KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION AND EXCHANGE (KTE) COORDINAT

KTE Policy Coordinator - FEAST Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research

Status: Full time employment: 35 hours/week, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (except occasional evenings and weekend hours, when required)

Start date: TBD

End date: June 30, 2025

Background

The Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research is a five-year, cross-Canada initiative that aims to support the development of community and academic scholars and scholarship grounded in Indigenous knowledges, decolonizing approaches, and community-based research to holistically support STBBI research with Indigenous communities. This project joins key stakeholders (community, research and policy) to advance Indigenous research, programs and services in several key strategic areas related to STBBI research, prevention and care.

Grounded in a multi-conceptual framework (i.e., Indigenous and decolonizing methodologies, community-based research approaches and a strengths-based approach) the following activities will be pursued by the Feast Centre:

⷏            Support the use of Indigenous knowledges in the community-led development of Indigenous approaches to the prevention and care of STBBI

⷏            Support the development of implementation science approaches across all research areas in ways that seek to improve equitable access to culturally relevant STBBI prevention, testing, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care;

⷏            Support early to late career scholars in their critical and theoretical scholarship;

⷏            Establishes work/study programs for Indigenous students at all levels, including undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate research;

⷏            Supports the meaningful inclusion of community in all Feast Centre training opportunities, but principally, in our community fellowship program;

⷏            Provides release time for early career scholars to establish their programs of research;

⷏            Support publications development via writing retreats and partners with the AHA Centre in the biannual Wise Practices Indigenous STBBI Community-based Research conference, and in McMaster Indigenous Research Institute events;

⷏            Produces an edited monograph focused on Indigenous methodology/methods in the context of STBBI research; and

⷏            Supports developing culturally grounded and innovative knowledge translation products.

⷏            Assist in the coordination and leadership role of FEAST, by supporting the collaboration of Indigenous community stakeholders and FEAST researchers to help                     shape policy.

Reporting to the Centre National Director, the work of the KTE Coordinator will be guided and supported by the Feast Centre Co-Leads (Jackson and Masching), the Operations Team, Governing Council, Council of Elders, the National Indigenous Research Advisory Council (NIRAC) and in thorough consultation with affiliated research centres. Feast staff may be working on site and/or from various satellite locations. Although working knowledge of other languages (e.g., French and/or an Indigenous language, etc.) is desired, the primary working language of the Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research is English.

Job Summary:

The KTE Coordinator is responsible for applying specialized knowledge to support the dissemination and actualization of Indigenous STBBI research that is grounded in Indigenous research methods, knowledges, protocals and methodologies.

Purpose and Key Functions: 

•             Apply specialized knowledge of Indigenous research and dissemination methodologies.

•             Design, implement and monitor knowledge mobilization strategies including knowledge exchange, transfer and communication components.

•             Identify challenges and provide recommendations to improve knowledge mobilization processes, practises and activities.

•             Analyze and synthesize research results and produce knowledge products suitable for risk analysis.

•             Prepare reports on knowledge mobilization processes and achievements.

•             Develop and deliver a training program targeted at researchers and knowledge users.

•             Support researchers in dissemination of their research findings to Indigenous community audiences.

•             Work across the Feast Centre and in collaboration with Indigenous communities to enhance the policy impact of our activities.

•             Work with the Knowledge to Action Cycle framework for application in Indigenous contexts.

•             Draft and develop policies related to the FEAST Centre.

•             Coordinate the Feast Centre strategic policy activities such as bi-annual seminars, training and other related activities.

•             Collaborate with the Community Engagement Coordinator to lead traditional/cultural, innovative, and integrative KTE strategies across all FEAST Centre activities.

•             Serve as principal administrative liaison for KTE-related projects.

•             Contribute to the administration needs of the FEAST Centre through documentation of meetings, reporting, event planning, travel arrangements etc.

•             Apply specialized knowledge to review and critically appraise published literature, and previous community research findings.

•             Maintain and apply knowledge of related policies and procedures and develop new policies as required.

•             Support scholars and students in knowledge translation strategic activities outlined by the FEAST Centre.

•             Liaise between the project centre and internal and external study sites and maintain in-depth communication records.

•             Assist in building local capacity, networks and knowledge.

•             Present and participate in various conferences by FEAST and partner events.

•             Contribute to activities and opportunities offered by the FEAST Centre.

•             Contribute to recording requirements and administrative tasks to document meetings and contribute to reporting.

•             Attend Feast Centre staff and committee meetings

Supervision:

• Ensures adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff (less than 12 months) and volunteers for events and activities.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
• Requires 5 years of related experience.
   

Assets:

• Significant understanding of the breadth and variability of Indigenous knowledges, research methodologies, policy and knowledge translation and exchange practices;
• Significant understanding of Indigenous knowledges and Indigenous research methodologies, implementation and program sciences, Indigenous evaluation and strengths-based approaches in research;
• Knowledge of GIPA/MEPA/ and MEWA principles that emphasize active engagement, leadership, collaboration and training of Indigenous people living with and/or affected by STBBI;
• Knowledge and/or lived experience of HIV and AIDS and HCV prevention, care, treatment and support, in Canada and related social and health concerns;
• Experience and/or knowledge of HIV and AIDS, HCV, STBBI research;
• A personal and professional ethical framework which appreciates, honours and centers diverse lived experiences and identities, including those of sex workers, injection drug users, street-involved people, prison-involved people, and two-spirit/gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans/non-binary/queer people.
• Ability to travel.

• Outstanding working knowledge of KTE and its relation to policy;
• Exceptional leadership and supervisory skills;
• Knowledge and experience operationalizing Indigenous principles of community engagement;
• Exceptional administrative skills to support and document KTE activities and contribute to Feast reporting;
• Excellent verbal and written communication (ability to speak French or an Indigenous language are considered to be assets);
• Strong relationship building and conflict resolution skills with an ability to work effectively with community and academic organizations;
• Confident working in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment;
• Maintain excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask;
• Operate within a strong work ethic and maintain professionalism;
• Possess and apply excellent problem-solving skills.

• Excellent ability to teach, supervise and provide policy and KTE advice;
• Strong ability to design presentations and perform public speaking at related conferences and meetings with the Research Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator;
• Exceptional ability to teach, supervise and provide policy advice;
• Solid ability to maintain accurate and detailed documentation for KTE meetings, decision-making processes and activities to document progress and impact within the Feast project as a whole;
• Strong ability to analyze and transfer research information into easily accessible language and knowledge of effective dissemination strategies;
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team and independently;
• Ability to work virtually;
• Demonstrated ability to learn and be self-directed;
• Ability to engage various service contractors (e.g. translation, printing, hotels, etc.)