Health Promotion Specialist - Vancouver, Canada - The University of British Columbia

Description

Job Summary

Working from a strengths-based, inclusive, harm reduction, and health equity perspective, the Health Promotion Specialist will develop and implement campus-wide programming to promote and support student health and wellbeing and their academic goals. Through health promotion, health equity, and/or health education strategies, programs, and initiatives, this role advances the unit's priorities in substance use health, sexual health and other population health needs. Assesses and evaluates health and wellbeing promotion and outreach programs and services. Designs and delivers evidence-based programs and services to enhance student wellbeing and will work strategically with students, student organizations, staff, and faculty in a variety of departments, across Faculties and with other student service areas.

Organizational Status
The Health Equity, Promotion and Education (HEPE) unit facilitates and enhances the student health and wellbeing learning through health promotion, projects and initiatives. Through an integrated approach HEPE works collaboratively across Student Health and Wellbeing to support students across broad wellbeing priority areas. The Health Promotion Specialist will report to the Manager, Health Promotion.

Work Performed

• Works across Student Health and Wellbeing to develop and deliver health and wellbeing programming, including orientations, outreach programs, workshops, seminars, groups and other resources that improves health literacy, self-determination, and help-seeking in the areas including but not limited to substance use health, sexual health, and other emergent needs.
• Considers and supports culturally appropriate wellbeing programming for all students as well as substance use health and sexual health programming to meet the unique needs of specific student populations.
• Acts with flexibility to address priority areas for student wellbeing that arise from institutional strategy, stakeholder feedback, and emergent health evidence.
• Considers ongoing evaluation needs for program and services and optimizes program delivery, including streamlining session fulfillment, developing necessary materials, and implementing feedback.
• Works within an integrated and collaborative health and wellbeing system, providing information about the range of available supports and resources for registered UBC students, including resources on and off campus, and resources offered by campus partners.
• May supervise and lead student staff, including Work Learn students and Peer Health Educators, a student volunteer team, in health and wellbeing community outreach and education
• Builds and maintains a network of UBC and external resources specific to needs of students across the UBC campus.
• Provides consultation to staff, faculty and student leaders, including the AMS and GSS on student health and wellbeing
• Collaborates with staff, faculty and student groups to design and deliver wellbeing programs and events.
• Develops and delivers orientations, presentations, training and interventions in the areas of substance use health, sexual health, and other core areas, for faculty and staff, including how to refer students to the most appropriate resources.
• Prepares reports, publications and other documents as required, including literature reviews and environmental scans.
• Works closely with communications professionals to develop content for and promote wellbeing programming for students in various channels such as web, social media and print. Responsible for ensuring student wellbeing web resources are up to date and accurate.
• May provide supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments.
• Participate and/or lead communities of practice and/or working groups across Student Health and Wellbeing or the campus community.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Must be able to act with a considerable degree of autonomy and independence in the provision of evidence-based, equity-centered programming to students while adhering to the ethical standards of the profession. It would also have a significant negative impact on public relations and the reputation of the University and in some cases result in legal liability for the University.

Supervision Received
This position reports to the Manager, Health Promotion under the purview of the Director, Health Equity, Promotion and Education and requires a person capable of interpreting the position responsibilities and carrying them out with minimal supervision. Acts independently within established ethical guidelines.

Supervision Given
May provide supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three to four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Nursing, Education, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in Public Health, Counselling, Social Work, Education, Nursing role.
• University or college employment experience, especially in Student Affairs, an asset.
• Experience with community engagement and understanding of collaborative leadership and collective impact frameworks.
• Experience supervising staff and volunteers.
• Commitment to serving the needs of a broadly diverse student population through asset-based approaches. Demonstrated ability to provide outreach and programming that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of specific student populations including Indigenous students, international students, graduate students, racialized students, students with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
• Demonstrated understanding of health equity and experience in conducting health equity impact assessments
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and experience in program development, consultation and outreach.
• Experience in program and process evaluation
• Ability to envision and implement innovative programs and initiatives.
• Strong interest in and commitment to effective problem solving and continuous improvement of programs and services. Possession of personal attributes that facilitate teamwork and the development of effective working relationships with a wide range of students, faculty, and staff.
• Knowledge of the unique issues facing university students and university life.
• Knowledge of treatment of a wide range of concerns that post-secondary and professional program students may experience including stress, depression, anxiety, substance use, relationship difficulties, eating/body image issues, career/life planning, transition issues, and sexual violence.
• Skills and experience in Canvas, Qualtrics, and willingness to learn new systems.