Research & Policy Associate

• Great opportunity to use your social sciences research experience in a challenging role! 
• Don't miss this opportunity that inspires change and action for improving the lives of people!
• Enjoy a competitive remuneration package, PLUS a great host of benefits!

PolicyWise is a charitable, non-profit corporation established in 2003 to support the development of effective policies, programs, and services to benefit the well-being of children, families, and communities. We have a reputation for collaboration, inclusion, and broad stakeholder engagement approaches and strategies.

Our research and policy team has an in-depth understanding of the domains of well-being, the child and youth serving sector, provincial and local service delivery contexts, and the application of knowledge across these sectors and systems.

Our Vision 
Children, youth, and families thrive in respectful, safe, and supportive environments shaped by wise decisions.

Our Mission 
To inform, identify, and promote effective social policy and practice to improve the well-being of children & youth, families, and communities.

For more information about our work, please visit our website:  www.policywise.com

PolicyWise currently has an exciting opportunity for a Research & Policy Associate to join our team on a full-time basis in either Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta. This is a full-time, permanent position with a 6-month probationary period.

Reporting to a Research & Policy Manager, you will contribute to ongoing research and evaluation projects conducted by PolicyWise. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in developing professional training resources for Early Childhood Educators, facilitating training, and community engagement.

PolicyWise is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and recognizes that those ideals are embedded in governance and organizational performance. As an essential element of their culture, PolicyWise welcomes the unique contributions that candidates can bring in terms of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, and encourages applications that represent the diversity of the community they serve.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting design, development, and implementation of data collection strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and communication plans
• Conducting literature reviews and environmental scans
• Collecting and analyzing qualitative data such as interview, focus groups, and open ended survey responses
• Employing strategies to optimize data quality such as data cleaning, recoding, and validation
• Applying basic and advanced statistical methods to support internal and external researchers in data analysis
• Preparing tables, graphs, infographics, presentations, and knowledge mobilizations materials
• Drafting interim and final reports as well as other ad-hoc reporting in order to inform policy and decision-making
• Engaging with key stakeholders such as the evaluation team, advisory committee members, and government partners
• Writing content for knowledge mobilization activities and products aimed at diverse audiences including community, practice and government. This may include letters, policy briefs, or presentations in both plain language and academic style

In order to qualify for this role, you will have a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a health- or social science-related discipline (e.g., social psychology, public health, social work) with at least 3 years of related work experience.

You must also have a good understanding of research and evaluation processes and methods, knowledge mobilization, and of research ethics, along with specialized experience and understanding of policy practice areas related to child, family, and community well-being.

You will also possess the following skills/abilities:

• Self-motivated, creative, and detailed-oriented
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• The ability to prioritize and adapt to changing tasks and requirements throughout the day
• Excellent written (plain language and academic) and oral communication skills
• A strong work ethic and sense of accountability
• The ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively across multiple projects in a dynamic environment
• Knowledge and experience with policy development, analysis, and implementation
• The ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as part of a team
• General computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Nvivo)
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder groups and providing support services
• Design skills, along with experience in social media content creation and strategy (assets)

In exchange for your hard work and dedication, you will receive a highly competitive annual salary plus a great host of benefits, including:

• Up to $200 monthly reimbursement for parking or transit
• $500 allowance to set up home office at the start of hire
• Hybrid work environment (50% in office, 50% at home over 10 working days)
• 50% employer-paid extended medical, dental, and vision benefits (after 3 months)
• Paid vacation starting at 3 weeks/year
• Holiday break during Christmas and New Year on top of vacation time

After the 6-month probationary period, you will also receive the following:

• Group RRSP matching program
• Health & Wellness account – up to $1,200
• Education account – up to $500
• 5 days professional development (with approval from supervisor)
• 10 days special leave (with approval from supervisor)

And that's not all! You will be welcomed into a supportive and highly collaborative environment. If you think you've got the skills to take on this rewarding and challenging role, apply today! We ask that all candidates include a cover letter.

Please note that the closing date of this role will be the 21st of March 2023.

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