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Consumer Partnerships Lead; Patient-Partnered Cancer Research Development

Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance

Part-time 2 to 2.5 days per week (15.2 – 19 hours per week), 6-month maximum term contract.

  • Join us at the exciting beginning of this just approved patient-partnered cancer research development project, scoping and developing the project plan
  • Be supported by the expertise and wide network of connections of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
  • Flexible options available: work directly for VCCC or on secondment, dependent on approval from your current organisation. Working from home options also available.

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) has just secured the opportunity to develop a patient-partnered cancer research project across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The longer-term aim of the project will be to bring together existing clinical data and tumour specimens, collecting patient-reported data and additional biospecimens, and generating genomic data from both adult and paediatric research participants across the ANZ. Data would be de-identified, pooled internationally, and made freely available to the international cancer research community for discovery research.

Having secured initial funding, we are now at the first 6-month stage of scoping, planning and producing a project proposal describing how the patient-partnered research project would be conducted across ANZ and the resources required to implement the project. The project will be strongly aligned with an existing international patient-partnered cancer research project model, which will provide a framework as the project is adapted to suit the ANZ environment. When complete, this proposal will provide the approval gateway for potential further funding to move to the implementation phase and the further career opportunities this may represent.

This is your opportunity to join us from the ground up. We are recruiting four new, talented and innovative Leads to form the foundational team with individual expertise in Health Data, Digital Communications, Genomics and Consumer Partnerships. Lead by the VCCC’s Associate Head Research, who will oversee the timely and integrated development of the overall Proposal.

About the Role:

As the Consumer Partnerships Lead, you will develop the aspects of the Proposal related to consumer engagement, advisory groups, advocacy, advising on all aspects of project co-design including participant experience and patient reported data collection. You will provide your expert consumer inclusion and involvement advice and guidance in liaison with and the support of the VCCC Consumer Involvement Manager when needed.

As a member of the newly formed Patient-Partnered Research Development Team, you will work closely with the team to ensure a close-knit and integrated project management approach to the development of the proposal. You will also work with an international study team to support the team in mapping, applying and adapting international study processes and solutions as relevant to the capturing of medical and patient reported data in the ANZ region for use in the study.

In identifying aspects of these international study processes that can transfer directly to the ANZ environments and those that require adaptation, your responsibilities will include the creation of a detailed map of international study processes related to:

  • Initial and ongoing patient engagement and bi-directional communication mechanisms
  • Establishment of a Patient Advisory Committee
  • Methods of study co-design, including:
    • Website content look and feel, language, images, development of FAQs
    • Patient-reported data
    • Presentation of publicly available data.
  • Patient awareness and outreach
  • Co-development of messaging for patients to post and share information about the project on social media
  • Methods of dissemination of study data and study findings
  • Partnering with patient advocacy groups

You will be involved in developing sections of the proposal relevant to the above domains, including input into detailed resourcing and budgeting and risk assessment, working closely with the other project Leads to ensure an integrated and cohesive project proposal.

Your responsibilities will culminate in developing relevant sections of a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and Governance application, including participant information and consent forms, following acceptance of the proposal by the Funder.

About You:

As a motivated and socially-minded individual, you will have significant experience in managing collaborative relationships with a diversity of stakeholders including consumer representatives, senior academics, clinicians and researchers. You will have a naturally inclusive style with excellent communication and the proven ability to exercise sound judgement and sensitivity in managing relationships, able to facilitate differing opinions to achieve consensus.

You will have outstanding interpersonal skills and will thrive in a collaborative working environment. You will enjoy working to achieve shared project objectives and be comfortable in and experienced at building strong working relationships. You will have:

  • Well-practiced prioritisation skills with a good understanding of project management frameworks and methodologies, able to work to a shared plan and strategy
  • Well-developed problem-solving skills with the ability to remove unnecessary obstacles and complexity
  • Excellent written communication and report writing skills with the ability to synthesise complex information
  • Experience and expertise in writing research ethics and governance applications would be desirable
  • Experience working with international research collaborators and working via online collaborative platforms would also be favoured

You will hold a tertiary degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as public health, medical science, communications, management or related field.

About the VCCC:

The vision for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) is to save lives through the integration of consumer-engaged cancer research, education and patient care.

Founded in the holistic principles of the internationally-recognised Comprehensive Cancer Centre model, the VCCC alliance brings together 10 of Victoria’s leading research, academic, and clinical institutions to achieve what can only be done through state-wide collaboration. Together we will improve outcomes in cancer in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, and forge new approaches to cancer research, education, and patient care for all.

VCCC is made up of a tight-knit team of staff who form the backbone working to facilitate the power of collective impact across the VCCC alliance and beyond.

Team Values

Better Together we connect and support to empower sustainable change

Integrity we are respectful of the cancer community and accountable for our contribution

Bold we cultivate ideas and dare to innovate

Patient-Centred we place patients with cancer at the centre of all we do

For All we champion equity of cancer care for every Victorian

Equity & Inclusion

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive work environment, free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification and victimisation.

Contact for Enquiries:

For a confidential conversation regarding the role, please contact Dr Justine Ellis, Associate Head Research: +61 409 355 443

Secondment: With the ongoing objective of enhancing relationships with our alliance and partners, this position may be able to be arranged as a secondment, dependent on the current employer’s approval. This can be discussed at the early stages of the application process and VCCC People & Culture will be happy to support the necessary arrangements. For queries regarding a possible secondment, please contact either Dr Justine Ellis (above) or Christine Morton, Head of People & Culture on 0411 955 215 (M to Th).

How to apply

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