Community and Patient Engagement Lead

Job SummaryThe project is an initiative that aims to improve personalized and equitable cardiovascular care for diverse populations across BC and Yukon. The project integrates cutting-edge genomic, sonographic, and AI technologies with community- and patient-guided approaches to transform cardiovascular risk prediction and care pathways.The Community & Patient Engagement Lead plays a central leadership role in ensuring inclusive, meaningful engagement with diverse communities across British Columbia, including with Indigenous Peoples, patients, caregivers, and other community members. This role involves coordinating respectful and ethical engagement strategies across the project—especially in Indigenous communities—and includes organizing community gatherings, patient and caregiver workshops, and supporting advisory groups such as an Indigenous Advisory Committee and a Patient Partner Council. The position supports the co-development of research processes, knowledge sharing, and care innovations that are community-informed, relational, and responsive to local wellness priorities.This position complements the MOSAIC Project Manager role by focusing on engagement strategy, relationship-building, and ensuring diverse voices inform the project.Working Conditions: The role requires flexibility, travel, and in-person engagement with communities, patients, and caregivers. Hybrid work is supported. Sensitivity to cultural and community schedules and respect for ethical protocols are essential. Organizational StatusThe Community & Patient Engagement Lead reports to MOSAIC Project Manager and works collaboratively with MOSAIC Principal Investigators, Co-Leads, the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit, and project staff to provide strategic oversight for all community and patient engagement activities. They lead high-level planning efforts related to Indigenous research governance, culturally safe engagement, and patient-centered knowledge exchange.The incumbent serves as a key liaison between the research team and external stakeholders, including Indigenous leadership, community groups, health system partners, and patient/caregiver partners. The incumbent will also engage ethnic and cultural communities across B.C. with attention to language, accessibility, and a focus on ensuring that community and patient priorities shape project direction, implementation, and outcomes.Work PerformedDesigns and implements community engagement strategies grounded in best practices, ensuring that community insights are effectively interpreted and integrated into research planning and decision-making.undefinedLeads the planning and facilitation of a provincial community listening tour, including visits with Indigenous communities to understand diverse cardiovascular health experiences and priorities.Organizes and facilitates caregiver education sessions, patient workshops, and culturally safe community health dialogues in partnership with Indigenous leadership, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or clinical leaders.Coordinates outreach, logistics, travel, and relationship maintenance for engagement in urban, rural, and remote contexts.Develops and maintains trusting, long-term relationships with Indigenous organizations, patient partners, caregivers, health professionals, and community researchers.Supports community-driven planning and co-development of knowledge translation and educational resources relevant to patients, caregivers, and care teams across diverse ethnic communities in BC.Establishes and supports both a MOSAIC Indigenous Advisory Committee and a MOSAIC Patient Partner Council, including recruitment, onboarding, meeting coordination, documentation, and follow-up.Ensures that guidance from advisory groups informs project planning, ethics, implementation, and knowledge mobilization.Acts as a key contact and knowledge broker between advisory groups and project leads.Upholds principles of Indigenous data sovereignty, and patient-centered ethics in all engagement activities.Co-develops culturally relevant, accessible educational and knowledge translation materials (e.g., newsletters, plain-language briefs, videos, art-based outputs).Contributes to community and patient engagement sections of research ethics applications, grant reports, and evaluations.Collaborates closely with the MOSAIC Project Manager to coordinate workflows, timelines, communications, and cross-functional planning.Participates in strategic decision-making, ensuring diverse community and patient priorities are embedded in research processes and outputs.Identifies barriers to culturally safe and patient-centered care and supports the co-development of solutions with community and health system partners.Consequence of Error/JudgementThis role requires a high degree of cultural humility and ethical sensitivity. Missteps may damage relationships, breach ethical commitments, or cause harm to individuals and communities. Upholding community and patient trust through respectful, transparent, and reciprocal engagement is essential.Supervision ReceivedWorks under the general direction of MOSAIC Project Manager and in close collaboration with the MOSAIC Principal Investigators and the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit. Expected to work independently but with guidance from study PIs and other expert groups.Supervision GivenMay supervise research assistants, Indigenous trainees, community coordinators, or staff supporting engagement and knowledge translation efforts.Minimum QualificationsUndergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusionPreferred QualificationsGraduate degree in Indigenous Studies, Public Health, Social Sciences, Health Administration, or a related field.At least six years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and community-based experience.Experience working respectfully with Indigenous communities and/or patient and caregiver groups in BC or Yukon.Familiarity with Indigenous research governance models, patient-oriented research, cultural safety, and health equity frameworks.Lived experience as an Indigenous person (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)Experience coordinating community and patient engagement, facilitating group discussions, and supporting advisory councils.Strong knowledge of Indigenous and/or caregiver health issues and wellness approaches.Skilled facilitator and communicator with diplomacy.Experience with project planning, knowledge translation, logistics coordination, and ethical research partnerships.Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural teams.Willingness and ability to travel within BC and Yukon and participate in occasional evening/weekend community events.