Early Childhood Research and Evaluation Associate

Competition 2369

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position is part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement, this position has a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary range of $59,822 to $82,266. This position has an end date of June 30, 2026.

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

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the School of Public Health

The Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families (CUP) is a research centre in the School of Public Health that represents a unique collaboration among community members, researchers, practitioners, community organizations, funders, and policy makers in Edmonton and across Alberta. For 25 years, CUP has built responsive community-engaged research projects that create evidence, mobilize knowledge into effective practices, programs and policies, and support the wellbeing of children, youth, and families. CUP has five strategic roles that shape its work, expertise, and impact. We are (1) co-creators of knowledge, (2) community connectors, (3) capacity builders, (4) systems thinkers, and (5) knowledge activators. Each year CUP engages in roughly 30 projects of varying scopes and scales in collaboration with 80 different partner agencies and organizations in the social service, education and health sectors. CUP’s partnerships and projects tackle complex health, social, and education issues such as early learning and childcare, poverty elimination, rural wealth building, mentoring for youth, and wraparound supports in schools. 

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Research and Evaluation Associate (the Research Associate) will work in partnership with a network of researchers, community organizations, government partners and funders to support the wellbeing of children and families in the early years. The Research Associate will lead the development of research and evaluation projects that generate accessible and actionable evidence for program leaders, advocacy groups, and policy makers alongside community partners. Research can span topics related to healthy child development, early childhood programming, the enhancement of the early learning and care sector, and/or policy development. The Research Associate plays an integral role in (1) identifying and addressing evidence gaps in the early childhood sector, (2) developing community-based research and evaluation projects, (3) mobilizing evidence into sector wide discussion and advocacy, (4) enhancing capacity for evidence-informed decision making in the early childhood sector, and (5) expanding and nurturing CUP’s network of community and university partners.

The Early Childhood Research and Evaluation Associate will report to the CUP Director and lead a portfolio consisting of three key areas of activity.

Duties 

Research & Evaluation (50%)

• Monitor and synthesize research trends and issues related to early childhood and well-being.
• Develop, design, and implement community-based research and/or evaluation projects which will include leading community engagement, conducting environmental scans, systematic or literature reviews, acquiring ethics approval, developing qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, supervising data collection, cleaning and analysis activities, and mobilizing knowledge.
• Provide expertise in project management and team development.
• Identify and respond to funding opportunities with foundations, Tri-Council, government, RFPs, or other sources to support emerging projects.
• Create student engagement and learning opportunities with community-based research projects for undergraduate and graduate students.

Relationship and Network Management (25%)

• Develop and maintain strong network of relationships with community, government, funder, and university partners that extends CUP’s reach in the early childhood sector regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Engage regularly with network of partners to understand gaps in evidence at various scales.
• Seek opportunities to leverage network strengths, capacity, and resources to address gaps and expand reach and impact.
• Hire, supervise, and mentor a project team of project staff and students.
• Communicate regularly with other CUP researchers to leverage learning among CUP projects and enhance collaborations.

Knowledge Mobilization (25%)

• Draft interim and final research reports as well as other ad-hoc reporting in order to inform policy and decision-making.
• Engage with network partners to identify knowledge mobilization opportunities associated with ongoing research and evaluation projects.
• Develop knowledge mobilization products aimed at diverse audiences including community, practitioners, and decision makers. This may include letters, policy briefs, reports, position papers, or presentations for various audiences.
• Identify capacity building opportunities within CUP’s networks and provide professional development opportunities on relevant early childhood and wellbeing topics.
• Support the development of technical and/or analytical results into reports, outreach tools, research summaries for community partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in a field such as public health, education, psychology, sociology, or social policy with a focus on early childhood and wellbeing.
• 3-5 years’ experience conducting community-based research and/or evaluation projects and demonstrated success in building partnerships with community organizations, government, industry, university, and funding partners.
• Expertise in research and evaluation processes and methods, knowledge mobilization, and research ethics along with specialized experience and understanding of policy practice areas related to child, family, and community well-being.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research and analytical skills.
• Experience in understanding, synthesizing, and translating public policy trends across sectors and context to inform research.
• Understanding of and experience in translating evidence into program and policy relevant discussions.
• Experience and expertise in writing successful research funding applications and research project management skills.
• Proven management skills to create, mentor, motivate, and maintain high performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets and to produce high quality project deliverables on time and on budget.
• Excellent communication skills (listening, oral and written).
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the early childhood sector is an asset.
• Knowledge of research ethics and guidelines in an academic environment
• Facilitation, negotiation, conflict management, and problem-solving skills.
• Exhibits personal characteristics of integrity, leadership, curiosity, team building, enthusiasm, and self-confidence. 

Application Instructions

Click "Apply" to submit your curriculum vitae, cover letter, and list of publications.

This position requires that the incumbent be eligible to participate in government-funded research projects including active ability to receive federal research funds on behalf of the university. Individuals having an active affiliation with a Named Research Organization are ineligible to participate in government-funded research projects in Sensitive Technology Research Areas in Canada. Applicants must be able to meet all applicable research security requirements