Senior Researcher

Job Information
Job Title: Senior Researcher
Job Requisition ID: 58782
Ministry: Seniors, Community and Social Services
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: June 14, 2024
Classification: Program Services 4
Salary: 2,757.39 - 3,604.17 bi-weekly ($71,968 - $94,068/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit:

A successful society is defined by its people and the opportunities available for them to fully and actively participate in all aspects of life and provide for their families. The Department of Seniors,Community and Social Services (SCSS) works to foster a society in which families are secure and resilient, individuals have safe, sustainable employment, and vulnerable Albertans have the supportsthey require. You can be part of helping us make a difference!

SCSS provides supports for seniors, families and communities, and helps Albertans access disability services, financial supports, services for the homeless, and other social-based programs through a person-centered, integrated service delivery model that recognizes the unique circumstances, experiences, and strengths of individuals and families. To find out more about our work please visit:

The Strategic Data, Analytics and Business Services branch in the Strategic Services Division is accountable for providing high-quality information to the Minister, Executive Team, senior management and staff of SCSS to support strategic decision-making - including planning, policydevelopment, program design and delivery, and financial and human resource allocation. The branch also leads business continuity and facility emergency response planning for the department and supports of all the divisions with their accommodations and corporate security needs.

The work of the branch advances the goals of SCSS, in alignment with the priorities of the Government of Alberta, through collaboration with other SCSS Divisions, cross-ministry partners, and external stakeholders.

The Data Development and Analysis Unit of the branch leads the business intelligence and data analytics functions of SCSS. The unit is responsible for a diverse portfolio of services and supports including provisioning data, maintaining and delivering information assets through portals, querying source systems, reporting and dashboards, and developing forecasting approaches. The unit is also responsible for developing micro-simulation and other models, conducting statistical analyses, and leading the development of business and analytics strategies for the ministry.

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Research and Open Data, the Senior Researcher provides leadership and serves as an expert advisor in research methodology, evaluation, and analytics. Key responsibilities are to:

• Investigate and identify ministry needs for research and statistical analysis/evaluation/reporting to support, inform, and guide policies, programs/services and initiatives. Identify the contributions of other staff and stakeholders to the work and then determine remaining unmet needs.
• Identify and negotiate solutions to best address unmet needs in a cost-effective way (methodological approaches, costs, timelines, deliverables, etc.).
• Design and lead the development of advanced quantitative and qualitative solutions and research products (e.g., scans, surveys, statistical indicator development, outcomes analysis, research synthesis, etc.). Ensure the solution enables the ministry, clients, and stakeholders to obtain accurate, thorough information to support forward-looking, data-driven decisions to meet strategic and operational objectives.
• Lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously, defining scope, developing project plans to achieve quality results, allocating resources, scheduling work, monitoring progress, and troubleshooting as required. Notifies management of any potential deviations from plans.
• Lead and manage the development and delivery of reports, presentations, briefings, project charters, or other forms of communication and/or dissemination of key findings.
• Supervise and direct the work of junior research staff and contractors.
• Assess and monitor research agreements with external stakeholders, evaluating research proposals for alignment with organizational priorities and ensuring compliance with legislation.
• Collate and organize research materials to facilitate efficient organization and retrieval of information for informed decision-making and advancement of research objectives.

This position produces results that are typically high profile and of significant importance. The work entails ongoing participation on cross-ministry, inter-departmental and intergovernmental teams, and works with minimal supervision to carry out its functions. A strong emphasis is placed on effectively and efficiently assessing and addressing client needs. The incumbent must have an advanced knowledge of and extensive experience with developing research (quantitative/qualitative) solutions. Creating such solutions is highly complex, relying on integrative, analytical judgment and precision, to address multiple, sometimes sensitive, ambiguous or conflicting needs. Projects are typically of a ‘first time’ nature with few established procedures or prototypes.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

• Systems Thinking
• Creative Problem Solving
• Agility
• Drive for Results
• Develops Networks
• Build Collaborative Environments
• Develop Self and Others
  

Qualifications

Required:

A degree in a related field (e.g. Psychology, Statistics, Economics, Business Administration or other Social Sciences) plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

The following are considered assets:

• A graduate level or advanced degree
• Expert knowledge of socio-economic research design and methodology, survey methodology, development and implementation, data collection and analysis techniques, statistics and methods, data visualization and reporting techniques. Knowledge and experience with qualitative analysis methodologies strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with general concepts of performance measurement and outcome frameworks (e.g., logic models, performance measurement frameworks).
• Considerable knowledge of computer software to undertake complex data analysis, word processing, presentations and work in a web-enabled environment. (R preferred)
• Proven, repeated successes in developing advanced methodologies, large surveys, statistical analysis using statistical/analytic software to manipulate large data sets.
• Strong skills to review, synthesize and summarize applied and academic literature; and to prepare comparative and statistical analyses, and reports for both professional and non-professional audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and presentation skills to communicate effectively in technical and lay terms, and engage, advise and inform various groups.
• Comfort with engaging in analysis of potentially unfamiliar subject areas and producing tentative estimates and models with tight turnarounds.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to

Notes

This position is a permanent, full-time role with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday (8:15 am - 4:30 pm).

This position is located in Edmonton

Submission of a full Curriculum Vitae (CV) is preferred. In CV, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time. For example: Youth Worker, Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (three 8 hr. shifts/week)

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Your cover letter and CV will be used as a screening tool to assess your written communication.

Pre-Employment Checks will be completed to assess the candidate’s suitability for a role. These checks may include (but are not limited to): references, criminal record check, and academic verification.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate . Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service –
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) –
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information –
• Professional learning and development –
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool –
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)( or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application. Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level. We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted. If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Tomasz Gruszka at [email protected]