Exercise Specialist - Contract

Status: This is a full-time, 12-month contract with the possibility of extension

Schedule: Monday - Friday, some evening hours required

Location: Primary Care Network Wellness Centre at #4000, 1800 194 Avenue SE; Calgary, AB

Hybrid eligible: Yes

Reports to: Program Manager

Position Summary

The Exercise Specialist is a key member of the Movement and Exercise Services team, delivering evidence-based exercise education, assessment and consultation services in collaboration with patients, physicians, and other healthcare providers. The role supports patients in adopting and maintaining physically active lifestyles through group education workshops and individualized exercise consultation appointments. Services focus on health promotion, disease prevention and management, physical activity change, and functional health improvement.

What Does the Role Do?

Patient Assessment and Consultation

• Conducts exercise, physical activity, and functional assessments to evaluate health status, abilities, exercise needs, and readiness for change for patients.

• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized, evidence-based exercise and rehabilitation plans that align with patients' health conditions, functional abilities, goals, and readiness for change.

• Monitors patient progress and outcomes and supports patients in safely progressing, adapting, and independently managing their exercise plans to achieve sustainable health and activity goals.

• Complete and document assessment and follow up appointments in an electronic medical record (EMR).

• Collaborate with team members, referring primary care providers, program manager, and other allied health professionals, as required, to support a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care.

• Identify and initiate cross-referral opportunities to programs within and outside of the SCPCN to meet patient needs.

• Communicate pertinent patient information to the patient’s member physician/NP and/or team members in a timely manner to support seamless patient-centred care.

• Support program triage, as required.

Patient Education and Health Coaching

• Promotes self-management of health conditions through education, motivational interviewing, health coaching, skill development, and resource navigation.

• Educates patients on physical activity guidelines and the role of exercise in the prevention and management of chronic health conditions, and provides exercise-based rehabilitation interventions to support recovery, function, and return to activity.

• Supports patients in achieving physical activity and health goals by building exercise knowledge, confidence, and self-management skills.

• Empowers patients to participate in safe, sustainable, and independent exercise through individualized education, goal setting, and behaviour change strategies.

• Assists patients in identifying and overcoming barriers to physical activity and adopting sustainable exercise habits that improve long-term health outcomes and quality of life.

Group Facilitation

• Facilitate and co-facilitate in-person and virtual group workshops for exercise education, group-based physical activity programs, such as GLA:D Canada, and other educational offerings that support chronic disease prevention, chronic disease management, and health behaviour change for patients of all learning styles, health literacy and skill levels.

• Modifies educational content, activities, and exercises as appropriate to accommodate individual patient needs, abilities, and health conditions.

• Manage conflicts or disagreements that may arise during the group workshops, as required.

• Work collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members and complete community needs assessments to develop, facilitate, and evaluate group workshops.

• Provide educational sessions to primary care providers, community members, and other health team members, as required.

General Duties

• Collaborate with the Program Manager and team to identify and develop unique and innovative approaches to address diverse patient needs and maximize patient care outcomes.

• Identify and pursue opportunities for continuing education to maintain and develop skills.

• Support the orientation of new members and practicum students under the direction of the Program Manager and act as a resource for other staff.

• Actively participate in meetings, ongoing program development, statistics, evaluation, and quality improvement opportunities.

• Assist with implementation of new protocols.

• Maintains and identifies when new or additional exercise equipment is needed.

• Perform additional duties as required.

Who Should Apply?

• B.Sc. in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, or equivalent exercise science degree is required.

• Current Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) or the American College of Sports Medicine’s Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologists (ACSM) preferred.

• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support/Health Care Provider (BCLS/HCP) Level C certification required.

• Minimum two (2) years' experience is required, experience in a primary care or ambulatory care setting is an asset.

• Standard First Aid certification is an asset.

• Current professional liability insurance.

• GLA:D Canada certification preferred.

What Will Help You Succeed?

• Experience developing, implementing, monitoring and revising exercise-based treatment plans for patients with a broad range of chronic health and musculoskeletal conditions and functional limitations.

• Knowledge regarding chronic disease processes, biomechanics, exercise prescription and progression.

• Experience or training in Health Change Methodology, motivational interviewing (MI), Health at Every Size (HAES), weight stigma, and trauma-informed-care knowledge and skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, team building and interpersonal skills with a patient focused orientation and commitment to providing quality services.

• Well-developed presentation and group facilitation skills.

• Self-motivated and self-directed with a demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that requires flexibility and balancing of competing priorities.

• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to exercise independent clinical judgement, critical thinking and solution focused resourcefulness.

• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, time management, and organizational skills, with high attention to detail.

• Positive, professional attitude with demonstrated ability to develop productive working relationships and partnerships within an interprofessional team, demonstrated reliability and dependability, and ability to adapt and be flexible in an ever-evolving team environment with occasional conflicting stakeholder interests.

• Ability to work in a confidential capacity with a high level of professionalism and emotional intelligence (EI).

• Proficient with computers and technology, including but not limited to Netcare, EMR (Telus CHR) and Zoom.

• Familiar with SharePoint, Microsoft Suite, resource and reference search databases.

Working Conditions

• Multidisciplinary clinic setting with designated exercise space and collaborative workspace / charting room.

• Multiple hours standing while working with patients or teaching exercise classes, as required.

• Lifting, moving and transporting equipment, as required.

• Some remote work may be required.

• Ability to travel between clinics with valid driver’s license and access to own vehicle is required.

• Some evening hours required.

• Two supervisory references required.

• Criminal and vulnerable sector background check required.

Why Work At SCPCN?

It takes an outstanding team to deliver exceptional care.

Hello, we’re the South Calgary Primary Care Network. We are change makers, innovators and community builders. We are a uniquely Alberta approach to primary care delivery. We are a group of interprofessional teams and need you to be part of the movement to bring innovative primary health care programs and services to the residents of south Calgary.

Established in February 2006, the South Calgary Primary Care Network (SCPCN) includes the areas south of Anderson Road to the southern, western, and eastern city limits.

Employees of the SCPCN enjoy a comprehensive total compensation package that includes:

• Health, vision, and dental benefits

• Health spending/wellness account
• Flexible work options
• Generous vacation, sick and flex days
• Professional development account and opportunities

• Free parking available at site

The SCPCN culture is defined by 5 core values: Innovation, accountability, integrity, collaboration and wellness. They provide a foundation on which we perform work and conduct ourselves. Our mission is to build healthier communities in south Calgary through the evolution and transformation of primary care in collaboration with our wellness partners.

Are you ready to join us lead optimal personal and community wellness now and into the future?

If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you, simply apply online with your resume and cover letter.

We thank all candidates for applying, however only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.