Senior Research Officer
Date Posted: 04/22/2024
Req ID: 37063
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: School of Cities
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00048097
Description:
About us: The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada's leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs. We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.
Your opportunity: The School of Cities at the University of Toronto was created to address the pressing issues facing urban areas to improve cities and urban regions. We take advantage of being located in one of the world's most culturally diverse, dynamic and vibrant cities, and we implement key interdisciplinary research, co-curricular programming, outreach and public engagement mandates. Our School is research-oriented, focusing on urban challenge projects to strengthen our University's education and expertise in this field; working across institutional and disciplinary boundaries to serve as a leading global hub and to benefit both the University and the cities surrounding it. Under the supervision of both the Academic Director, and Executive Director of the School of Cities, the Senior Research Officer will be responsible for managing the progress of several funded research projects including ensuring completion of key deliverables, and research funding reports, as well as conceiving, developing, and implementing a series of knowledge translation products, events, and papers stemming from these funded research projects, including the Equitable Development Data Insights Training (EDDIT), Climate Displacement project, and other potential projects on the horizon. This includes developing, planning, and drafting a working paper series, a policy brief series, and curriculum content for capacity-building training from these projects. The Senior Research Officer may also be involved in researching and drafting additional funding proposals for new projects. The Senior Research Officer will also be responsible for building relationships with foundations, funding agencies, and corporations to generate funding relationships, drafting proposals in order to sustain these research projects.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Producing complex reports involving statistical and/or financial information for funding agencies
- Planning and developing strategic goals and overall activities for research projects independently
- Overseeing the delivery of programs and/or workshops
- Conceptualizing, organizing and executing program activities
- Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
- Liaising with academic units and stakeholders to support research funding initiatives
- Monitoring project accounts and reporting on estimated end-of-project costs
Essential Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in urban planning, political science, geography, urban studies, or public policy, or acceptable combination of equivalent experience focused on urban issues and governance
- Minimum five years recent and related research and/or administration experience in an urban/public policy-focused department of the University or urban research organization, government department with a municipal focus, or urban-related not-for-profit or consultancy
- Demonstrated excellence in knowledge translation of academic research and scholarly activity, that delivers change-oriented insights to organizations involved in urban affairs (cities, governments, private and/or public sector)
- Superior research, writing and communication (oral and written) skills, demonstrated ability to write and edit reports and to prepare and present ideas and analysis to a diverse range of academic and non-academic audiences
- Experience drafting and reviewing research funding grant submissions
- Experience in policy writing and government relations communications
- Experience in urban planning, city-building and city-related issues
- Proven experience building multi-stakeholder relationships and facilitating focus groups and meetings with diverse stakeholders
- Experience overseeing program and workshop delivery
- Strong research, writing and communication (verbal and written) skills, demonstrated ability to write and edit reports and to prepare and present ideas and analysis to a diverse range of audiences
- Excellent time management skills with the ability to meet strict and competing deadlines
- Advanced MS Office skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook
- Excellent interpersonal, collaborative skills; demonstrated ability to establish positive working relationships at all levels
- Familiar with urban data sources, urban mixed methods, and spatial analysis tools, with the proven ability to supervise others creating data visualizations, running spatial analyses, and conducting qualitative research
Assets (Nonessential):
- PhD in urban planning, political science, geography, urban studies, or public policy
To be successful in this role you will be:
- Accountable
- Diligent
- Entrepreneurial
- Meticulous
- Resourceful
Important notes:
This role is 12 month term position. This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto's Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.
Closing Date: 05/01/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 15 -- $93,752 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $119,892. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching
Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.
Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission. As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.
Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected].
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