Market Research Analyst

**Term**: 24-month contract

**Schedule**: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday*
**Location**: Walkerton, Ontario (telework is an option for this position)

**Purpose of Position**
To assist and conduct projects related to evaluating current customer needs and discovering new and emerging customer needs to facilitate and influence program development and modes of delivery. Research provided by this position will assist with strategic growth planning to help the Centre expand geographically and vertically into new markets.

**Key Responsibilities**
- ** Research**
Assist in identifying, designing and coordinating market research projects (e.g., interviews, focus groups, surveys). Will host one on one focus groups and will need to navigate through highly sensitive topics to gather intended feedback. Provide reports and/or summaries of research findings to the position manager with regards to research, analysis, new course development, customer needs and expectations (geographical and vertical market differences/similarities), skills and technology gaps and other trends.
- ** Strategic Planning**
Collect, compile and analyze data to be used for strategic and operational planning for the Centre. Will draw conclusions, write and disseminate reports and presentations based on data collection and analysis.

Additional duties may be assigned at the discretion of the position Manager.

**Knowledge, Education and Training**
A minimum Master’s degree in Marketing Research, Psychology or a related field is required including advanced courses in qualitative methodology and quantitative analysis.
- Weekend work may be required on occasion.

**Experience**
A minimum of two (2) years of experience in market research and growth planning, including analyzing raw data and writing papers and reports. Experience in the public sector or with community-based research projects and project management would be an asset.
- Proven ability to sustain a professional demeanor in all aspects of the role, even when working under the pressure of simultaneously balancing a variety of activities and complex demands. The incumbent requires good organizational skills to effectively prioritize duties and meet deadlines. Experience with qualitative and quantitative methodology including designing, leading and reporting research projects in multiple market verticals. Experience leading and/or directing research.

Experience working in a highly independent position with the proven ability to take initiative. Strong oral presentation skills are required. Excellent English communication skills, written and spoken are required and bilingualism in French would be an asset.

An equivalent combination of education and experience would be considered.

**Decision-making**
Decisions within this position will involve conducting market research, coding, analysis and interpretation of data and disseminating results. Objectives will be defined, and strong judgement will often be needed to resolve complex issues as circumstances can change quickly (e.g., may require rephrasing of probing survey questions mid-session to elicit valid responses).

**Ingenuity and Creativity**

**Impact of Action**
This position must ensure information is collected, organized and handled appropriately to prevent misinformation, delays and inefficiencies (e.g., conducting interviews and completing analysis within established timelines, upholding the reputation of the Centre) and to ensure proper compliance with research ethics and data management rules and regulations.

**Financial Responsibility**
Any purchases made will follow all accounting and procurement procedures and policies.

**Responsibility for Leadership**
This position does not have direct reports but, at times, will provide guidance and training to other Centre staff when they assist with focus groups.

**Responsibility for Customer Relationships**
This position will need to establish and maintain good internal and external customer relationships to gain a true understanding of what is important to these customers (e.g., interpreting the needs of drinking water interest holders, determining survey needs of Centre management). Will react/respond to customer questions during focus group and one on one interview sessions where some discussion is necessary to exchange technical information or provide clarity around the research topic, and other Centre activities.

**Communication**

**Mental Effort**
Periods of concentration and active listening will be required in this position (e.g., conducting Voice of Customer research, analysis and preparing reports). Additionally, this position will be required to listen closely to recorded interviews and transcribe them verbatim, scrubbing identifiers from the final transcript (e.g., names, addresses, etc.). Choice of action may be limited while conducting surveys and writing reports.

**Physical Effort, Disruption and Working Conditions**
The position requires constant periods of