Senior Research Associate (Innovation & Technology) (Remote)

The Conference Board of Canada is the nation’s largest independent applied research organization offering unbiased, evidence-based information and analysis to both industry and federal/provincial governments. We have one of the country’s largest private economic analysis and forecasting teams and are widely recognized for expert economic forecasting, modeling, and leading analysis. Simply put, we deliver insights that help leaders cut through the noise and make informed decisions.  

Our Innovation and Technology group is seeking a Senior Research Associate to join its team. The successful candidate is an applied social sciences researcher with a multidisciplinary understanding of the key challenges and opportunities posed by new technology and the innovation ecosystem in Canada.

How disruptive technologies can be developed and adopted in Canada to drive productivity and economic prosperity?  What is the impact of technology and automation on jobs?  What is the role and impact of artificial intelligence, intellectual property, venture capital, and government innovation policy on firm-based innovation performance?  What wicked problems do Canadian leaders need solved? Answering questions like these and having an impact on Canada will be what you work on every day.

Our ideal candidate… will draw on a well-developed understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and possess exceptional communication, interviewing and writing skills to produce high-impact, evidence-based reports that inform decision-makers and provide actionable recommendations. They have an analytical mind, are adept and creative in addressing complex research problems, are self-motivated, practical and enjoy a multidisciplinary setting. They are comfortable collaborating with others, communicating complex ideas, presenting to large groups, and leading discussions on research and other relevant priorities.

We are a virtual organization and as a remote worker you must be comfortable and able to work 100 per cent of the time from a home office. To be successful as a remote worker you need to have a self-starter attitude, possess strong organizational and time management skills, and be a proactive communicator. Having a home office environment that provides for a productive, professional, and safe work environment during regular working/business hours is a requirement of this role.

About the Role

Some of the things the successful candidate will do every day:

Research Excellence

• Team: Work closely with the Director, Principal Research Associate, team members, and other Conference Board staff as well as external partners, to plan and execute research projects.
• Qualitative Research: Apply qualitative data collection methods, including semi-structured or unstructured in-depth interviews, analyze documents like policies and reports and facilitate focus groups. Develop interview guides, surveys, case studies, select appropriate sample populations and leverage web scraping tools to collect relevant online data for deeper context.
• Analysis: Carry out thoughtful analysis including thematic, narrative and content analysis, generate data-driven insights, and make evidence-based recommendations. Use tools such as NVivo and transcription software to analyze qualitative data ensuring ethical research practices through informed consent and confidentiality. Employ a mixed-methods approach when relevant to triangulate findings and enrich the qualitative analysis with quantitative data.
• Writing: Produce high quality, well written research reports, articles and proposals.
• Innovation Specialization: Execute complex research projects on issues related to emerging technologies, innovation policies, specialized talent, entrepreneurship, business R&D, scale-up and commercialization.
• Operations and Project Management: Support team on projects to ensure deliverables are on-time, within budget and meet client expectations.

Executive Council Support and Member Engagement

Our research is disseminated by convening thought-leaders together and presenting our research results, inviting top speakers, and developing research agendas to solve practical problems.

• Manage one or more councils.
• Work with council managers and coordinators to create compelling agendas, meetings, and engage members in meaningful thought-leadership conversations.
• Collaborate with sales teams and council members to identify new prospects and potential research opportunities.

Communication and Collaboration

• Communicate messages with confidence, credibility and authority, providing insights through presentations at conferences and meetings.
• Communicate effectively with partners, team members, colleagues, research advisors and external stakeholders.
• Effectively translate complex research results into key messages for senior industry executives and governement policy makers.
• Collaborate with funders, clients, policy makers and innovation stakeholders to produce independent, high quality work that is published nationally, and citing globally.

About You

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• An advanced degree (Masters or PhD level) in innovation/public policy, social sciences, economics, or related research discipline.
• A minimum of five years of research experience in innovation and technology themes with responsibility for complex research projects from inception to completion.
• Ability to lead/undertake research design and primary data collection activities including quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, such as literature reviews, interviews, case studies, surveys, and quantitative data analysis.
• Strong project management with the ability to set priorities, handle multiple responsibilities and deliverables, work under pressure, deliver high-quality products and meet deadlines.
• Ability to write clearly, concisely and in a timely manner; published work would be an asset.
• A strong sense of teamwork, professionalism and ability to approach your work with an external focus.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficient in using MS Office applications and experienced with qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo, transcription tools, data visualization software like Power BI, as well as software for quantitative analysis and web scraping.
• Ability to travel to events and meetings as required.
• Bilingualism is an asset.
• Having a home office environment that provides for a productive, professional, and safe work environment during regular working hours is a requirement of this role.

Having a home office environment that provides for a productive, professional, and safe work environment during regular working hours is a requirement of this role. This includes internet service and a reliable connection. 

At CBoC, we believe that putting People First is key to our success and attracting the best people. We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive and we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:  

• Virtual First – work from home anywhere across Canada with a budget to set up your home office
• A workplace where your hard work is not just valued, but actively celebrated. We take pride in our commitment to recognizing and rewarding the exceptional talent that drives our success through our Recognition programs.    
• Healthcare benefits from Day One to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including a $2,500 benefit for Psychologist, Social Worker or Psychotherapist services  
• Work/Life Balance: In addition to 20 days annual vacation, we close between Christmas Day and New Years Day, observe 13 holidays per year, and offer Friday afternoon closures  
• A modern, defined benefit (DB) pension plan: We care about your future and offer a pension plan with a 5% match from Day One    
• Employee Family Assistance Program (AFAP): We understand that life can be unpredictable and challenging, and EFAP supports you and your family during difficult times  
• Maternity/Paternity leave top-up plan  

At the Conference Board of Canada, we are more than an organization – we are a collective of thinkers, analysts, and problem solvers. As the country’s largest private sector forecasting group, we are renowned for our economic modeling and analytical prowess, we offer insights that shape futures. As part of our remote workforce, you will play a crucial role in navigating the complexities of Canada’s economic landscape. Your expertise can lead the way in understanding and anticipating the nation’s economic trends. If you’re ready to make an impact where insights meet innovation, we want to hear from you.   

The salary for this position ranges from $80,793 to $109,308 CAD annually for candidates from any Canadian province or territory. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications, specific skillsets, as well as market and business considerations. The recruiter can share more information about the salary range for the position during the hiring process.  

We value the unique skills, experiences, and insights that each employee brings to The Conference Board of Canada.  We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. If you require an accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please email cbocjobs@conferenceboard.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs.  

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest in The Conference Board of Canada. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.