Women’s College Hospital is the first and only independent, academic, ambulatory care hospital in Ontario with a primary focus on the health of women and gender diverse people. If you’re ready to be part of the future of healthcare, then you will want to join an institution in which the possibilities for creative innovation, breakthroughs in new thinking and groundbreaking work in academic ambulatory medicine are limitless. Women’s College Hospital is committed to patient safety as a key professional value and an essential component of daily practice.

An exciting temporary full time (approximately 1 year) opportunity as a Research Coordinator exists in the Women’s College Research Institute, reporting to Drs. Ashley Lacombe-Duncan and Mona Loutfy.

The successful applicant will function in a highly-independent role as a Research Coordinator (RC) for a provincial project within the Trans Women and Gender Diverse People’s HIV/STBBI and Health Research Initiative (TWIRI), hosted by the Women and HIV Research Program (WHRP). WHRP is a community-based research program that was founded in 2006 with the mission to work with women living with HIV to carry out research aims to address topics deemed important to them and to optimize their wellbeing. In 2017, WHRP launched TWIRI, a research initiative sparked by community interest and partnership to support trans women living with and/or affected by HIV. Though predominantly focused on HIV, TWIRI’s vision and scope has slowly expanded over the last few years to focus on the broader health of trans women and gender diverse people including access to gender affirmation. TWIRI’s most recent funding considers the intersections of health and wellbeing for trans women and gender diverse people, including HIV and sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) testing, care, prevention, and stigma reduction, and the intersection of HIV/STBBI and gender affirmation care.

The successful candidate for this position will function as the research coordinator for the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN)-funded project, “Towards Intersectional Inclusive Health Systems: Understanding and Addressing STBBI and Gender-affirming Healthcare Disparities in Ontario’s Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) Population”. In short, the aims of the project are to use principles of intersectionality, gender-affirmation, and community-based research to better understand HIV/STBBI risk, prevalence, prevention, and care uptake, as well as access to gender affirmation among trans and gender diverse people. The RC will work closely with the Nominated Principal Applicant (Dr. Ashley Lacombe-Duncan) and Co-Principal Applicants and Research Leads.

The candidate will be preferred to have experience with trans health research, HIV research with marginalized communities, community-based research, anti-oppressive theories, and comfort with an independent work environment. Experience working in successful partnerships with trans women and gender diverse people will be an asset. Some travel within Ontario may be required.

Summary of Duties:

• Prepare and maintain research ethics board applications at all eligible sites (i.e. REB renewals, ammendments and sub-study closures).
• Contribute to finalizing the research protocol and related documents, including interview guides and survey questions, among other documents.
• Plan and coordinate the activities of the research study protocol and the establishment and maintenance of operating policies and procedures.
• Promote research capacity building among community members, community-based organizations, clinics and student groups.
• Provide ongoing support and coordination for the team research assistant (RA) and Community Leader and Research Coordinators (CLRC; as relevant) in all study activities, including data collection and knowledge translation activities.
• Coordinate and support the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research data
• Facilitate meetings including scheduling, developing agendas, running meetings and taking minutes.
• Ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of research activities; act as the primary administrative point of contact for internal research staff and as the principal operational liaison for other research organizations, funding agencies and regulating bodies.
• May perform aspects of research protocol, as required, in accordance with specified program objectives.
• Monitor the progress of research activities; develop and maintain records of research activities, and prepare periodic and ad hoc reports, as required by investigators, administrators, funding agencies, and/or regulatory bodies.
• Plan and coordinate regular community and academic advisory board and research working group meetings, as needed.
• Implement quality control process throughout the conduct of the study.
• Apply for funding and work on aspects in order to expand TWIRI across Ontario and beyond.
• Maintain the TWIRI website and social media account.
• Attend and participate in the TWIRI co-lead meetings, providing updates on the status of the project.
• Assist with literature reviews, manuscript writing, the writing and submission of grants, conference abstracts and manuscripts, amongst other knowledge mobilization related tasks.
• Liaise with the Trans Women and Gender Diverse People Sub-Hub and/or Women-Centred HIV coordinator(s) (other projects embedded within WHRP) to share project progress with a broader network.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned including supporting other WHRP projects as relevant/needed.

As a role model and champion you will work to identify and integrate safe, best practices into daily activities to foster the delivery of safe and exemplary care.

The responsibilities described above are representative and are not to be construed as all-inclusive.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Master’s or PhD level education Public Health, Social Work, Gender Studies, Research Methods, or experience in community-based research
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional research coordination experience required
• Familiarity with community research-based principles and social or clinical research preferred
• Knowledge of issues relating to people living with HIV/AIDS and strong awareness of anti-oppression and harm reduction issues, including issues that specifically affect trans women and gender diverse people
• Exceptional program coordination and planning/organizational skills
• Experience managing research/project budgets
• Excellent interpersonal skills, customer service, and people management skills
• Computer competency including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Zoom
• Familiarity with data storage and analysis systems such as REDCap and SPSS is an asset
• Professional behaviour and communication that meets the standards of the professional regulatory college or association, as applicable, and the standards of Women’s College Hospital
• This position plays a critical role in acting as an advocate for safety and will demonstrate principles, practices and processes that will optimize a safe environment for all

People living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply.

This position will be required to complete certification on ethical conduct of research involving human participants.

We thank you for your interest, however, only qualified applicants who are selected to be interviewed will be contacted.  

Women’s College Hospital is a fully affiliated teaching hospital of the University of Toronto and is committed to fairness and equity in employment and our recruitment and selection practices. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, members of racialized groups, women and any others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under our Access for People with Disabilities policy. Applicants need to make their requirements known in advance.