Operations Co-op (Waybound)

About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to provide a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care. What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers.
 
Today, Optima Living offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health, and Memory Care across Alberta and British Columbia. Our innovative approach includes Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way; our proprietary brain health and care model. As the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, we proudly serve more than 6,000 residents.
 
Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy and a focus on innovation, we are redefining aging with purpose creating communities where seniors live with dignity, connection, and joy.

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Location: Vancouver, Surrey, Edmonton or Calgary
Term: 4-month or 8 months (preferred)
Compensation: $20/hour

Position Summary 
This practicum is embedded within Optima Waybound, our leadership and workforce development initiative. You will contribute to strengthening leadership capacity and operational excellence across the organization.

This role focuses on workforce development, leadership training, and organizational improvement. You will support the design, implementation, and evaluation of structured learning modules and leadership programs.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and senior leaders to strengthen systems that support both staff and residents.

These positions are funded through WIL Digital and Co-op Grants program.  To qualify for a placement under the program's funding requirements, candidates must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or protected persons as defined under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.  International students are ineligible for this funding program, as per the program’s eligibility criteria.

Responsibilities

Learning Designer

• Support development of leadership and mentorship materials.
• Apply adult learning principles.

Quality Champion

• Review documentation for alignment with standards and CARF principles.
• Assist with continuous improvement initiatives.

Impact Analyst

• Support program evaluation using performance indicators and feedback.
• Contribute to improvement recommendations.

Strategic Contributor

• Participate in innovation sessions.
• Help prepare recommendations for scaling programs

Qualifications and Experience

• Program planning and evaluation experience. 
• Knowledge of leadership and organizational development principles. 
• Clear communication skills. 
• Strong organization and follow-through. 
• Interest in workforce development and health systems strengthening 

Eligibility

• Enrolled in a Co-op or Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
• Currently attending a post-secondary institution
• Open to domestic students (Canadian Citizen/Permanent Residents) only.

Why Join Optima Living

• Hands-on, real ownership of meaningful end-to-end projects.
• Work on real projects that impact 40+ communities across BC and Alberta
• Gain exposure to how a multi-site organization operates behind the scenes
• Learn directly from experienced professionals across functions
• Build practical skills you can use in future roles
• Contribute to work that supports seniors, teams, and communities
• Opportunity to extend your term or return for future roles based on performance

Embark on this journey with us and pave the way for a rewarding career in senior living. 
Your journey starts here.
Let us Welcome You Home