets stored at PopData, and process documentation that focuses on privacy and governance considerations
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  Selects and directs the work of external service providers as needed.
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  Maintains up-to-date knowledge of relevant communications standards, products, and tools
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  Develops a broad understanding of researcher access to data in BC, Canada and around the world in order to support efforts to streamline data access at the provincial and national levels
• 
  Performs other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
As a visible representative of PopData with extensive contact with researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders, the KT Coordinator must exercise outstanding tact, discretion, initiative and judgment at all times. Actions carried out by the incumbent directly affect the ability of Population Data BC to carry out its objectives.

This role will work under strict confidentiality because of the nature of data held by Population Data BC and its partners. Any breach in data security would place the reputation and future of PopData and its partner organizations at risk.

Accuracy is extremely important because any errors in communication will have a significant effect on the reliability of information released by PopData. The release of erroneous or misleading information may have implications that affect the network, the research community, partners, stakeholders and public bodies.

Work must often meet tight deadlines and requires the incumbent to perform effectively under pressure. The incumbent will be expected to respond well to unexpected circumstances and exercise independent judgment. The incumbent must demonstrate exceptional public relations and interpersonal skills in dealing with researchers, academics, and senior members of the university community. Failure to meet deliverables by specified deadlines will have consequences on funded projects and PopData\xe2\x80\x99s relationships with its partners.

Supervision Received
The position reports to the Strategic Communications and Funder Relations Manager for HDRN and is accountable to stakeholders and partners on specified projects. Works independently within established guidelines and standards. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of defined goals. The incumbent will work with and receive direction from other senior members of PopData, HDRN, UBC DASH.

Supervision Given
The incumbent may direct the work of external service providers, including contractors. May provide direction on specific tasks to other team members, trainees, or student staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Health Sciences, Communications, or other relevant discipline is preferred. Experience working with a data-focused organization or health-related institution is an asset. Experience or working knowledge of a range of health research methods and processes is an asset. Experience in working within a statutorily-regulated or a privacy-sensitive environment is highly desirable.

• 
  Strong oral and written communication skills, including proficiency in the use of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and technical terminology
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  Demonstrated understanding of communications and knowledge exchange approaches, with experience in content design.
• 
  Strong proficiency with web content and media management tools
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  Strong proficiency with design software (Adobe Creative Suite)
• 
  Comprehensive computer literacy including demonstrated intermediate level skills with Microsoft Office programs.
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  Strong interpersonal skills and ability to liaise with individuals at varying levels of expertise, including programming staff, senior government staff, researchers, and community leaders.
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  Demonstrated ability to write in a variety of styles for a range of audiences, and to translate scientific concepts into lay language, both verbally and in writing.
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  Ability to synthesize information from stakeholders to inform content design, delivery and communication.
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  Knowledge of and ability to conduct project evaluation and incorporate into a variety of knowledge exchange products.
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  Ability to identify learning and knowledge needs and develop knowledge exchange strategies, activities or products.
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  Strong ability to exercise tact, discretion, and judgment
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  Strong understanding of how to function as a team player in a multi-stakeholder environment
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  Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in social media, including best practices and tools.
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  Exceptional attention to detail
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  Demonstrated time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multi-tasking and competing priorities
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  Exceptional initiative and willingness to learn new concepts and detailed procedures
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  Experience in conference/event planning an asset.
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  Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment
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  Must be positive in attitude and a team player
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  Ability to travel locally between sites as needed