Research Associate

Research Project Unifying Networks to InnovaTE (UNITE): A Whole of System Approach for Youth Mental Health

Department/Unit

Department/Unit Public & International Affairs

Location

Posting Number

Posting Number S316-26

Employee Group

Employee Group Grant-Paid (PSAC Local 86001)

Position Type

Position Type Term

Duration of Contract (if applicable)

Duration of Contract (if applicable) One year with possible renewal for second year

Employment Type

Employment Type Full Time

Full-time Equivalency (FTE)

Full-time Equivalency (FTE) 1.0

Salary $66,882 - $84,707 per annum based on 35 hours per week

Classification

Provisional Statement

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary The Unifying Networks to InnovaTE ( UNITE ) projectwill mobilize an unprecedented team of multidisciplinary scientists, decision-makers, youth and community advocates to improve youth mental health outcomes, consisting of three critical and interrelated projects on the pathway to societal impact: 1. Optimized Navigation Pathways;2. Increased Data-driven Insights; 3. Strengthened Whole-of-System Capacity.

Reporting to the Principal Investigators (PIs), the Research Associate will provide research and methodological expertise across the project, with a particular focus on ecosystem mapping, stakeholder engagement, co-design, data analysis, and sustainability planning for the Ecosystem Intelligence Project which examines how organizations, services, and supports across Nova Scotia’s youth mental health system connect and work together.

Key Responsibilities

Support the PIs in designing and leading ecosystem scoping and co-design sessions, interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Co-develop research and engagement materials, including facilitation guides, interview guides, surveys, and other data collection tools.

Analyze and synthesize findings from co-design and scoping activities, interviews, surveys, and other data sources. Define priority attributes, relationships, data elements, and survey questions.

Develop clear specifications and recommendations for implementation in existing software. Implement and update approved recommendations within existing platforms. Test, refine, and document platform configurations based on feedback.

Document methods and processes used to scope, collect, validate, update, and maintain ecosystem information. Identify practical approaches to keep ecosystem knowledge current without creating an unnecessary burden for participating organizations.

Contribute to the collaborative authorship of peer reviewed manuscripts, technical reports and policy briefs through the drafting, editing and submission of documents. Tailor outputs for academic, practitioner, and public audiences.

Provide mentorship to research assistants, coordinators, interns, and students, fostering their development and ensuring high-quality contributions to the research team.

Note The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

PhD with experience in applied health/health services research, implementation science, organizational behavior, systems thinking, social/organizational network analysis, or related fields plus three to five years’ relevant experience (or equivalent combination of training and experience).

Demonstrated experience in all stages of research, including research design, research synthesis, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Record of scholarly publications and conference presentations, and public outreach/knowledge translation in the topic area.

Experience conducting research, including experience with qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods research, as well as a solid understanding of ethical principles in human subjects’ research.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication (verbal and written skills) and the ability to work independently and collaboratively across disciplines and sectors, including experience working with partners or interest holders in collaborative r