Praxis Spinal Cord Institute (Praxis) is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization that leads global collaboration in spinal cord injury research, innovation, and care. We advance ground-breaking ideas that can be put into practice, making lives better. We actively engage people living with spinal cord injuries and other world-class experts to work together to identify and solve the most urgent challenges to make exceptional improvements in the health of people with spinal cord injuries. Praxis Spinal Cord Institute is proudly accredited by Imagine Canada and was named one of Canadas Top 100 Charities by Macleans and Money Sense magazines, achieving an A+ rating.

Through a diverse workforce, Praxis is committed to excellence in research, innovation and care for people living with spinal cord injury. Praxis recognizes that a diverse workforce, comprised of individuals with an array of identities, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, skills, perspectives and experiences is vital to creativity, growth and innovation and our success in making an impact on quality of life. We support our commitment by fostering an inclusive workplace which is fair, equitable, supportive, welcoming and respectful, allowing us to continue to transform health outcomes.

JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the CEO, the Director, PLEX Engagement provides leadership, representation and direction to strategically enhance and advance the integration of persons with lived experience (PLEX) of SCI into research, care and innovation across the organization and broader networks. This role will lead and strengthen Praxis PLEX strategy, team and activities. This role will include developing partnerships and relationships to advance and amplify PLEX engagement with major organization partners. This will include the leadership of a robust and diverse team and developing performance and outcome management frameworks to ensure the sustainability, success and growth of the team.

The Director will work internally with the PLEX team, program directors, project leads and externally with SCI, research and lived experience networks, advisory committees, key national and international SCI groups and associations, key donors/funders, and individuals with SCI.

The Director, PLEX Engagement will enhance and deliver the PLEX engagement plan to engage the people with lived experience and the broader SCI community as partners, participants, content experts, and beneficiaries of SCI research and innovation consistent with Praxis vision, mission and strategic plan. Importantly, the Director will build the capacity and accountability of the PLEX engagement program to meet its vision, deliverables and impact as part of planning and strategic documents such as Praxis Strategic Plan and other program documents.

This position is a full-time or part-time. This role will also work on other related initiatives as required, in pursuit of Praxiss organizational objectives.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Enhance and deliver Praxis PLEX engagement plans, including develop resources and timeline with input from the CEO; Director, Innovation; and Director, Research & BPI. Ensure alignment between the PLEX strategy with provincial or federal agency fund agreements with input from the Director, Accountability. Develop and implement appropriate internally led and developed PLEX activities and content to build on Praxis leadership in driving PLEX leadership;
• Validate the PLEX engagement strategy through the establishment and maintenance of networks, consultative and advisory groups of Praxis partners to provide input on the process;
• Ensure alignment between PLEX program goals, objectives and activities to operational requirements and provide advice and guidance to all units directly involved in or impacted by program activities;
  • Oversee the PLEX team, including mentoring, professional development, ongoing coaching, project management framework and supports, assignment of duties and activities, monitoring and development of PLEX program objectives, development and monitoring of individual performance and operational plans;
  • Development and monitoring of the PLEX engagement program budget and operational plan and management of all day-to-day accountabilities and oversight;
• Assist in fundraising activities across the organization, as appropriate and provide clear strategic direction and content for fundraising focused on PLEX initiatives;
  • Develop partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders in support of Praxis PLEX Engagement strategies;
• Liaise with and support funders/clients, board members and other organizational stakeholders to build PLEX engagement within the organization and its partners consistent with Praxis vision, mission and strengths. Identify opportunities for knowledge exchange opportunities and seek opportunities to create and maintain networks with the SCI community;
• Represent the PLEX team at the leadership, board and executive level, as required. This would include leading regular reports on progress to senior management and the board of directors;
• Identify opportunities and support the integration of PLEX engagement into intramural and extramural projects: reviewing, priority setting and governance in appropriate, ethical and sustainable ways;
• Oversee the regular input and counsel to Praxis and the development of its projects on the interests, needs and concerns of PLEX;
• Maintain awareness and understanding of the needs and priorities of people with spinal cord injuries and supporting the means of gathering this information for the use and benefit of the organization; and
• Other duties related to the qualifications and requirements of the job.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• University Degree/Diploma in Life Sciences, Healthcare or related field. Masters degree would be an asset.

Experience:

• 5-7 years of experience in a comparable role preferably in a health sciences or healthcare environment
• Lived experience with spinal cord injury preferred

Skills/Behaviours:

• Excellent at developing, implementing, and delivering strategic and project plans
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Excellent at time management and prioritization
• Excellent team leadership skills
• Assertive, self-organized, and responsible
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to analyze and provide ideas
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment
• Ability to develop and implement performance and outcome management frameworks
• Strong work ethic, with the ability to perform successfully under limited supervision

An equivalent combination of education, experience and skills/behaviors will be considered

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates can apply by May 2, 2025. While we thank all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. For more information on Praxis, please visit www.praxisinstitute.org.

Praxis Spinal Cord Institute would like to acknowledge that the land on which we are located is on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the shared traditional territories of the Swxw7mesh (Squamish), slililwta (Tsleil-Waututh), and xmkym (Musqueam) First Nation