We are Hiring!

We are hiring a Research Coordinator for our Making Ends Meet participatory action research project 

Term: 15-months at 4 days (28 hours) a week

Annual Salary: $39,000 and a full benefits package

Location: Metro-Vancouver

About Making Ends Meet

Making Ends Meet is a participatory action research (PAR) project looking at the individual and community impacts of low-wage work to provide a better understanding to policymakers of possible responses to working poverty, as well as provide training and support to build capacity for policy advocacy among individuals impacted by low-wage work.

The project is a partnership with the SFU Morgan Centre for Labour Research and is supported by a Project Advisory Committee of representatives of community and labour organizations, as well as low-wage workers. It is part way through its 3-year funding from the Vancouver Foundation and has been shaped by a small team of peer-researchers with experience of working poverty.

This PAR project involves training low-wage workers as peer researchers who will reach out to and interview other low-wage workers. These workers will also receive training in organizing and civic engagement, preparing them to participate in advocacy to influence decision-makers to act on the recommendations arising from the research.

Position Summary

The Research Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the project’s community-based, action-oriented research activities and completion, including recruiting, training and supporting peer researchers, developing research questions, outreach to research participants, data collection and analysis and organizational support. The Coordinator reports to the Living Wage for Families Program Lead and works collaboratively with the Project Advisory Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates the project’s research goals and activities, including – but not limited to – compiling background research, assisting in research design, gathering and analyzing data and sharing project results
• Leads and supports participatory action peer researchers with their work
• Manages a website to help recruit research participants and present research findings
• Plans and coordinates regular advisory committee meetings
• Organizes and maintains data and other research-related files
• Ensures the research project adheres to ethical guidelines and practices
• Oversees the project budget and fulfills project reporting obligations
• Works collaboratively with the First Call staff team

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrated understanding of the issues relating to the impacts of low-wage work on individuals and families. We value personal experience with working poverty and/or work experience with working poor families and individuals.
• Combination of education and experience in a related field
• Experience in community-based research; participatory action research experience an asset
• Experience with project coordination and budget management
• Ability to connect with and mobilize individuals engaged in low wage and precarious work.
• Experience facilitating groups or teams composed of individuals from diverse and often marginalized groups
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English; ability to speak one or more additional languages an asset
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write research reports
• Computer competency, including proficiency in Microsoft Office

We know that working poverty disproportionately affects certain groups (including women, people of colour, single parents, new-immigrants and disabled people) and so we strongly encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

How to apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining why you are applying for the role of Research Coordinator to [email protected]. Please include your name and “Research Coordinator posting” in the subject line.
Deadline for applications is 16 August 2021