Summary

The Community Evaluation Specialist role will focus on leveraging knowledge mobilization to move evaluation findings and research evidence into actionable, valuable applications for diverse audiences. This ensures that insights inform project and organizational policies, internal decision-making, and benefit rural communities. The role is optimized for a team member who is highly collaborative, adaptable, organized, and enjoys a high degree of autonomy, while producing high-quality deliverables.

Description

Organization
Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention (CMHA AB + CSP)

Location
Hybrid, Alberta (Full-Time, 35 hours a week, Monday – Friday 8:30-4:30)

About Us
Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention (CMHA AB + CSP) work to further community mental health and suicide prevention across the province.

Together with CMHA Regions and our partners, we're building an Alberta where people's wellbeing is supported in their community – by a friend, a peer, a support group, their local CMHA office, or the medical system.

About the Initiative
The Rural Mental Health (RMH) project strives to strengthen community capacity for better mental health in over 150 rural and remote communities through ongoing training, network development, and community grants. 
 
The RMH project and network are being built collaboratively with strategic local and provincial partners. The principles that guide our work include health promotion and community-development that is strengths-based and uses whole-community approaches, while considering the full lifespan development of our communities.

Position Overview
As a Specialist, this role will focus on leveraging knowledge mobilization to move evaluation findings and research evidence into actionable, valuable applications for diverse audiences. This ensures that insights inform project and organizational policies, internal decision-making, and benefit rural communities. The role is optimized for a team member who is highly collaborative, adaptable, organized, and enjoys a high degree of autonomy, while producing high-quality deliverables within set timelines.

This full-time position is based on a 35-hour work week. The Community Evaluation Specialist will work five 7-hour days each week during office hours with the flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends. This position utilizes a hybrid model, with two days per week in either our Calgary or Edmonton office. There may be requirements for travel to delivery sites within Alberta. The typical work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.

Key Responsibilities

  • Community Development & Social Innovation
    • Collaborative Leadership in Research & Evaluation
      • Lead and coordinate research and evaluation activities in collaboration with Network members, ensuring alignment with project goals and rural community needs
    • Facilitating Team & Network Engagement
      • Organize and facilitate meetings with project teams and Network members to set and support research priorities, ensuring that they reflect rural realities and project principles
    • Supporting Iterative Implementation
      • Guide the implementation of research processes that are flexible, reflective, and creative, fostering innovation throughout the project lifecycle
  • Information Gathering & Rural Advancements
    • Mobilize and synthesize community reports, interviews, and content from RMH trainings, grants, and network activities to inform project decisions and support internal evaluations
    • Refine data gathering tools and practices that support collective impact while reducing the burden on rural communities, ensuring alignment with equitable practices
    • Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, including environmental scans, literature reviews, and stakeholder engagement (e.g., focus groups, interviews, surveys), to gather insights and inform project activities
    • Map upstream and downstream factors related to rural mental health and wellness, using systems-thinking and ecological models to guide research and refine future priorities
  • Knowledge Mobilization
  • Design and implement strategies that guide the dissemination and application of evaluation data and findings within the RMH team, across the organization, and among external audiences
  • Serve as a liaison between rural communities, the RMH team, the organization, Government of Alberta (GOA), and other external partners to provide informed recommendations that enhance project planning and design, delivery, and community involvement
  • Develop user-friendly knowledge translation products, including infographics, reports, and presentations to meet the needs of different audiences
  • Organize and conduct workshops and training sessions aimed at building the capacity of Animators to understand and effectively engage with evaluation processes and data collection
  • Build and maintain relationships with external partners to support collaborative and impactful use of evaluation findings
  • Create systems to track how evaluation findings are used, ensuring they stay relevant and helpful
  • Develop compelling stories and content that resonates with a wide range of stakeholders to showcase a project’s impact, and ensuring community voices are heard authentically
  • Innovative communication techniques and creative tools to amplify these stories, broaden reach, and enhance the impact of evaluation insights
  • Work to ensure that evaluation findings inform and align with policy initiatives, advocating for changes or adaptations supported by evidence
  • Simplify complex evaluation results into practical advice and embed the key lessons into the project and Network’s everyday work

Qualifications 

  • Ability to clearly and compellingly convey the vision, goals, and impact of the project to diverse audiences
  • Strong capacity to think creatively and innovatively, and adapt strategies to meet the unique needs of different communities
  • Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to community challenges, using artistic methods, interactive activities, or technology to engage and inspire participants
  • Experience supporting community-based research or evaluation, including analysis and synthesis of data 
  • Experience working in a community-based setting, understanding different contexts, and sharing information using methods appropriate to the audience.  
  • Experience applying community development and health promotion principles 
  • Self-motivated and flexible, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, changing environment, and an ambiguous landscape 
  • Strong skills in Microsoft Office, Zoom, and other online tools 
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills 
  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., Public Health, Sociology), or a combination of education and recent and relevant experience. 

Why Join Us?

  • Be a part of a dynamic team making a difference in rural Alberta
  • Enjoy a flexible, primarily remote work environment 
  • Contribute to meaningful community development and mental health initiatives 

Applications
If you are passionate about evaluation, social innovation, and capacity building, apply today! Send your resume and cover letter to recruitment@cmha.ab.ca 
 
While we appreciate all applications, we will only contact candidates that meet the requirements for the position. Please note that we are unable to accept phone calls about this position.

The posting will remain available until a suitable candidate is found.