University of Alberta Looking for Engagement and Education Lead at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Full Time

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

This position has a term length of 2 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits .

Location – Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton

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 Research Integrity Support Portfolio

As one of the top 5 research universities in Canada, the University of Alberta’s research and innovation spans many fields and disciplines. Our researchers’ expertise and strength attract over $600 million annually from various research funders and partners including federal and provincial governments, industry, foundations, and other organizations.

Position Summary

The Research Integrity Support (RIS) portfolio encompasses services which support the Institution and its researchers in the provision of effective and compliant research activities. Reporting to the Director, Research Security, this position will be responsible for supporting the UA research ecosystem in safeguarding research and researchers by developing and implementing a comprehensive communications, engagement and training strategy. This strategy will advance the objectives of the Safeguarding Research Office and the university’s safeguarding research framework. In doing so, the position will be responsible for consulting other communications and professional development leads within the organization, for adherence to all UA policies, and for consultations on best practices with counterparts at other Canadian universities.

Duties

Develop a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy

• Exercise considerable judgement and acumen in developing strategic communications strategies that advance research security while taking into consideration competing University objectives and priorities as well as counter-narratives.
• Work independently to develop and advance a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy reflective of the extremely complex environment in which research security is advanced (complex geo-political considerations, divergent provincial and federal approaches, competing University priorities, need to ensure integration of EDI and reconciliation messages and commitments etc.).
• Identify and document the communications modes, fora, channels, and tools that could be leveraged to advance the objectives of safeguarding research.
• Identify key internal and external stakeholders for implementation of the communications and engagement strategy.
• Identify key dependencies/interdependencies and opportunities for collaboration and amplification on communications messaging on research security.
• Develop, refine and plan for communications and engagement campaigns to increase awareness, understanding and competency of research security.

Develop a comprehensive training/capacity-building strategy

• Identify and document existing courses, guidance materials, and other learning opportunities and channels which could be used to advance research security.
• Identify gaps in current training/capacity-building resources and develop a plan to fill those gaps through the development of specific content (e.g. learning modules, guidance documents, checklists, presentations).
• Integrate EDI considerations and reconciliation commitments into development of training and capacity-building approaches.
• Ensure training materials are reflective of the unique needs and preferences of adult-learners across a range of disciplines.
• Liaise routinely with counterparts at other post-secondary institutions in Canada on the development of capacity-building techniques and material. Scan international sources for comparable training or capacity-building materials and adopt or integrate best practices.
• Identify learning opportunities and fora (workshops, events, seminars) which could be used to advance research security objectives.
• Consider integration of behavioural insights in developing an effective strategy.

Implement communications, engagement and training strategies

• Advance the strategies through the development of key messaging, tailoring tone and content of messaging and learning products to specific target audiences, carefully considering and navigating the complex local, national and international environments in which research security is advanced.
• Work collaboratively with groups and individuals impacted most-directly by research security to ensure their perspectives, priorities and concerns are addressed.
• Ensure that the University of Alberta’s approach to research security reflects and integrates EDI considerations and mitigate inadvertent negative impacts.
• Provide regular updates to Director, Research Security and senior leaders within OVPRI as required on strategy implementation.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Safeguarding Research Office, the Research Integrity Support portfolio, and internal stakeholders to ensure coordination and to leverage opportunities for collaboration.
• Collaborate as necessary with external stakeholders or partners on joint communications initiatives (e.g. joint briefings or guidance documents).
• Provide advice and feedback to other members of Safeguarding Research Office to ensure consistent and clear messaging on research security topics (risks, risk identification, risk mitigation etc.)
• Perform routine media scans to identify developments at the institutional, provincial, federal and international level with an impact on the university’s safeguarding research framework
• Support workshops, seminars, conferences, briefings, training sessions or other events organized by the Safeguarding Research Office (primarily from the perspective of content and organization).

Qualifications

• An Undergraduate Degree, preferably in Communications
• Minimum of 5 years of related, progressively responsible experience, preferably in communications, stakeholder engagement or development of professional development resources for adult learners.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision on a wide variety of tasks with competing priorities.
• Ability to be responsive to multiple internal stakeholders and capably prioritize projects and communicate prioritization and timelines to all stakeholders.
• High level of critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills required.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills.
• Ability to work diplomatically with a broad range of individuals and groups, including at executive levels.
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential materials.
• Experience in the development and implementation of strategies and communications campaigns.
• Knowledge of, and experience in applying, successful stakeholder engagement principles.
• Familiarity with national security or geopolitical issues is an asset.
• Experience in implementing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) or Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) considerations into communications products or strategies is an asset.
• Familiarity with the University of Alberta or experience in another post-secondary institution is an asset.
• Computer proficiency using Microsoft Office and Google applications.