Community Research Assistant (Maskwacis)

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has a term length of 13 months and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Location

Work will primarily take place in Maskwacis, Alberta. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department/Faculty

Agriculture Life and Environmental Science

Position

This is a community Research Assistant position based in Maskwacîs Nations. The Indigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (I-HeLTI) is a collaborative project involving the Cree communities of Maskwacîs, community of the Wood Buffalo region, academics at the University of Alberta (Faculty of ALES and the School of Public Health), and the Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre. There are also Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners in British Columbia. The aim of the project is to better understand the impact of culturally responsive community led strategies to support maternal health, perinatal health and well-being for Maskwacîs families.

Our team is looking for a Research Assistant team member in Maskwacîs, with a background working with Maskwacîs Elders, research, and administration. Their main task will be to support the research administration of research activities.

The successful candidate will provide research, organizational, community engagement, and administration support to the project.

Duties

Assisting with data collection

• Assist with interviewing participants, transcribing interviews, and analyzing and interpreting interviews and other qualitative research data;
• Explain the project to potential participants and to the broader community in general;
• Organize and participate in meetings of the research team and write meeting summaries.
• Collect informed consents from participants;
• Assist with questionnaire/survey administration and quantitative data entry in analysis software such as SPSS or similar.

Assisting with communications

• Assist in reporting project results to the community;
• Assist in writing reports to team members and public as needed;
• Assist with workshop follow up activities including writing reports and preparing presentation materials.
• Act as a liaison between the project and community stakeholder groups and agencies;
• Assist with activities such as scheduling and preparing for program presenters, meetings, and community events that highlight research projects
• Assist with organizing workshop gatherings with community members and/or health care professionals.
• Assist with the implementation of an ongoing communication system with project partners.
• Organize, book, and attend meetings with Elders, community members, and University of Alberta stakeholders;

Assisting with research recruitment and community engagement

• Assist with community engagement activities and Community Advisory Committees meetings;
• Assist with project promotion and advertising via social media and community-based means;
• Assist with recruiting participants from Maskwacis and with recalling participants;
• Assist Elders that participate in research activities and meetings

Administration Support

• Schedule, coordinate, and attend meetings, events and activities including scheduling rooms, organizing equipment, ordering catering, and assembling materials.
• Assist with organizing gatherings with community members and/or health care professionals.
• Provide administrative support for Elders engaged in research activities (i.e. Elder Mentor program scheduling, invoicing, and liaison with partners).
• Research administrative activities as needed
• Maintains files and filing systems.
• Assist with engagement activities such as scheduling and preparing for program presenters, meetings, and community events that highlight research projects.

Document/Materials Development

• Assist with research follow up activities including writing reports and preparing presentation materials.
• Assist in writing reports to team members and public as needed;
• Prepares meeting agendas and write meeting summary/minutes for research meetings
• Performs word processing and data entry for the research project team
• Prepares and submit invoices for research contracts and activities;

Minimum Qualifications

• A commitment to working to improve health and wellbeing within the community;
• In-depth knowledge of communities in Maskwacîs Nation (Cree language an asset);
• Valid driver’s license and have access to a reliable vehicle
• Basic computer skills
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple tasks in a timely manner and flexibility to adapt to changing workload
• High School Diploma
• Experience working with Elders;
• Capable of independent decision making;
• Excellent communication (written/verbal) and interpersonal skills;
• General knowledge about health and wellbeing from both a western and Indigenous perspective;

Preferred Qualifications

• Living in Maskwacîs, Alberta or surrounding area.