Evaluation and Research Lead, UCalgary Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy

Description

The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary invites applications for an Evaluation and Research Lead for the University of Calgary Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (CMHWS). The position is an academic position, under the TUCFA Collective Agreement, appointed in the Department of Psychology and will report to the Director of the CMHWS. The appointment will commence May 1, 2025, or at a mutually agreeable date, and is a contingent term 2-year appointment with the possibility of renewal. The workload for this position will relate to advancing the CMHWS (see below) with some research expectations and will not contain any teaching component.

The CMHWS is UCalgary's commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of the UCalgary community. Originally launched as the Campus Mental Health Strategy, the strategy was recently renewed as the CMHWS and formally approved by the UCalgary Board of Governors in May 2024. Three central themes came out of the extensive consultations and the various data sets and surveys with the UCalgary community. These themes include taking a holistic approach to well-being, focusing on upstream approaches to enhance wellbeing, and creating a more caring and supportive campus culture. Currently, an implementation plan is being developed to carry out the strategy¿s guiding principles and an evaluation plan is being developed to capture the impact of the strategy.

The primary focus of this role is to collaborate with the Director of the CMHWS to set and prioritize evaluation strategies. This involves formulating and leading the execution of a strategic evaluation plan that demonstrates evidence of success and identifies areas for improvement, while effectively communicating findings to the UCalgary community. The role includes overseeing staff and students involved in data collection, working with various UCalgary units to gather data, and supporting the implementation and achieving the goals of the CMHWS. 

A second main component of the role will be to drive the development of the Post Secondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Research and Knowledge Hub, which is a collaboration between the CMHWS and the Mathison Centre for Research and Education. Within this second component, the main tasks will be to continue to develop and formalize the structure of the Hub, secure funding for the Hub, and advance research and knowledge dissemination in the field of post-secondary mental health and well-being. A large aspect of developing the Hub will be to develop and foster collaborations and partnerships with other post-secondary institutions and networks, community partners, and potentially various levels of government. 

This position will:

• Collaborate with the Academic Director, CMHWS, and the CMHWS team to set evaluation priorities for the CMHWS
• Formulate a strategic evaluation plan that provides the evidence base for the CMHWS and effectively conveys successes and areas for growth to UCalgary community and stakeholders.
• Lead the development and implementation of the evaluation strategy, including advising on what data is collected and how it is used to support the mission of the CMHWS.
• Engage in dissemination and knowledge translation of evaluation data including reporting to campus community and governance.
• Provide supervision to staff, post-docs, and students assisting with data collection and evaluation projects.
• Work with colleagues in the Office of Institutional Commitments (the new unit that includes the CMHWS, Institutional Sustainability Strategy, and the EDI office) to support the work of that office.
•  Lead the development of the Post Secondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Research and Knowledge Hub, in collaboration with the Mathison Centre, which includes:
  • Serve as the lead of the Hub, overseeing and mentoring staff, post-doctoral scholars, and students affiliated with the Hub.
  • Develop and implement a strategic plan to drive the Hub's growth and development.
  • Collaborate with Advancement and the Mathison Centre to secure funding and financial support for the Hub.
  • Forge and strengthen partnerships with both internal and external organizations to expand the Hub's impact and reach.
• Conduct research that is relevant for post-secondary mental health and wellbeing, beyond evaluation work.
• Contribute to the profession through publication and conference presentations, including but not limited to peer reviewed publications, technical reports, presentations to various audiences, and other forms of knowledge dissemination.
• Engage with other post-secondary mental health networks in Canada and more broadly.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in psychology, mental health, social work, public health, or a related field
• Ideally, 3-5 years of experience in addressing mental health and wellbeing in a post-secondary institution, such as, but not limited to, working in Student Wellness or Staff Wellness. This experience should include progressively increasing responsibilities and supervision of staff and students.
• Ideally, 3-5 years of experience in evaluation of post-secondary mental health and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., programs, services, etc.)
• A working knowledge of post-secondary mental health strategies landscape in Canada
• A working knowledge of a principle focused evaluation approach with preference to those who have experience carrying out evaluation using this approach
• Leadership experience in the post-secondary mental health and wellbeing context
• A record of commitment to and application of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles in research and academic activities, with demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of people 
• Has experience with Indigenization and/or knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing
• Candidates that have experiences or demonstrated ability with some of the listed items below would be considered an asset for the position:
  • Has an active research program and a track record of knowledge dissemination that focuses on post-secondary mental health and wellbeing 
  • Has a record of obtaining grants with preference for those who holds or has held grants in the topic of post-secondary mental health and wellbeing
  • Has a working knowledge of the Canadian post-secondary mental health landscape, including but not limited to trends in post-secondary mental health and wellbeing  
  • Has established connections with provincial and national post-secondary mental health and wellbeing organizations and networks
  • Has experience working with different post-secondary units/faculties on collaborative projects and initiatives related to mental health and wellbeing 
  • Has experience working with development/advancement to help generate funding to support and sustain initiatives 
  • Has experience with co-creation and collaborative research approaches, as well as mobilization to relevant communities.

Please submit your application online via the 'Apply Now' link. Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments. The four attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents):

• A cover letter describing interest in the position (maximum 2 pages)
• A statement outlining experiences with evaluation and leading initiatives at post-secondary institutions, including examples of how working with Indigenous communities (including but not limited to Elders and Knowledge Keepers) and equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility has been integrated into this work (maximum 3 pages)
• A statement summarizing past and present research (maximum 2 pages)
• A curriculum vitae
• The names of and contact information for three academic and/or professional referees

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged, but not required, to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to consider, and be sensitive to, the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate's academic productivity.
 

Application Deadline: April 12, 2025

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy 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.

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 Human Resources ([email protected]).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Faculty of Arts, click here. 

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.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.