Description

This opportunity is currently available for internal applicants only as THERE IS A STRONG INTERNAL CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION.

The Faculty of Social Work invites applications for a Youth Engagement Specialist. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Youth Engagement Specialist will support a CIHR-funded provincial initiative to develop and validate a Learning Health System (LHS) for Kickstand, Alberta's Integrated Youth Service. The role will coordinate and support youth-engaged research activities, including the co-development of a youth research lab where young people partner in the design and implementation of research.

Responsibilities include coordinating youth engagement and research activities; liaising with researchers, community partners, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience; supporting qualitative and quantitative data collection activities; and providing research and administrative support to the Principal Investigator.

The position requires up to 35 hours per week, with flexibility for occasional evenings and weekends as project needs dictate.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Youth Engagement and Partnership Development (approximately 40%)

- Coordinate youth and family advisor engagement activities.
- Facilitate co-design activities that integrate youth perspectives into research planning and implementation.
- Provide guidance to research team members on youth engagement best practices and principles of patient-oriented research.
- Foster inclusive, accessible, and meaningful engagement opportunities for youth and family partners.
- Build trusting relationships with youth advisors and lived-experience partners.
- Recruit, onboard, orient, and support youth advisors.
- Identify and address barriers to meaningful participation.
- Develop engagement resources and training materials.
- Coordinate advisory meetings, workshops, and engagement sessions.
- Support reimbursement processes and maintain participation records.

Research Coordination and Support (approximately 25%)
- Support implementation of research activities across studies.
- Assist with participant recruitment and informed consent.
- Prepare study documentation and research materials.
- Maintain participant tracking and study records.
- Assist with ethics submissions and annual renewals.
- Support data collection activities following established protocols.
- Coordinate research meetings and maintain study-related documentation.

Stakeholder Relations (approximately 15%)
- Build collaborative relationships with researchers, healthcare providers, community organizations, government partners, and non-profit agencies.
- Serve as one of the primary contacts for youth advisors and community partners.
- Communicate project updates and identify emerging engagement needs.
- Promote principles of patient-oriented and youth-engaged research.





Knowledge Translation and Communications (approximately 10%)
- Assist in preparing reports, presentations, and knowledge translation materials.
- Contribute to educational resources for youth advisors and community partners.
- Support dissemination and knowledge mobilization activities.

Administrative Coordination (approximately 10%)
- Schedule meetings and prepare agendas.
- Maintain project documentation and version control.
- Coordinate travel and engagement logistics.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply with University and ethics requirements.

Qualifications / Requirements

- Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Social Work, Social Sciences, or a related field. Master's degree in Nursing, Social Work, Social Sciences or a related discipline completed or in progress is an asset.
- Minimum 2 years of experience coordinating research in social, behavioural, or community settings, preferably in research specific to youth populations and on a provincial scale.
- Familiarity with Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is an asset.
- Experience working with youth in community, health, education, or social service settings.
- Demonstrated experience in qualitative research (e.g., conducting interviews, focus groups, co-design methods, including qualitative data analysis and interpretation).
- Demonstrated experience supporting quantitative research activities, including data collection and management.
- Demonstrated experience liaising and communicating with internal and external research partners, including government, agencies, community organizations, and non-profits.
- Strong understanding of ethics guidelines for conducting research.
- Experience in preparing research reports and knowledge translation materials.
- Strong organizational skills, good judgment, and concern for detail and accuracy is required.
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal) is required.
- Exceptional attention to detail especially when working with research data.
- Able to work independently and with others as a part of a virtual and in-person team.
- Able to receive direction and provide support to other members of the team.
- Able to manage deadlines and to contribute to team products on tight timelines.
- Computer literacy and ease with learning recent software programs, such as NVivo, SPSS, or other analytic software.
- Familiarity with online meeting software, such as Zoom and Teams, is required.

Application Deadline: August 18, 2026 We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 2.





For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About The University Of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here.

In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

📌 Youth Engagement Specialist, Faculty of Social Work (Calgary)
🏢 University of Calgary
📍 Calgary