Patient-oriented Research Specialist

**Patient-Oriented Research Specialist**:
**Primary Purpose**: The Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research’s vision is working together for a healthier Saskatchewan through patient-oriented research (POR). POR brings patients and those around them (family, friends, and community) together as partners in research, along with health professionals, administrators and researchers. SCPOR is a group of partners that includes patients, academic institutions, government agencies and health organizations. Together, SCPOR will work on the Learning Health System (LHS), with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of patients and families and ensuring healthcare services are helping people. Patient Partners bring their knowledge and lived experiences to this research. SCPOR’s most significant impact will be to support the health system in its approaches to collecting and learning from health-related information to achieve system improvement. This will further SCPOR’s desired outcomes of improved patient experiences, population health and provider care experiences, as well as lower health system costs. SCPOR is committed to including patient voices and experiences in health research. This commitment, along with the active leadership of health system experts in research, will allow SCPOR to reach its goals of improving the health of people in Saskatchewan and increasing the value of health services

**Nature of Work**: Reporting to the SCPOR Director of Innovation and Impact, the Specialist will provide support for current and future patient-oriented research health system projects. The Specialist will work with SCPOR staff and partner staff to provide support to the work of the various component areas within SCPOR and its partners, while upholding SCPOR’s vision, mission and core values.

The Specialist will create strong working relationships with key partners, including patient partners, health service providers, and post-secondary organizations. SCPOR partners include: Saskatchewan Health Authority, eHealth Saskatchewan, Health Quality Council, First Nations University of Canada, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Metis Nation Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, and Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education. Building and maintaining strong working relationships with all relevant current and future provincial stakeholders is essential for the success of this provincially-focused initiative.

This position is hybrid and based in Saskatoon. Travel may be required.

**Accountabilities**:

- Support patient-oriented research health system project teams throughout the development and implementation of their research projects. Liaise with the project teams and SCPOR/partners.
- Provide qualitative and/or quantitative research expertise to support research projects, which may include data collection, ethics submissions, and manuscript writing.
- Provide project management expertise to oversee operationalization of research projects.
- Coordinate the resources available to the project teams to ensure progress of the project.
- Support SCPOR and partner staff to operationalize strategic priorities.
- Support the development and implementation of operational plans.
- Support the tracking and reporting of outcome measures.
- Provide regular status updates to SCPOR leadership and partners.
- Provide input regarding opportunities for training, events and other opportunities to build capacity in POR.
- Facilitate and plan activities and events in collaboration with SCPOR staff.
- Develop and maintain effective and collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders, to support and accelerate the advancement of POR.
- Develop and maintain internal working relationships required to advance SCPOR’s long-term goals.
- Represent SCPOR in different forums, events, or committees to advance the understanding and goals of SCPOR at provincial and national levels.
- Collaborate and work effectively with the Executive Director, Scientific Director, Partners and SCPOR staff.
- Work with SCPOR stakeholders to ensure appropriate individuals are engaged in SCPOR activities, outcomes and impacts.
- Manage project timelines, repositories, tracking tools and measures in alignment with SCPOR’s priorities.
- Other duties as assigned based on SCPOR priorities.

**Education**: PhD preferred. A graduate degree in health or other relevant discipline is required.

**Experience**: A minimum of two years of relevant work experience or a combination of education and experience will be considered.

Experience in managing research projects is required.

A strong understanding of academia, health research and the research process would be considered a significant asset.

Experience with POR and community-based research is an asset.

Experience in program evalu