June OHPE Bulletin
Toronto, Ontario
Deadline June 22, 2012
Title: Research Facilitator
Department: Knowledge Services
Term: Full-Time Permanent
Location: 480 University Avenue, Toronto
Organizational Overview:
Public Health Ontario (“PHO”) is an arm’s-length government agency dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. As a hub organization, PHO links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world. PHO provides expert scientific and technical support relating to infection prevention and control; surveillance and epidemiology; health promotion, chronic disease and injury prevention; environmental and occupational health; health emergency preparedness; and public health laboratory services to support health providers, the public health system and partner ministries in making informed decisions and taking informed action to improve the health and security of Ontarians.
Further information is available at htp://www.oahpp.ca.
Position Details:
Position Title: Research Facilitator
Duration: Permanent Full-Time
Location: 480 University Avenue
Compensation Group: AMAPCEO
Job Code: 17PGS – General Scientific
Salary: $62,250 – $75,488
Position Status: OPEN
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Posting Date: June 1, 2012
Closing Date: June 22, 2012
Public Health Ontario has developed new services to support health units in undertaking applied research and program evaluation, education and professional development and knowledge exchange activities. One of these new services is a locally driven collaborative projects (LDCP) stream. The LDCP program is designed to support health units meet the Ontario Public Health Standards by facilitating participation, engagement, implementation and uptake of research and program evaluation activities.
The Research Facilitator will be an integral member of the Research & Ethics team and will provide support to health unit, researchers, community partners, and other stakeholders working on locally driven collaborative projects.
The Research Facilitator is responsible for:
- Supporting the development of project proposals;
- Assisting the development of collaboration and collaborative approaches to research and evaluation;
- Managing and coordinating the submission and review processes;
- Supporting the ongoing implementation of projects;
Monitoring project progress.
The Research Facilitator works closely with the Program Analyst to ensure all activities and deliverables related to the LDCP program are achieved. The Research Facilitator also supports the Manager, Research & Ethics to build capacity of PHO’s internal scientific community by supporting research proposal development and implementation where time permits.
Key Responsibilities:
- Acts as a contact person for health unit led teams to support the development of study protocols and prepare application documents for LDCP funding; Supports LDCP teams in completing application forms and submission documents required to obtain project funding.
- Provides on-going advice and critical feedback on study design, methodology, feasibility issues, budget and other proposal components based on LDCP guidelines and review criteria; Conducts ‘friendly reviews’ of study protocols to increase the quality, feasibility and appropriateness of projects.
- Develops, maintains and updates a toolbox of resources and capacity building materials for LDCP teams to assist with proposal development and project implementation, including but not limited to:
- LDCP Team Resource Binder
- Workshop Learning Bursts, Worksheets and Webinars
- Budget tools and calculators
- Scientific design and methods
- Grant writing resources
- Organize and implement a review process for the annual cycle of collaborative projects including recruitment of reviewers, development of review guidelines and criteria and coordinating materials.
- Works with the Program Analyst and PHO corporate service areas including legal, finance, privacy, to ensure agreements and processes adhere to requirements (regulatory, directives, PHO policy); where necessary negotiate deliverable and reporting requirements with external parties; and design and implement oversight processes to ensure compliance.
- Assists project teams with project implementation, by providing support for operational processes such as engagement of students, financial reporting, data and material sharing requests and collaboration agreements.
- Receive and review project interim and final reports from project recipients. Creates and maintain spreadsheets, SharePoint document libraries, and other appropriate catalogues of current and historical information that would include tracking, organizing and maintaining documents such as project applications, contracts/agreements, and reports and deliverables.
- Compiles and distributes weekly funding opportunities e-correspondence to the broader public health community. Develop, coordinate and deliver orientation and training related to research and ethics practices and procedures including protocol development, funding application processes, PHO research review and approval processes and post-award administration.
- Contributes to Research & Ethics team activities (e.g., development of templates, policies and guidelines to be used within the research and ethics team, assistance with the development of grants and contracts for internal research projects).
- Provide other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of work practices in public health, and in a collaborative research environment, in order to provide support to interdisciplinary scientific programs, health units, researchers, community partners, and other stakeholders working on multi-centre or multi-partner research projects.
- Knowledge of developing key components of research proposals including but not limited to literature reviews, objective statements, methodology and analytic plans, knowledge exchange plans, ethical and privacy requirements, resource planning and justification (budget and personnel) in order to provide critical feedback based on sponsor requirements and review guidelines.
- Knowledge of a range of study designs including both qualitative and quantitative research methods is required.
- Knowledge of the work processes to prepare proposal applications and implementation documentation for funding programs.
- Thorough understanding of the Canadian peer-review granting systems, processes and procedures such as the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, application procedures for the CIHR and ResearchNet in order to provide advisory services and education to the public health research community.
- Organizational skills sufficient to orchestrate multiple activities at the same time in order to accomplish a goal; organizational skills to arrange the effective and efficient use of resources; and to arrange information and files in a useful manner.
- Strong interpersonal and listening skills to work effectively with other members of the research and ethics team and to interact with all clients using a high degree of discretion and diplomacy.
- Skill in the operation of various systems and software programs including: word processing, database management, Excel and other spreadsheet applications, PowerPoint and other presentation applications. Effective organizational and project management skills and initiative to coordinate linkages throughout PHO and the public health sector.
- Administrative and planning skills sufficient to provide support across multi-functional areas of the business unit.
- Ability to work efficiently under conditions of multiple deadlines and changing priorities with meticulous attention to detail.
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in public health, health sciences, health administration, social sciences, or equivalent area of study.
- Five to seven years of experience, in order to support the development of project proposals, and to assist the development of partnerships and collaborative approaches to research and evaluation.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please visit http://www.oahpp.ca/careers and click on the job title.
Your cover letter and resume must clearly indicate how you meet the qualifications/competencies.
Thank you for your interest in this position, however, only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.