Research Associate II

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The Dawson Lab & uOttawa Arctic Research Hub

The University of Ottawa’s Environment, Society and Policy Group (the Dawson Lab) is seeking a Research Manager to lead its interdisciplinary Arctic research portfolio. Reporting to Lab Director Jackie Dawson, you’ll oversee major projects on climate change, sea ice, shipping and northern communities; supervise and mentor postdocs and research staff; manage reporting, ethics and field logistics; and help build new proposals and partnerships with academic, government and Indigenous collaborators. We’re looking for someone with a Master’s or PhD (or equivalent experience), 5+ years in research or project management, strong scientific writing skills, and fluency in English and French; Arctic experience and work with Inuit or Indigenous partners are strong assets. We offer competitive salary, professional development, language training and a collaborative team tackling one of the defining environmental and geopolitical challenges of our time.

Position Purpose:

Primary responsibility for implementation, coordination, evaluation, communication and/or management of research studies.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

Project preparation

• Conducts detailed operational preparation of research project including schedules, progress, coordination, deliverables, milestones of the project
• Collaborates in development of new techniques and develops research instruments
• Develops and assesses qualitative and quantitative research instruments (i.e. structured interviews, questionnaires, document/chart review matrix, etc.), with a strong understanding of the requirements of valid, reliable and feasible application in onsite, on-line and field settings
• Refines and adapts research methodologies and research instruments as the project progresses in light of results being obtained and of effectiveness of project implementation, as directed by the Project Investigator or senior research staff;
• Writes, edits and submits protocols and other required research documentation for research ethics and regulatory matters;

Project implementation, management and oversight

• Performs on-site field research at local, regional and international levels
• Applies a variety of research techniques to gather information and research data in the pursuit of research objectives, by directing or carrying out such methodologies as surveys and questionnaires, participant observation, interviews (face-to-face, telephone and online), focus groups, literature reviews, internet-based and library research, document analysis, case studies or other investigative techniques .
• Ensures that the rights and well-being of human subjects are respected and protected
• Participates in subject recruitment processes as needed
• Conducts research project activities requiring a higher level of autonomy, training or skill
• Contributes to production of critical reviews or editions
• Tracks/monitors/provides justification for all financial aspects of the project ensuring accurate and timely reporting (including, if required, travel and in kind contributions of Principal Investigator and all other partners)

Data collection and management

• Oversees data collection, entry and record keeping
• Develops and maintains systems for organizing and curating all qualitative research activities and data including recording of information obtained during or created immediately post data collection
• Prepares, manipulates, and manages extensive databases
• Provides ready access to all experimental data for the faculty researcher and/or supervisor

Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Oversees the execution of all phases of data analysis plan(s) and contributes to components currently being developed
• Interprets data, information and /or experimental and analytical results to identify key issues, to understand trends, characteristics and tendencies and to generate conclusions
• Conducts sophisticated and/or advanced data analyses which may require specialized expertise and experience and interprets results
• Informs Principal Investigator of project results, analyses, and interpretation, including thoughts on their impact on the conduct of the project, so that appropriate adjustments can be made as the work progresses.

Project management

• Welcomes, trains, guides, and supervises students and research staff
• Develops and maintain reference libraries and other references, which may include using knowledge management software
• Ensures eligibility of project expenditures in accordance with funding agency requirements
• Develops and implements regulatory compliance processes including data security, privacy, ethics, etc.
• Develops and implements research quality control procedures
• Manages research study including subject interaction, implementation of study design and controls, and on-and off-site trouble shooting
• Monitors the status of individual or multiple projects and ensures that interim and final deadlines are met.
• Designs, develops and maintains existing and new database systems, including interfaces with web sites and including programming as necessary.
• Solves maintenance problems with existing and new electronic resources, including programming as necessary
• Improves the operation of computing resources through continuing evaluation, development and documentation to ensure effective provision of support.

Project Administration

• Develops, documents and implements procedures to ensure accurate and timely reporting

Writing up and submitting research results for publication or presentation

• Contributes to the drafting and submitting of papers to peer reviewed journals/conferences/workshops and of grant proposals and applications.
• Summarizes in written format (i.e. report suitable for submission to client and/or funding agency) information relating to project design, implementation, evolution and findings

Organize and / or participate in information dissemination activities

• Conducts research dissemination events including conferences, seminars and workshops;
• Conducts and develops material for research coordination events including conferences, seminars and workshops amongst project investigators and stakeholders
• Attend and contribute to relevant research and research dissemination meetings

Promote application and impact of research work and results

• Summarizes results in written format suitable for consumption by lay audiences unfamiliar with statistical techniques and terminology
• Summarizes results in written format understandable by the “educated professional” (i.e. college-educated individual)

Assists with any other duties required by the research project or management of the research lab.

What you will bring:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in a related discipline; graduate degree is preferred;.
• Two to five years’ experience in research positions or one to two years of research experience with a graduate degree in a relevant discipline
• Minimum of two years’ experience with qualitative research methodologies used in research projects or program
• Ability to work independently, adapt rapidly to change and to demonstrate flexibility and initiative.
• Strong organizational, analytical and tech/scientific oral/writing skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to coordinate workflow.
• Sound judgement in applying scientific principles & predicting/preventing problems.
• Ability to adapt protocols as needed (within guidelines),
• Strong computer skills and experience using qualitative and quantitative analysis software and with MS Office (Excel, Power Point, Word, Access).
• Advanced written and verbal skills in English or French. Bilingualism, spoken and written, is preferred.

Key Competencies at uOttawa:

Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.

Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.

Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.

Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [email protected] communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 - Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.