Research Assistant - Stories as Care Project

Okanagan College; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Okanagan College in Kelowna is seeking a Research Assistant to support a collaborative project with BC Cancer focused on patient-centred cancer communication through digital narratives.

The role involves online and on-site work, with 200 hours funded this term and flexible scheduling between 5 and 25 hours per week. Strong research and communication skills and the ability to work independently are essential, and the position is non-regular.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have strong research and communication skills developed through work experience or education.
• Ability to work independently and meet project deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Conduct online research into current communications training courses and programs in the Canadian healthcare field.
• Investigate best practices around patient-centred communication.
• Explore use of digital storytelling in healthcare contexts.
• Identify barriers and discrimination in healthcare communication.
• Prepare annotated bibliographies and regular updates for the project supervisor.

Skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Job description

When you join Okanagan College, you’re joining a team that’s transforming lives and communities.

Every course you create, every student you support and every connection you build, it all matters.

Be a part of a vibrant campus community, where the work you do every day truly makes a difference.

Desired Start Date: October 5, 2026

Position End Date: January 4, 2027

Salary range: $18.42 - $23.51

Bargaining Unit: BCGEU Support

Classification: Research Assistant

Type of appointment: Non-regular

Closing date: October 5, 2026

Your Opportunity

Stories as Care: Co-Creating Digital Narratives for Patient-Centred Cancer Communication is a collaborative applied communications research project with BC Cancer in which we will co-create accessible video resources about the cancer care experience with patient partners. Key goals of the project are to help communicate complex health information to diverse audiences and to create pathways for patient knowledge to inform institutional practice.

Research Assistant Tasks

Online research into:

• current communications training courses and programs in the Canadian healthcare field
• current best practices around patient-centred communication
• use of digital storytelling in healthcare contexts
• barriers and discrimination in healthcare communication.

RAs will meet regularly with the project supervisor and prepare annotated bibliographies of their research findings.

Location/Schedule of Work

The position is based in Kelowna, but is open to students from all campuses. All work and meetings can be online if necessary.

Project is funded for 200 hours this term. Two RAs will be hired for Fall term. RAs can expect to work between 5-25 hours per week, depending on project needs and scheduling.

Skills/Experience

Candidates must have strong research and communication skills (developed through work experience or education) and be able to work independently.

Our Values

Students first: Creating meaningful life-long educational opportunities of the highest quality for alumni, current, and future students is at the heart of everything we do.

Community: We are one College. We enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to work with, learn from, and support everyone we encounter collaboratively and collegially.

Respect: We welcome, embrace, and celebrate that which make us unique in creating an environment in which every individual is valued, affirming our commitment to human dignity for all.

Courage: We are courageous in our actions in areas that contribute to positive change in our communities and beyond. We have the courage to be vulnerable. We are truthful, sincere, and act ethically with honesty and fairness.

Relationships: We steward meaningful relationships built on a foundation of reciprocity. We are compassionate, empathic, and care for the holistic well-being of students, employees, community members, and the land.

Distinction: We choose activities in which we can achieve excellence and positively impact society.

Okanagan College is committed to increasing the equitable and inclusive participation of marginalized people in all aspects of college life. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black People, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, people with disabilities and people with diverse gender identities or expressions. People with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].