The University of British Columbia Looking for HART Research Assistant at Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area Full Time

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried – Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title

HART Research Assistant

Department

HRC + HART | Craig Jones | Peter A. Allard School of Law

Compensation Range

$5,068.91 – $5,946.08 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

November 2, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Oct 31, 2024

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the HART Associate Director (AD) and HART Project Lead, the HART Research Assistant (HRA) will support HART research projects. The incoming HRA will be responsible for supporting various specialized research tasks as assigned, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, management and analysis, and the production of literature reviews and research reports.

The HRA role is a junior level, full-time position.

Organizational Status

Reports to the HART AD. HART has been successful and is growing rapidly. This role allows the HART AD to delegate certain research tasks and projects, enhancing the capacity of the HART to continue to expand and secure new opportunities.

Work Performed

The tasks involved in this position will vary in complexity depending on the nature of HART research projects underway which examine various aspects of the housing system. HART has a number of Research Coordinators working on different aspects of the HART organization and on specific research projects. The HRA will independently manage and carry out multiple HART research projects, contracted to HART by external stakeholders. The HRA will contribute to and enhance work already underway and will support the development of new research proposals. The position supports the research and outreach goals of HART by providing a wide range of research services. The successful candidate will:

• Support communities and non-profit organizations with analysis of HART data for housing need assessments according to custom requirements.
• Manage and carry out the full scope collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative housing data, for each individual HART research projects and contracts.
• Producing final data analysis outputs of individual research project (report, charts, etc.) for public use.
• Create and edit presentations with necessary data outputs, for external audiences.
• Create and post data infographics and original content for social media channels and website according to monthly posting schedule.
• Create and edit branded social media banners, brochures, pitch decks, and video content.
• Develop, research and write content for HART research reports.
• Update and maintain HART databases.
• Collaborate with HART team members to develop research questions and research designs.
• Research housing-related projects across Canada, and compile findings into custom shapefiles for interactive online map with filter functions for public use.
• Conduct independent and complex analysis of quantitative data using software such as Excel, R, STATA, SPSS, SQLite, etc.
• Conduct and write literature reviews as needed.
• Integrate data collection, analysis, interpretation of complex quantitative data, and corresponding literature reviews.
• Create and develop reports describing findings for government audiences, with statistical graphs, charts and maps as needed.
• Create and develop slide decks reporting findings for government audiences.
• Design and conduct individual or group interviews with various key stakeholders for evaluation purposes.
• Create, develop and edit project evaluation project documents according to feedback.
• Write methodologies and create statistical graphs, charts and maps for internal meetings and publication.
• Support the development of research proposals.
• Participate in grant writing processes to secure funding for HART.
• The HRA will have ample opportunity to work as part of a team on various tasks. The position requires that the HRA take ownership of their assigned tasks, anticipating the needs of the team.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The work and decisions of the HRA will have an impact on the public image and efficacy of HART. The position requires the ability to maintain accuracy with strong attention to detail, to be prompt and stay on top of timelines, and to establish and maintain good working relations with others. The position supports HART’s on- and off-line presence within the wider UBC community and beyond.

Supervision Received

The HRA will independently manage the day to day aspects work, but will also work closely with the HART AD. They will participate in semi-monthly staff meetings with the HART Project Lead. The HRA will be given an orientation to HART and the team at the outset and will be provided opportunities for learning through team meetings and one-on-one meetings with the supervisor. The HRA and the supervisors will meet regularly to reflect on their performance and provide suggestions if improvement is warranted. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and show a high level of initiative.

Supervision Given

Not required to supervise others; expected to provide training to student staff for how to produce housing needs assessment.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own. Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Post-secondary degree or certificate, with ideally four years work experience in a field related to affordable housing research. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research in a related field.
• Experience writing research proposals, either direct or indirect.
• Experience in housing research, activism, provision, or operations is a strong asset.
• Experience and familiarity with UBC campus life .

Skills and Qualifications:

• Candidates should possess excellent analytical and writing skills, good graphic and presentation skills, and a working knowledge of communication and design techniques.
• Excellent computer skills (word processing, e-mail, database management, spreadsheets).
• Demonstrates an eagerness to learn and take initiative.
• Demonstrates organizational and time management skills.
• Ability and willingness to work both independently and as part of a team.
• The HRA should be a self-starter with a passion for housing, an enthusiasm for learning, and the ability to perform assigned tasks with moderate supervision.
• The HRA must be able to anticipate challenges associated with assigned tasks, and ask for clarification and support to ensure the success of the team.
• Candidates who are a good fit for this position are approachable, adaptable, knowledgeable and open to learning about themselves and others.

Professional Development Opportunities:

• The work of HART is steered by an advisory group of academic researchers, government housing officials, professional practitioners, and housing non-profits. Mentorship will be provided by the supervisors and there will be ample opportunities to interact with and establish relationships with HART partners.
• The HRA will have ample opportunity to learn about the Canadian housing system and interact with key actors in BC’s housing system.
• The position will develop skills and knowledge for those interested in a housing career, and will provide access to key housing stakeholders in BC.
• The HRA will be introduced to various concepts, theories and empirical challenges that face professionals and academics working in housing research.
• HART is a rich network of housing experts from academia, the non-profit and private sectors, and government. The HRA’s work will be acknowledged and presented at advisory committee and steering committee meetings. The successful applicant will have numerous opportunities to interact with experts in the sector at HART events and workshops.