Mental Health Strategy Facilitator

at  Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

CMHA-Edmonton is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that all people experience good mental health and well-being. We increase awareness and understanding of mental health, mental illness, recovery, and suicide prevention through education. We support the resilience and recovery of people in distress including those affected by mental illness or suicide by providing crisis intervention; safe, long-term and affordable housing; peer support; suicide grief and family support; information and referral support; and providing opportunities to improve your wellness.

JOB SUMMARY

This is a one-year, full-time position which is a key role to provide coordination, facilitation, communications, evaluation, and administrative support to an interagency partnership and a multi-layered advisory structure focused on Edmonton’s new Strategy for Community Mental Health (SCMH), an initiative co-led by CMHA Edmonton Region and United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, and the City of Edmonton.
Centered around the emerging Council for Community Mental Health (CCMH), the work involves implementing and adapting a community-led governance model which guides the direction and pathways of community-based efforts to create a new community-based mental health system in Edmonton. This work will lead to better experiences and outcomes for people, communities, and systems through collective investment, system planning, accountability structures, and a sustainable system of community support for mental health and related issues. This role will be based at Prosper Place.
In addition to providing coordination and support for Strategy for Community Mental Health committees, teams, and projects, this position is responsible for production of meeting materials and communications, supports appropriate documentation and tracking of project deliverables and milestones, and acts as the main point of contact for internal or external inquires. This position reports to the Director, Strategy & Governance, but works closely with the Council for Community Mental Health, the Community Development Manager, and supports project management and leadership roles working across all partners (United Way, CMHA Edmonton, and City of Edmonton).
The contract term of this position is for one year, with possibility of extension dependent on securing and continuation of funding and other sources.
The job description and related duties are subject to change based on evolving project needs identified through the implementation process.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

CMHA-Edmonton recognizes that candidates all have different skills and experiences to offer. While we are highlighting desired qualifications in the following sections, it is not a checklist. We encourage everyone interested to apply and indicate how you would successfully take on the role even if you have unconventional experiences or qualifications.

• A post-secondary degree in community development, social sciences and humanities, business administration, or equivalent.
• A minimum of (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a combination of: strategic and operational project support and working with project performance measures.
• Demonstrated strength in coordination and facilitation roles, and in accompanying administrative functions – correspondence, coordinating meetings, maintaining records, applying financial processes and procedures, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strength in verbal and written communication skills; ability to relay and/or explain complex issues or difficult situations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with strategic communications, interdisciplinary engagement, and social innovation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with developmental and equitable evaluation methods, and with effective use of storytelling as data.
• Proven ability to coordinate and report to a cross-sectoral group of stakeholders from both government and community.
• Proven ability to foster relationships and partnerships with complex and varied internal and external individuals and groups with diverse personalities, cultures, and orientations.
• Proven adaptability and flexibility to changing priorities and project perimeters.
• Proven analytical, problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative decision making. Valid Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check.

COMPETENCIES AND KNOWLEDGE

• Communicates effectively, developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Values differences, recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an initiative
• Drives engagement, creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the initiative achieve its objectives
• Interpersonal savvy, relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Builds networks, effectively connecting formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the initiative
• Plans and aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with initiative goals
• Balances stakeholders, anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple interested parties
• Awareness and understanding of community-based mental health and suicide service providers/services in the Edmonton region.
• Awareness and understanding of peer-led and Lived Experience community practices.
• Awareness and understanding of Reconciliation and of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization practices.
• Works well in a multi-disciplinary team environment and establishes effective working relationships with team members.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Teams and SharePoint and Google Online Services.
• Knowledge and understanding of community development principles and the social determinants of health.
• Knowledge in change management procedures and practices preferred. Knowledge, experience, or training in event planning, considered an asset.

JOB DUTIES

• Facilitate meetings and activities for the Council for Community Mental Health (CCMH), including logistics, preparation of meeting briefs, presentations, and notes, coordination of special meetings and events, and support for related activities.
• Facilitate ongoing recruitment, onboarding, and orientation for a roster of new CCMH members. Coordinate the development of a companion roster of Systems Change Collaborators – representatives from key external community partners who will work with the CCMH to actualize directions and pathways set for co-creating a new community-based mental health system.
• Act as primary backbone coordination role and liaise as the primary point of contact between the SCMH initiative partners’ Collaboration Team, Executive leadership, and all internal and external inquiries regarding the Strategy for Community Mental Health. Assist the initiative partners’ Collaboration Team and Executive leadership as needed with administrative functions and processes related to the SCMH.
• This includes but is not limited to maintaining accurate documentation, communicating plans, actions, risks, and emergent issues across the partnership, upkeep of project management tools, maintenance of the project/s SharePoint, and analyzing project data and producing progress reports.
• Coordinate and facilitate a diverse series of community engagements, presentations, webinars, and other activities which promotes the SCMH and which will gather input toward the co-creation of a Blueprint for Community Mental Health.
• This includes (but is not limited to) scheduling, booking spaces, arranging catering, arranging appropriate honoraria, drafting agendas, preparing meeting materials (graphs, charts, summaries etc.), taking minutes, documenting attendance, and following up with the CCMH and the Collaboration Team on decision and action items. Engagements will be held online, in-person, and in hybrid formats.
• Assist with contract management including contract creation and execution, invoicing, timelines, financials, and tracking deliverables for consulting contractors and vendors.
• Coordinate provision and development of engagement training opportunities including assisting with contract management, managing vendor and participant relations and troubleshooting, documentation of evaluative data, and promotional support as needed.
• Aid the Collaboration Team in the co-development and implementation of evaluation frameworks.
• This includes working with the Collaboration Team to ensure relevant data and progress is captured in accordance with the developmental evaluation plan, liaising with content experts, completing literature reviews, and the creation of regular activity updates, comprehensive reports for a variety of partners and stakeholders.

CMHA-Edmonton recognizes that candidates all have different skills and experiences to offer. While we are highlighting desired qualifications in the following sections, it is not a checklist. We encourage everyone interested to apply and indicate how you would successfully take on the role even if you have unconventional experiences or qualifications.

• A post-secondary degree in community development, social sciences and humanities, business administration, or equivalent.
• A minimum of (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a combination of: strategic and operational project support and working with project performance measures.
• Demonstrated strength in coordination and facilitation roles, and in accompanying administrative functions – correspondence, coordinating meetings, maintaining records, applying financial processes and procedures, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strength in verbal and written communication skills; ability to relay and/or explain complex issues or difficult situations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with strategic communications, interdisciplinary engagement, and social innovation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with developmental and equitable evaluation methods, and with effective use of storytelling as data.
• Proven ability to coordinate and report to a cross-sectoral group of stakeholders from both government and community.
• Proven ability to foster relationships and partnerships with complex and varied internal and external individuals and groups with diverse personalities, cultures, and orientations.
• Proven adaptability and flexibility to changing priorities and project perimeters.
• Proven analytical, problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative decision making. Valid Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check