Research & Policy Associate

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

About Us

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

About the Role

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. 

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 our culture, we welcome the unique contributions that candidates 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

More About You

In order to qualify for this role, you will have convocated from a Master’s degree or PhD 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 are assets

About the Benefits

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
• Up to $500 reimbursement to set up a home office at the start of hire
• Hybrid work environment (50% in office, 50% at home over ten 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 (annually)
• Education account – up to $500 (annually)
• 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 all candidates to include a cover letter.

Please note that the closing date of this role will be September 28, 2023.

Recruitment Process

Screening interviews with short-listed candidates will be conducted by our talent recruitment partner within one to two weeks after the posting closes. Two to four weeks after posting closure, successful short listed candidates will be interviewed by PolicyWise. As part of the interview process, a one-hour written exercise will be provided to the candidate. In-person interviews for short-listed candidates are preferred (conducted in Edmonton or Calgary), however video interviews can be made available.

All unsuccessful applicants will be notified within four to five weeks after closure of the job posting.