[Hiring] Senior Research Associate, Education & Skills @Signal49 Research

Role Description

We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to join the Education & Skills team for a 12-month contract.

• Lead, manage, and contribute to applied research projects of varying sizes, scopes, and complexities.
• Design and conduct research related to education, skills, labour markets, workforce development, and education-to-workforce pathways.
• Apply advanced quantitative research techniques and mixed-methods approaches to analyze economic and social data related to education.
• Analyze and quickly translate complex research results into key messages and compelling insights for senior executives and decision makers.
• Produce high-quality research reports, executive summaries, articles, presentations, op-eds and proposals.
• Manage projects to ensure deliverables are on time, within budget, and meet client expectations.
• Work directly with clients and partners throughout the research process, including scoping research questions, presenting findings, and identifying implications.
• Play an active role in business development, including developing research concepts and proposals, securing funding for research projects, and building relationships with executives and senior leaders.
• Conceptualize new research opportunities and projects.
• Present research findings and insights with confidence at conferences, business development meetings, and other external forums.
• Become familiar with Signal49’s research, data, and expertise across Education & Skills and related Knowledge Areas, and draw connections across areas of work where relevant.
• Deliver excellence in product and customer service and demonstrate a consistent commitment to high-quality work, collaboration and professional values.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in economics, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of six years’ experience in a professional research environment with responsibility for handling complex projects from inception to completion.
• Substantial experience and in-depth knowledge of economic or public policy research on a broad range of education and skills themes.
• Strong quantitative research and analytical skills, including experience working with large and complex datasets (e.g., job postings) and public data sources (e.g., Statistics Canada) related to post-secondary education and labour market outcomes.
• Demonstrated understanding of qualitative research approaches, including literature reviews, interviews and case studies.
• Proficiency with analysis software such as R, Python, Power BI and/or other research analysis tools.
• Ability to interpret complex research findings and translate them into clear, practical insights for government, post-secondary, business, and other audiences.
• Ability to write clearly, concisely, and quickly for a range of audiences; published research, articles, or other public-facing work would be an asset.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, budgets, and client expectations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate research findings with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Business acumen and a growth mindset, with an interest in identifying research opportunities, developing proposals, and contributing to business development.
• Proficiency working in a Microsoft Office environment.
• Ability to travel within Canada as required.

Benefits

• Virtual First – work from home anywhere across Canada.
• A workplace where your hard work is not just valued, but actively celebrated through our Recognition programs.
• Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) to support you and your family during difficult times.
• Work/Life Balance with the option of compressed workweeks and Friday afternoon closures.
• A modern, defined benefit (DB) pension plan with a 5% match eligibility from Day One.