Department School of Public Health
Posted date August 13, 2025
Closing date August 27, 2025
Position Type Full Time - Trust Funded

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.

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.

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

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.