Salary Range: $67,861-$97,550/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

 

Pursuant to Section 42(3) of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference may be given to applicants with Lived Experience as an Indigenous person to Canada (First Nations, Métis, or Inuk/Inuit). In alignment with a distinctions-based approach, applicants with ties to the local nations in the Interior Region of BC will be essential to the success of this work.

We invite applicants to self-identify as Indigenous and to share a bit about their connection to the local nations in their cover letter and/or resume.

 

Summary

 

We are a multidisciplinary team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, program administrators, Knowledge Holders and clinical providers in cancer care. Together we are leading the Elevating Indigenous Voices in Radiotherapy Care: A Collaborative Approach in British Columbia project, which aims to co-develop actionable recommendations to improve radiotherapy service delivery by, with, and for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis (FNIM) Peoples in British Columbia.

 

The Indigenous Research Projects Coordinator supports the implementation of the Elevating Indigenous Voices in Radiotherapy Care project at assigned BC Cancer sites. Working closely with the research team, Indigenous Advisory Council, Knowledge Holders, Elders, and local community partners, this role focuses on site-level coordination and relationship-building to ensure project activities reflect Nation-based protocols, ceremony, and governance.

 

The coordinator will be a primary point of contact for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit participants, site-based care providers, and BC Cancer teams, helping to create culturally safe spaces and supporting meaningful engagement throughout the project.

 

Key Responsibilites:

 

Site-Level Coordination and Implementation:

• Organize and coordinate all site-specific project activities, including patient and provider sharing circles, case studies, and community gatherings.
• Support recruitment of participants through community networks, Indigenous Patient Navigators, Elders, and local health partners.
• Ensure Nation-based protocols, ceremonial practices, and cultural supports are integrated into all engagement activities.
• Arrange honoraria, travel supports, childcare/elder care, and mental wellness supports for participants, Elders, and Knowledge Holders.

 

Relationship-Building and Community Engagement:

• Act as the main on-the-ground liaison between the research team, local Indigenous communities, and BC Cancer site leadership.
• Build and sustain respectful, reciprocal relationships with participants, Knowledge Holders, and community partners.
• Work collaboratively with the Advisory Council to ensure local voices and teachings guide decision-making.
• Create culturally safe, trauma-informed spaces for participants by embedding ceremony, protocol, and grounding practices into all site-level activities.

 

Research and Knowledge Gathering Support:

• Assist with preparing, facilitating, and documenting sharing circles, including obtaining consent, audio recording, and supporting visual practitioners.
• Collaborate with Graduate Research Assistants on transcription and initial organization of site-level data.
• Ensure community priorities are reflected in both data gathering and the interpretation of findings.

 

Knowledge Translation and Dissemination:

• Support the co-development of community-facing knowledge translation (KT) materials, including visual storywork, graphic recordings, and infographics.
• Assist with planning and hosting local community gatherings to return findings in culturally relevant formats.
• Ensure KT activities are reviewed and approved by Knowledge Holders, Elders, and Advisory Council members before dissemination.

 

What you’ll do:

• Contribute to the development of budgets for research proposals and projects in collaboration with the Leader or designate. Monitor expenditures for assigned projects, grants and core activities to ensure that funds are spent as planned and within budget and that project objectives are achieved. Provide updated budget summary/milestone information and prepare written progress reports with the Leader or designate for projects, grants and collaborations.
• Establish procedures to ensure that objectives for assigned projects, grants and core activities are met. Research project management methodologies, tools and techniques for application in assigned projects.
• Provide direction and advice throughout the project lifespan at all levels of the Centre/Program and on multiple projects and programs; participates in initiatives in project management research, methodology, design, planning, implementation, integration, evaluation and ongoing monitoring.
• Identify, problem solve, and work to remove barriers to successful project completion, with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships on assigned projects across departments, collaborators, funding agencies and external stakeholders. Identifies interdependencies between various groups and projects within the Centre/Program and facilitates communication among task groups.
• Evaluate whether project objectives/milestones are met in consultation with the department heads and leaders and identifies discrepancies for the attention of the Leader or designate.
• Provide work direction to study clerks and other study staff, students, trainees and staff as required.

 

What you bring:

 

Qualifications:

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to completion of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Science, health-related discipline, or Business Administration.
• A minimum of three (3) years of recent related experience in project management and/or a research development management role and certification as a Project Management Professional.
• Indigenous professional from a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit community (lived experience strongly valued).
• Demonstrated experience engaging with Indigenous communities and working alongside Knowledge Holders, Elders, or community leaders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Cancer's contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

Core Competencies:

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of Indigenous governance, local Nations’ protocols, and community engagement practices.
• Ability to build relationships based on trust, reciprocity, and respect.
• Strong organizational and communication skills for coordinating multiple activities across sites.
• Familiarity with culturally safe practices and trauma- and violence-informed care approaches.
• Comfort facilitating and supporting ceremony and grounding practices with Elders and Knowledge Holders.

You have:

• Broad knowledge of project design, methodologies, developing and managing project strategies, evaluation and monitoring, project management principles, and multiple project interaction and integration.
• Experience with clinical database management is an asset.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project).
• Manage multiple resource intense projects within a fast paced environment.
• Organizational, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Organize work and communicate effectively.
• Work under pressure of deadlines.
• Accept responsibility and work independently.
• Initiative and independent judgment in the performance of duties.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.