Community Development and Engagement Team Member
Northwest Rural Community Consultant
If you excel at community development and engagement work, are passionate about strengthening the capacity of rural Alberta communities, and keen to support community integration of health professionals (HPs) and their families, then we should talk.
RhPAP – Alberta’s Rural Health Professions Action Plan is one of Canada’s more comprehensive non-profit organizations (NPO) programs for the education, attraction and retention of health professionals (HPs) to work in rural Alberta. We are looking for an individual to be part of the Community Development and Engagement team to work directly with rural community champions developing effective and innovative ways to attract and retain HPs to rural Alberta. A total of five (5) Rural Community Consultants (RCCs) live and work in various areas of rural Alberta, reporting to the Sr. Manager, Community Development and Engagement (CD&E).
We are currently recruiting for one full-time (1.0 FTE) RCC located in a rural community in the Northwest Zone to be part of our CD&E team. The focus of the RCCs is on community-based efforts, collaborating with local communities to establish and support Attraction and Retention (A&R) committees, and supporting RhPAP’s CD&E programs aimed at enhancing rural community capacity within their designated area.
This position will assist communities in their A&R efforts by providing resources, strategic direction and brokering connections to move the needle forward on A&R work at the grassroots level and supporting the organization in various projects throughout the year.
Main responsibilities include:
• Working with rural community A&R committees on the integration of healthcare providers and their families into the community
• Liaising with rural community organizations and others with an interest in improving rural health and well-being and assisting them in developing A&R committees
• Assisting the CD & E team in organizing workshops, in person events, biennial conference and other activities
We are seeking a strong professional who is flexible, comfortable thinking outside the box, and embraces an inventive mindset when identifying new programming approaches that are relevant to rural communities. This position requires strong proficiency in program development and implementation, digital platforms, the ability to troubleshoot and fix problems virtually and to be a team player. Flexibility in schedule is essential along with the ability to assess and respond to situations in the dynamic environment of community-based work that supports healthcare in rural Alberta. To develop long-term relationships, the successful candidate must possess outstanding facilitation and communication skills. Critical thinking and the ability to make informed decisions is crucial. Being approachable, personable, and collaborative is vital. Having direct experience in, and a strong understanding of, community development and engagement, and program coordination is required.
As an ideal candidate, you should:
• Have experience living and working in rural Alberta
• Understand the unique challenges and successes found in rural healthcare/rural communities, particularly Indigenous communities in Northern Alberta
• Have community development and/or engagement experience
• Have program development experience
• Hold a post-secondary degree in a related field
• Have great listening skills and a keen sense of people
• Be self-motivated and able to inspire action in others
• Have strong and adept experience with various digital platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Mentimeter
• Have excellent problem-solving skills, enjoy a challenge, and embrace change
• Like to work independently yet be an integral part of a team
• Be able to travel to rural communities in the region as well as other parts of the province, with high comfortability in all driving in all types of weather conditions
• Possess excellent computer, project management, and communication skills (written & verbal)
• Enjoy public speaking and making presentations
• Excel at managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with varying deadlines
• Have excellent internet access, or the ability to strengthen access when required
This position is a virtual, work from home position and comes with an attractive compensation package and benefits. We will be accepting applications for the Northwest RCC role until filled, with a preferred start in January of 2025.
To apply in complete confidence, please email a cover letter and resume to:
Collette Featherstone, Executive Assistant — collette.featherstone@rhpap.ca
We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.