ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
The Digital Research Alliance of Canada ("the Alliance") provides national-level research data management (RDM), advanced research computing (ARC), research software (RS), and cybersecurity training and services to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) ecosystem. The Alliance collaborates and partners with stakeholders across the research ecosystem to develop and coordinate expertise, platforms, services, technology, and training in support of DRI, with the goal of facilitating the adoption of best practices by researchers and institutions.
POSITION SUMMARY
As a member of the Strategic Development and Initiatives Team, the Research Officer plays a key role in identifying research needs and trends, developing strategic recommendations, and ensuring researcher perspectives remain at the centre of national Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) services.
The Research Officer will work collaboratively across DRI areas to develop researcher-centric, discipline-informed strategies that inform the Alliance’s priorities and service delivery. Successful candidates will bring a unique combination of academic research experience, strategic and analytical thinking, strong writing skills, and expertise in one or more areas of DRI. This position reports to the Director, Strategic Development and Initiatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Researcher-Centric Strategy Development
- Lead the development of forward-looking, researcher-informed strategies that reflect the priorities and evolving needs of a designated research domain.
- Analyze national and international research trends across disciplines to inform strategic planning.
- Develop comprehensive business cases, proposals, and strategic recommendations aligned with the Alliance’s mission and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams internally and externally to integrate disciplinary perspectives into cross-cutting DRI initiatives.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
- Act as a trusted representative of their research domain, serving as a key liaison between researchers, institutions, and the Alliance.
- Lead or support community engagement activities, including workshops, focus groups, consultations, and working groups, to gather input and feedback from researchers and stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the Researcher Council, research communities, and national and international partners to ensure alignment with the broader research ecosystem and global trends.
3. Initiative Design and Execution
- Translate strategic goals and direction into actionable initiatives and programs, collaborating closely with internal teams such as Architecture, Operations, and Planning and Performance to develop implementation roadmaps and performance measures.
- Evaluate the success of initiatives through ongoing monitoring and feedback, incorporating lessons learned to refine strategies and drive continuous improvement.
4. Advocacy and Outreach
- Advocate for the effective adoption and use of DRI services across disciplines, promoting awareness of the Alliance’s offerings and value.
- Represent the Alliance in national and international forums, presenting research-informed perspectives and promoting best practices.
- Develop high-quality reports, presentations, and outreach materials to communicate strategic insights, demonstrate impact, and support advocacy and stakeholder engagement efforts.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent, such as:
- Social Sciences and Digital Humanities: e.g., anthropology, linguistics, cultural studies.
- Life Sciences and Medicine: e.g., genomics, public health, biochemistry.
- Physical and Computational Sciences: e.g., physics, engineering, computer science.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) including RDM, ARC, RS.
- Demonstrated experience conducting or supporting academic research, including publication and analysis.
- Proven track record of developing and leading researcher-centric strategies, policies, or proposals with impactful contributions in academic or research environments.
- Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Experience engaging and maintaining strong working-relationships with diverse stakeholders, including researchers, institutions, and funding organizations.
- Knowledge of the Canadian research landscape and DRI ecosystem.
- Bilingualism (English and French) is considered a strong asset.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Proficiency in stakeholder engagement tools, data interoperability frameworks, and collaborative technologies.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in research and strategy development.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a matrixed team-based environment.
BENEFITS / WORK PERKS
In addition to a competitive salary and a rewarding career where you can truly make a difference in the Canadian research community, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that meets the various needs of our diverse team and that spans across Canada, including:
- Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including:
- Health
- Dental
- Long-Term Disability
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness Spending Account
- Mental Health Supports
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Paid Vacation
- Remote Work
The Alliance is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within the community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of racialized groups, people of colour, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous- and 2SLGBTQIA+ identified people.