Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Contract – 6 months with possibility of extension
Location: Downtown Toronto location at University and Dundas, near St. Patrick Station (180 Dundas West, Suite 1902) – Hybrid work model to start
Salary Range: $55,500 to $65,000
About the Employer
Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario's publicly funded colleges, universities and Indigenous institutes. As a member organization, we work with those institutions to develop transfer credit policies and practices to ease student mobility. As a non-profit organization created and funded by the Government of Ontario, ONCAT works with postsecondary education institutions to build a seamless system for transfer credit in Ontario and support student mobility.
ONCAT staff are currently working a hybrid model (1-2 days per week in the office) as we monitor Toronto Public Health regulations.
About the Position
If you are a creative and detail-oriented social researcher with experience conducting qualitative research interviews with student populations, this position will give you an opportunity to hone your skills and contribute to publications with policy implications.
Reporting to the Senior Researcher, the incumbent will be an evidence-based researcher with polished skills in qualitative methods and analysis and experience managing large scale qualitative research projects under tight timelines. They will be responsible for conducting semi-structured interviews with current and prospective transfer students at multiple time points and analyzing large amounts of narrative data. The successful candidate will be an accomplished writer, with experience turning complex data into engaging reports.
The Researcher may also be asked to assist with presentations of preliminary findings to various stakeholder groups as well as assist with other research and data related functions as needed.
Key Responsibilities
Literature Reviews
- Read and summarize academic and policy-oriented research on student decision-making and transfer experiences.
- Develop annotated bibliographies and build in theoretical knowledge into data collection and coding.
Data collection
- Responsible for contacting and scheduling prospective interview participants over zoom.
- Conduct semi-structured interviews using interview schedules and modify questions when appropriate.
Analysis
- Transfer transcribed interview data into NVIVO qualitative software and conduct multiple waves of thematic coding.
- Be able to identify key themes that would be useful for report writing and presentations.
Education and Experience
- Completed M.A. in social science discipline (ABD-stage Ph.D. student preferred).
- 1-2 years of paid experience conducting education research in an academic or policy environment.
- Record of published research using qualitative data analysis software, preferably QSR NVivo.
- Experience interviewing student populations preferred.
- Familiarity with conducting literature scans, preferably for education/higher education related topics.
- Experience with video conferencing technology (i.e. Zoom) for conducting interviews.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work independently, with minimal oversight, while meeting project deadlines.
- Direct experience developing interview protocols and recruitment documents (e.g., consent forms) for qualitative research.
- Strong communication skills (written/verbal), with research presentation experience in a professional setting (e.g., academic/policy conferences).
- Familiarity with credit transfer and articulation research/policies in Ontario an asset.
- Familiarity with student pathways and mobility research an asset.
- Ability to develop research budgets for projects.
Application Instructions
Please email your resume and cover letter to careers@oncat.ca and use the position title as your subject line.
The deadline to apply is November 30th 11:59pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted. We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.
Additional testing may be required.
ONCAT is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process to applicants with accessibility needs in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require an accommodation during this process, please inform ONCAT of your requirements.
ONCAT welcomes qualified applications from persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples from North America, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, visible minorities (racialized) persons, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. ONCAT supports an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace.