Research And Evaluation Coordinator

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) is a non-partisan research and policy partnership between academics, policy and decision-makers, service providers, and people with lived experience of homelessness. In an effort to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice, the COH goes beyond the mandate of a traditional research institute. As one of the largest homelessness-dedicated research institutes in the world, we support service providers, policymakers, and governments to improve their capacity to end homelessness. Our philosophy is simple: through research, evaluation, and design, we can develop evidence-based solutions and together, solve homelessness.

Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH), we believe anti-racism and anti-oppression must be at the center of our work. Indigenous, Black and racialized communities are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness as a result of social, political and economic inequities that create pathways to homelessness, and mainstream systems that keep these communities on the margins. Therefore, to address homelessness, we need to speak to the root of racial disparities, proactively engage in courageous conversations about power, privilege, and whiteness (including white supremacy and fragility); and follow through with meaningful action.

The COH is committed to working with candidates to meet their needs. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

The Project

A COH social enterprise, Hub Solutions supports agencies, communities, and policymakers, to improve their capacity to end homelessness. The Hub Solutions mandate is twofold. First, it seeks to build its partners' research, evaluation and design capacity, with the intention of improving the collective responses to homelessness. Second, income generated from Hub Solutions' fee-for-service work is reinvested into the COH to support research, innovation, policy recommendations and knowledge mobilization.

For more information about Hub Solutions visit https://www.homelesshub.ca/hub-solution/about-hub-solutions.

The Role

The COH is seeking a Research & Evaluation Coordinator to support the multiple research and evaluation projects of Hub Solutions. This includes providing support primarily to the Manager of Research & Evaluation with proposal development, ethics reviews, literature scans, methodology development, data collection, data analysis, and dissemination. Other duties include contributing to COH’s evidence base and assisting in the preparation of reports, publications and presentations. The Research & Evaluation Coordinator will work closely with the Directors of the COH, the Manager of Hub Solutions the COH staff, the COH Council, project teams, regional and national partner organizations, as well as people with lived experience of homelessness.

The Research & Evaluation Coordinator will have a strong understanding of research and evaluation methodologies, project management, stakeholder and client management, as well as knowledge mobilization. An understanding and commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion are also key to this work. The Research & Evaluation Coordinator will report to the Manager of Research & Evaluation and will work closely with the other research & evaluation coordinators in the team, as well as staff from other teams within COH.

MAJOR DUTIES

1.Project Implementation

• Maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of best practices pertaining to program development and community-based research and evaluation.
• Aid in the development of comprehensive and strategic evaluation activities on issues related to homelessness.
• Conduct background research (e.g., reviewing, analyzing and summarizing literature in the development of comprehensive literature reviews).
• Assist in the monitoring of day-to-day research and evaluation activities.
• Develop evaluation plans in response to Request For Proposals: propose approaches, objectives, goals, timelines, etc.
• Participate in meetings and prepare necessary materials when required. Serve as the note-taker during these meetings when asked.
• Aid in the development, preparation and submission of ethics review and protocol development.

2.Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

• Assist in writing technical reports, journal articles, and other necessary documents.
• Regularly monitor data quality standards. This includes providing regular feedback and support on data verification, data entry and data quality issues.
• Participate in data collection activities including administration of surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups and other methods.
• Record, manage and preserve data in a safe and accessible way.
• Provide assistance in the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative results and in the presentation of results.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analyses.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools, including surveys, interview and discussion guides and other data gathering methods.

3.Communications

• Establish good working relationships with partners and other stakeholders.
• Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of research and evaluation activities.

4.Knowledge Mobilization

• Prepare content for publication, including researching, writing, editing, reports, toolkits, case studies, executive summaries, policy and media relations documents, etc.
• Distill research findings into plain language documents that are easily accessible to a non-academic audience.

5.Other Duties as Assigned

• Manage and keep up to date with Hub Solutions’ project management tools
• Seek opportunities such as Request For Proposals; assist the Manager of Research & Evaluation in proposal preparation and grant writing.
• Carry out other responsibilities as assigned by the Manager of Research & Evaluation.
• Document projects’ best prat ices and follow up with current and past clients on other opportunities for collaborations.
• Work effectively with clients to develop a deep understanding of issues, create strategies for change, secure clients’ buy-in to solutions, and work alongside clients and COH to develop those solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS

1.Education

• Graduate degree preferred (e.g., M.A., MSW, M.PH), or a B.A. (Honours) with 3+ years of research and evaluation experience.

2.Experience

• 2 to 3 years of recent related experience inapplied researchandevaluation, preferably in an academic or Not-for-Profit environment. Preference will be given to candidates with experience conductingcommunity-basedresearch and evaluation projects. This includes experience withresearch project development,data collection,data analysis,data interpretation, andknowledge mobilization. Candidates with strong skills in qualitative and quantitative methodologies are preferred. Candidates should also be familiar with the most recent research onhomelessnessandsocial justiceissues.

3.Skills and Competencies

• Fluency in English; French an asset
• Able to work in-person, collaboratively and remotely.
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent organizational, planning, coordination and analytical skills.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation or research methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to review and synthesize information and produce quality reports.
• Knowledge of evaluation theory and practice.
• Knowledge in community-based research and evaluation methods.
• Strong skillsinquantitative data methodology and analysisis an asset, including working with relevant software (e.g., SPSS).
• Strong computer skills, including data analysis software, word processing, spreadsheets (Excel) and web-based applications.
• Strong skillsinqualitative data methodology and analysis, including working with relevant software (e.g., NVivo) required.
• Experience with data collection (e.g., survey creation and administration, key informant interviews, focus groups, etc.).
• Knowledge of homelessness and social justice issues.

4.Lived Experience

We encourage applications from those who have lived experience of homelessness and/or lived experience of an identity that disproportionally experiences homelessness in the Canadian context. Applicants are welcome to share this information in their cover letter should they wish to do so. The COH is committed to working with candidates to meet their needs. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

BENEFITS & PERKS

·Competitive compensation package

·Generous vacation entitlement — starting at 3 weeks (plus 2 weeks over December holiday break)

·Flexible working hours; 2 days a month on campus once in-person work resumes, otherwise remote work required

·Growth and development opportunities

·Health benefits — Medical, Dental & Vision

·Casual, diverse and inclusive work environment

·Work perks program with Perkopolis

APPLICATION PROCESS

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

To be considered, your complete application packagemustinclude:

·cover letter;

·resume;

·plain language writing sample

The names of at least 3 work-related references may be required if you are invited to the interview stage

Submit your application by email to the COH’s EVP, Allyson Marsolais ([email protected]).

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.