Community Economic Development Research Coordinator

This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position has a term length of 1 year plus 1 day.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

The Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, Families and Communities (CUP) is a unique collaboration among the University of Alberta, community agencies, and organizations in Edmonton and across Alberta. CUP is committed to improving the development of children, youth, families, and communities by creating or mobilizing evidence-informed knowledge that impacts programs, practices, and policies. CUP has a 20 plus-year history of collaborative community-based research experience. CUP is led by a steering committee comprised of over 25 leaders from municipal and provincial government, not-for-profit agencies, school boards, and foundations. CUP works closely with a number of rural education and economic development projects in Drayton Valley, Alberta. These projects are all community-based bringing together community leaders, non-profits, and governments (municipal, provincial, and federal) to collectively address disparity. Dr. Maria Mayan leads these projects.

Reporting to Dr. Mayan, the Community Economic Development Research Coordinator will contribute to the above research projects, including grant preparation, data collection, data management, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and knowledge dissemination. The Community Economic Development Research Coordinator will execute project plans, facilitate communication between team members, coordinate day-to-day research project operations, and manage overall milestones and grant deliverables to ensure project completion. This position will work alongside community partners and other research staff. The Community Economic Development Research Coordinator will design and execute research projects (primary and secondary) using various methodologies; develop knowledge mobilization products (e.g., research briefs); build collaborative relationships and projects amongst academic and community experts to fill research gaps and build specialist knowledge capacity. The Community Economic Development Research Coordinator will also foster the development of collaborative research projects and identify relevant funding opportunities to support partnerships. 

Research Expertise & Capacity (45%)

• Lead and oversee data collection and analysis activities related to qualitative and quantitative data; ensuring research protocols are followed.
• Conduct analysis of qualitative and quantitative data using appropriate software and techniques (e.g., SPSS, NVivo).
• Plan and conduct environmental scans and literature reviews as related to ongoing and new projects.
• Develop and implement methods to document the processes, challenges, and successes of 
• Contribute to writing research papers, presentations, and publications.
• Present results to partners, funders, and/or at conferences.
• Write and coordinate preparation of quality grant and award proposals.
• Write ethics applications; update and maintain ethics approvals as necessary. 
• Travel for meetings related to research activities within and outside of Edmonton (Drayton Valley). 
• Collaborate with partners to provide research, evidence, and knowledge mobilization advice and establish research priorities that advance EPE’s focus on liveable incomes.

Project Management – 30%

• Plan and oversee research activities related to community wealth, neighbourhood revitalization and poverty.
• Provide leadership within the scope of the research project internally to ensure efficient and effective operations. 
• Track timelines and deliverables. 
• Participate in the hiring process for research assistants and graduate students
• Supervise, train, and mentor research assistants, graduate students, and/or other project contributors as required. 
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with community, government and academic stakeholders that facilitate ongoing, sustainable research collaborations.
• Engage with stakeholders to define research process and fosters the necessary stakeholder involvement to ensure timely activities, cooperation, and progress of the project.
• Coordinate and contribute to reports on outcomes and other reporting as required by funders. 
• Collaborate with partners to align with and respond to their continuously evolving knowledge needs on diverse issues.

Knowledge Mobilization – 20%:

• Translates technical and/or analytical results into useful information for community partners.
• Prepare knowledge mobilization products, including for academic (presentations, papers, abstracts) and community (reports, briefs, summaries, presentations) audiences

• Post-secondary education; a Bachelor’s degree, Master's degree preferred, in a related discipline (e.g., Community Economic Development, Public Health, etc.) is required; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
• Knowledge of poverty as well as a broader understanding of poverty as demonstrated through prior work experience and/or training
• Experience supporting, managing, and facilitating complex partnerships
• Ability to offer innovative and creative solutions to challenging and complex problems
• Knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods in addition to community engaged / community-based research,
• Experience and expertise in designing and independently leading research projects
• Experience and expertise writing for different audiences while using a variety of knowledge mobilization strategies that will engage formal and informal stakeholders (with government officials, business and community leaders).
• Experience in collaborative, community-based, and/or intersectoral project work
• Experience and expertise in project management
• Motivation to participate in activities that affect societal and the political structure, as well as participate in community service
• Independence through managing and organizing workloads, planning research, dealing with multiple deadlines, developed strategies in making choices

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.