Research Associate, Actualizing Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles

AcademicJob CategoryFaculty Non BargainingJob TitleResearch Associate, Actualizing Indigenous Data Sovereignty PrinciplesDepartmentResearch | Human Early Learning Partnership | School of Population and Public Health (Mariana Brussoni)Posting End DateJune 30, 2024

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

Job End DateDec 31, 2025

The expected salary range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000 per year.

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.

The Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) is a collaborative research and knowledge mobilization centre that cares about improving child well-being. We are an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and affiliates dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children, youth and their families and promoting equity from the start. Having established itself as a well-respected and internationally renowned research centre for over 20 years, HELP maintains strong relationships with school districts and other key partners in community and in the health, social service and municipal sectors. These relationships have allowed the centre to make an impact at multiple levels, ranging from government policy and investment, to regional and community development and service planning, to local school district programs and initiatives. Working at HELP is an opportunity to be involved in data collection and research, as well as community partnerships and engagement. HELP offers hybrid working arrangements, a beautiful campus environment, not to mention a friendly and collegial atmosphere with opportunities to work collaboratively with a number of teams on projects. HELP is grateful to work from the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

JOB SUMMARY

The Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, seeks a full-time Research Associate.

Under the supervision of Dr. Mariana Brussoni, HELP Faculty Director in the School of Population and Public Health, and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and with the support and mentorship provided by HELP faculty members as well as by research collaborators across UBC - the incumbent will lead the strategic development, direction and implementation of a data platform and data access framework to support Indigenous data sovereignty. This will bring equity to HELP's data and knowledge sharing processes and support research and evidence-based decision making to improve the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children. The Research Associate will work in consultation with statisticians on data analyses, using population level data such as the EDI (Early Development Instrument) and the MDI (Middle Development Instrument). They will continue to explore the application of data sovereignty principles to research and data sharing at HELP. They will focus on data coding and analyses and have access to unique data sources working within an interdisciplinary research environment. The position will include leading:

• Consultations with the Aboriginal Steering Committee regarding the processes and practices for this project;
• Engagements with Indigenous communities, elders and/or governing bodies around data sovereignty;
• Developing a data platform for Indigenous data that adheres to Indigenous data sovereignty principles
• Developing a data access framework that adheres to Indigenous data sovereignty principles
• Documenting process of engagement, guidance and best practices, and sharing these with the UBC Faculty of Medicine and HELP communities.

The position will liaise with multi-disciplinary Indigenous academic researchers provincially, nationally and internationally who are conducting related research. The Research Associate will lead and co-author on academic reports and journal articles; write reports and summaries of research findings for policy makers, First Nations leadership and communities. They will ensure the research adheres to the ethical expectations of the Indigenous partners, as well as existing guidelines and principles stipulated by other organizations. They will inform and advise other HELP researchers about the role of these guidelines and protocols in research involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

HELP encourages applications from individuals who seek to develop an independent research career and contribute to a research environment that seeks to produce and disseminate research evidence about actionable context factors related to child and youth health, social and emotional learning, and well-being, particularly during the child and adolescent years.

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in child development, human development, (developmental) psychology, or a related field, with a particular focus on childhood and early adolescence.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives different from their own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism.
• Proven ability to work with First Nations communities and Indigenous organizations and develop positive ongoing communication with community and organizational leaders.
• Excellent understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of established research principles and guidelines for engaging Indigenous communities.
• Expertise and experience in a number of statistical methodologies, and confidence in conducting basic (e.g., regression, ANOVA) and advanced (e.g., latent class analysis, multilevel modeling) statistical analyses using software such as R, Mplus, SPSS, Stats, SAS.
• Knowledge and some experience in using qualitative methodologies and analytic strategies;
• Strong foundation in research design and measurement (e.g., validity, reliability) in relation to developmental theory/social and emotional learning/risk and resiliency.
• Excellent writing ability and publication record.
• Ability and willingness to work productively in a fast-paced and often demanding environment, with deadlines.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience with project management is required.

This position will be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentially requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We especially welcome applications from visible minority group members, women, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority and preference will be given to candidates with Indigenous ancestry.

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