Research Impact Specialist

About the Role

At Mount Royal University, Research Impact is the change created when we work to generate solutions and mobilize knowledge. By addressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental challenges, this scholarship strengthens communities locally, nationally, and globally while advancing MRU’s commitment to integrity and excellence. The Research Impact Specialist will report directly to the Associate Vice President of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement. Their role is to support research at Mount Royal University by identifying, enabling, and reporting on research impact. This includes a focus on community-engaged research and scholarship. While working independently to define and execute on projects they will engage collaboratively with the Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement and various divisions within the University. A key aspect of this role is strategic and tactical approaches to embedding community and inclusion in research and scholarship for impact.

Research impact takes many forms including but not limited to: community engagement, undergraduate research, teaching, knowledge mobilization, commercialization and equity and inclusion in research. The successful candidate will consider ways to realize Research and Scholarship Plan objectives in the areas of: advancing knowledge, informing teaching and promoting community engagement. In addition, this role is responsible for the sustained support and oversight for implementation of "An Action Plan for Mount Royal University's Canada Research Chairs Program". In this work, the Specialist will engage with researchers, administrators and service divisions throughout the University as well as external parties including organizations where MRU is an active member.

The Research Impact Specialist will build the systems, partnerships, and evidence frameworks that demonstrate how scholarly activity contributes to societal, economic, cultural, and community outcomes. This includes developing institution‑wide processes for capturing impact pathways, supporting researchers in articulating and enhancing the reach of their work, and producing high‑quality analyses and reports that inform strategic planning, external relations, and funding opportunities. Specifically, this will entail hands‑on support for researchers, including guidance on impact planning, knowledge mobilization strategies, community engagement approaches, and the development of impact narratives for grants and awards. Candidate awareness of and experience with narrative CVs, AI in research, story telling and knowledge mobilization through analogy and accessible communication will enhance faculty approaches to impact. 

Community engagement activities include cultivating meaningful partnerships with community organizations, industry, government, and Indigenous partners, ensuring research activities are co‑created, relevant, and responsive. The role also collects, analyzes, and synthesizes evidence of impact, producing clear, credible reports for internal leadership, external partners, and funding agencies. 

The Research Impact Specialist will work to integrate community and inclusion throughout the full research impact lifecycle—from planning and partnership development to evidence gathering and reporting. This includes identifying and addressing barriers to participation and ensuring impact reporting demonstrates how research contributes to community wellbeing. Building on the development of an Action Plan for Canada Research Chairs at Mount Royal University, the successful applicant will lead the implementation and periodic review of that plan. Through this work the Research Impact Specialist also becomes an important advocate and support to existing CRCs ensuring their research programs can be impactful within the context of an undergraduate, teaching focused university. In addition, this resource supports the recruitment and onboarding of future CRCs.

The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

• Master’s Degree or Equivalent Post Graduate Studies in a relevant field

• Experience in supporting research at a post secondary institution

• Leadership capabilities to plan, schedule, coordinate, resource and implement projects

• Excellent critical thinking, writing, analytical and math skills required

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Highly collaborative 

• Facilitation/training expertise

• Understanding of University culture, procedures and policy 

• Ability to prioritize work, make effective decisions, multi-task and manage time effectively

• Team player who can also work independently

• Strong experience in the support, encouragement and reporting on research impact

• Capabilities in knowledge mobilization through story-telling and analogy.

• Exposure to AI in research and its implications and opportunities

• Appreciation for and adept at considering diverse ways of knowing in research impact

• High level of emotional and social intelligence

Salary Range: $42.53 - $53.83 per hour

Closing Date: September 3, 2026