Job Description

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Summary

Do you love research, health sciences, and writing? Do you want to make meaningful change for people who use drugs? Do you spend time thinking about language and nuance? We\xe2\x80\x99re seeking lovers of science, language, and social justice to join the medical writing team at the BC Centre on Substance use. Come join us!

Candidate must be located in British Columbia, Canada. Please submit a cover letter with a resume.

Working under the Director and/or Associate Director of Education and Clinical Activities and reporting to the Medical Writing Team Program Manager, the Medical Writer is a part of a team that is responsible for coordinating, writing, and editing major clinical care guidance and associated products, as well as education materials. The Medical Writer works with and acts as a resource to interdisciplinary project teams, committees, and working groups, including internal and external stakeholders at all levels. The Medical Writer navigates complex healthcare and social contexts with diplomacy and achieves project goals and deliverables through effective facilitation, communication and consensus building techniques.
Qualifications / Skills and Education

Education
Master\'s Degree in relevant field (e.g., Health Sciences, Public Health, Science, or Health Policy and Equity) with a minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience working in an academic research setting (e.g., medical writer, grant facilitator, research coordinator, or project manager) or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Consideration will be given to candidates with degrees/diplomas in other disciplines who have significant proven experience in scientific, health research, and grant writing.

• Additional relevant training or certification an asset (e.g., formal training in grant writing, editing, or technical writing certification; membership in a professional writing society).

• Experience conducting academic literature reviews using a variety of databases (e.g., PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL) and summarizing findings in narrative format (e.g., guidance documents, reports, continuing medical education materials).

• Experience with scientific writing, communications, and publishing, preferably in a medical or health-related context.

• Past work in a health-related academic/research/education setting with specific experience in clinical research or education is an asset.

• Knowledge and experience in grant facilitation and writing, editing, assembling and submitting grant proposals to CIHR and NIDA/NIH is an asset.

• Project management experience and/or training is an asset.

Skills and Abilities

Strong writing, analytical, and research skills, with the ability to adapt writing style to audience and project type

Ability to interpret and communicate clinical terminology, research data, and statistical language

High level of computer literacy, including proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and reference management software (e.g., EndNote). Experience with Adobe Creative Suite an asset

Excellent stakeholder relation skills, including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to navigate conflicting views and perspectives

Excellent organizational skills and record keeping

Self-directed

Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy

Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment, and effectively manage both urgent and long-term deadlines

Ability to work and learn independently as well as collaborate well as part of a larger team

Familiarity with concepts related to health equity, addiction medicine, public health research, and the social determinants of health is an asset

An understanding of and commitment to ongoing learning around anti-racism, cultural safety and humility, and reconciliation

An understanding of the ways in which laws and policies have contributed to the marginalization of people who use drugs, or a willingness to learn.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leads research, writing and editing process on a variety of clinical and health research-related writing projects, including, but not limited to: clinical care guidelines; clinical practice tools; clinical education courses; education and training materials; evidence reviews; policy briefs; grant proposals, stewardship and progress reports; briefing notes; project summaries; and presentations. Projects and project teams may be local, provincial, national or international in scope.

Develops project plans, tracks project progress using established methods (including workplans and project management software), and monitors and reports to the project lead and/or team on status and major issues/obstacles encountered in execution of clinical care guidance and education writing projects. Makes recommendations regarding any changes to project scope, including rationale for change, seeks approval and/or consensus from the project team, and proceeds as needed.

Conducts literature reviews, identifies relevant research findings, and assesses quality of research findings using established methodologies. Interprets and summarizes research findings clearly and accurately, and in a format tailored for the intended audience.

Executes clinical care guidance and education writing projects according to established methodologies, ensures successful and coordinated completion of projects, and ensures readiness of final product for dissemination and/or implementation.

With support from the Director and/or Associate Director, Education and Clinical Activities and program manager, the Medical Writer assumes a high degree of responsibility for ensuring that final products are of high quality, accurate, and compliant with local, provincial and national standards of practice, professional codes of conduct, and relevant legislation (e.g., the Health Professions Act).

Acts as a key resource and content expert to committee co-chairs, the project team, internal and external stakeholders, and the organization at large throughout lifespan of major clinical care guidance and education writing projects.

Navigates complex healthcare and social contexts and conflicting perspectives that may exist or emerge when working with interdisciplinary committees/working groups with professionalism and diplomacy.

Aids committee co-chairs and project team in collaborative decision-making through effective and respectful communication, facilitation, consensus-building techniques, development of decision-making aids or tools, and integration of committee and stakeholder feedback on written projects. Establishes positive working relationships with all members of the project team in order to ensure successful outcomes and cooperation.

Manages several writing projects simultaneously, each involving a distinct scope of work and project teams. Balances competing priorities and shifts tasks as needed to ensure the timely and accurate completion of all writing projects. Provides work direction to students and other designated staff as required. Works collaboratively with appropriate stakeholders on design and knowledge translation materials.

Provides grant writing and facilitation support as needed. Duties may include development, assembly and submission of large-scale grant funding proposals and related documents (e.g., letters, budgets, reference lists, appendices, curricula vitae) according to specific institutional guidelines.

Provides advanced editing and writing support to the organization as needed.

Performs other related duties as required.

Providence Health Care