Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society requires a 1-2 year minimum commitment depending on the role. We expect all volunteers to be able to commit 5-10 hours a month to the Society, depending on the role. Our positions are flexible and can be completed mostly remotely on your own time. Volunteers must reside within Alberta.

Learn about the volunteer roles we’re looking for below, and apply using the form at the bottom of this page.

CURRENT OPENINGS

Advocate

We are particularly interested in advocates located in a rural area (ie. non-Calgary or Edmonton). 

Role and Responsibilities: Advocates are the heart and soul of Open Arms. The role of an advocate is to work with clients to achieve their desired goals, which will look different depending on the individual client’s needs. Advocates typically have at least 3 clients at a time, but the workload may vary depending on how many cases the organization receives each month. Advocates are also responsible for providing a written update to the Advocacy Chairs each month, prior to the monthly advocacy meeting.  

Some of the duties of an advocate may include: 

• Guiding clients on how to obtain any necessary medical records, information, or documentation.
• Providing resources and programs to clients to meet their goals. 
• Attending medical appointments with the client (depending on scheduling; we understand this is a volunteer position!)
• Assisting the client in taking notes, drafting questions, or sending emails to healthcare professionals. 
• Facilitating open and respectful communication between clients and their healthcare providers.
• Supporting the client in becoming their own advocate and having a voice. 
• Charting all interactions in SharePoint between the advocate, client and healthcare professionals.
• Attending all training sessions and workshops to improve skills as an advocate.

Fundraising Director

Role and Responsibilities:  

• Seek, plan, and initiate fundraising opportunities to support the Society in collaboration with the Board of Directors.  
• Collaborate with the Board Chair and Treasurer to seek granting opportunities for the Society and assist in grant writing.  
• Support the promotion of Society Memberships, Sponsorships, and Partnerships with the Marketing & Outreach Team.  
• Develop relationships with major donors, identify new potential major donors and nurture relationships. 
• Lead fundraising projects, such as the annual silent auction, and manage volunteers for fundraising projects. 

Marketing and Communications Director (2)

Role and Responsibilities: The Marketing & Communications Directors will work collaboratively with the Marketing & Outreach Team to promote Open Arms’ services, increase community awareness, and develop engaging content for online platforms and printed materials. Some of the key responsibilities include:  

• Manage social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) by planning and scheduling posts.
• Create engaging content for social media and printed materials including patient education sheets, advocacy tips, organization updates, fundraisers, etc.
• Build and maintain online relationships by engaging with community partners, healthcare stakeholders, and patients to increase awareness of Open Arms and its services.
• Participate in Marketing & Outreach committee meetings.
• Collaborate with the Website Designer to regularly review website content for accuracy, updating outdated information, and identify areas of improvement.