Senior Research Scientist

Title:
Senior Research Scientist & Strategy Lead – Community Insights

Reports to:
Project Director and Senior Communications & Public Affairs Director

Direct Reports:
Research & Strategy Leads

Time Commitment:
7–10 hours/week (part-time, volunteer-based)

Remote/Hybrid:
Candidates within Ontario preferred

About Active Leaders of Love (ALL)

Active Leaders of Love (ALL) is an advocacy and community leadership organization dedicated to making Ontario more accessible — to resources, information, and opportunities. We partner with communities to identify priorities, respond to emerging challenges, and drive meaningful, lasting impact. Our work spans broad policy issues and local concerns, including mental health, digital literacy, safety, and accessibility.

Position Overview

ALL is seeking a highly skilled, strategic, and research-focused volunteer to join our team as a Senior Research Scientist & Strategy Lead – Community Insights. The Senior Lead provides senior-level leadership, strategic guidance, and scientific oversight for ALL's research initiatives. This role ensures that research is rigorous, methodologically sound, and aligned with organizational goals, particularly supporting the Light Board Project and related community initiatives. The individual will guide the Research & Strategy Leads, ensure findings inform decision-making, and contribute to the organization's strategic planning and evidence-based impact. Externally, the individual may represent ALL at events and public forums under the title Community Insights Officer, providing insights on the organization's research, programs, and community impact.

Key Responsibilities

Research Oversight & Strategy

• Lead and mentor the Research & Strategy Leads, ensuring research quality, ethical compliance, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Review and refine the Research Ethics drafts and Theory of Change for the Light Board Project.
• Conduct analysis of project stages to produce actionable insights that inform subsequent project phases.
• Collect, synthesize, and interpret data from research initiatives and relevant departmental sources.
• Collaborate with Project Director and Senior Communications & Public Affairs Director to ensure research aligns with project and organizational objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance and evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership.
• Represent ALL externally as the Community Insights Officer at public events and forums.
• Oversee research-related budget allocations in consultation with the Project Director.

Data Collection & Insight Integration

• Prioritize research activities, with primary focus on Research Team outputs; internal departmental data collection is secondary but integrated as needed.
• Collect, synthesize, and interpret data from across departments to inform strategic decisions.
• Ensure research outputs are applied effectively to strengthen organizational strategy, program planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Project Director and Communications Directors to ensure research findings align with project and organizational objectives.
• Embed within the Research Team while maintaining strong connections with other departments to ensure integrated decision-making.

Strategic Guidance & Advisory

• Provide evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership and other departments.
• Participate in decision-making processes for research priorities, budget allocation (in consultation with Project Director), and methodology adjustments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor for Research & Strategy Leads, supporting their development and project execution.

External Representation

• Represent ALL externally at events, public forums, and community consultations under the title Community Insights Officer.
• Communicate research findings, project insights, and organizational positioning in a clear, professional, and strategic manner.

Qualifications & Skills

• Community-centered mindset, ensuring research reflects the needs, experiences, and priorities of the communities we serve.
• Proven experience in research strategy, mixed-methods research, nonprofit evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong scientific and analytical skills, with ability to structure research, plan data collection, and interpret results.
• Demonstrated ability to translate insights into strategic guidance for senior leadership and teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of representing ALL publicly.
• Experience in mentoring, guiding, or advising research teams.
• Knowledge of research ethics, compliance, and best practices in nonprofit contexts.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a semi-flat organization, balancing decision-making authority with stakeholder consultation.
• Ability to work independently, manage a part-time volunteer workload (7–10 hours per week), and meet deadlines aligned with project priorities.

Join ALL

This role offers the opportunity to lead and strengthen the research foundation of a mission-driven organization. The Senior Research Scientist will contribute technical expertise to guide evidence-based strategy, support the development of research systems and processes, and help build the organization's knowledge infrastructure. You will work closely with a collaborative team committed to community leadership, equity, and meaningful impact. Thank you for considering Active Leaders of Love.