Director, Housing Research

Job Requisition ID: 12080

Position Status: Permanent Full Time

Position Type: Hybrid

Office Location: Ottawa (ON); Calgary (AB); Halifax (NS); Montreal (QC); Toronto (ON); Vancouver (BC)

Travel Requirement: Occasional

Language Designation: Bilingual

Language Skill Levels (Read/Write/Speak): CBC

Security Requirement: Secret

Salary: Our salaries generally range from $ 164092.90 to $ 205116.13 and are based on qualifications and experience.

About CMHC

The work you do and the work we do together matters. We come to work every day with a common purpose: to contribute to a well-functioning housing system.

At CMHC, we hold ourselves accountable for our results and support our colleagues in their achievements. We thrive on collaboration, connecting across CMHC and involving the right people to get our work done. Our leadership style is guided by trust, where our leaders favour an adaptive approach based on the needs of their teams.

Join us and be part of a team that's committed to making a real difference and be part of something meaningful.

What’s in it for you

We’ve got the purpose, the people and the perks you need for a fulfilling career. Here’s the comprehensive and generous benefits you get when you’re a permanent employee:

• Annual Paid vacation.
• Annual individual performance incentive.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Comprehensive group insurance plan to support your well-being from day one.
• Support towards your personal and professional growth with training, mentorship and more.
• An inclusive workplace culture and environment.
• While positions at CMHC require some in-office presence, alternative work arrangements may be considered for Indigenous candidates.

About the role

Join the Housing Economics and Insights Team, in the Director, Housing Research position. This role will provide leadership for a diverse research portfolio, overseeing the generation of high-quality socio economic, technical, financial, and data insights that support evidence-based decision making and solution development. The Director will lead three integrated research pillars—Empirical, Technical, and Strategic Research—ensuring analytical excellence, alignment, and policy impact. In close partnership with Communications & Marketing, the role will amplify the reach and influence of research outcomes, while collaborating across CMHC to advance cross sector research initiatives. As a senior leader, the Director will strengthen the scale, speed, and relevance of research, shaping organizational strategy and informing housing industry stakeholders, academic partners, and government decision makers.

What you’ll do:

Research Pillar Leadership and Oversight

Provide overall strategic leadership, governance and quality assurance across the following research domains:

A) Empirical Research

• Oversee quantitative and qualitative empirical research, including literature reviews, interviews, case studies, field work, and statistical analysis.
• Ensure appropriate research design, data integrity, reproducibility, and methodological rigor in all empirical outputs.
• Translate complex findings into clear, relevant insights for senior leaders, the Board, industry and government stakeholders.

B) Technical Research

• Provide leadership on technically complex research related to construction, building technologies, building codes, climate resilience, infrastructure, and housing system performance.
• Ensure research reflects sound technical standards, regulatory frameworks, engineering or financial principles, as applicable.
• Translate complex findings into clear, relevant insights for senior leaders, the Board, industry and government stakeholders.

C) Strategic Research

• Deliver actionable, solution ready insights aligned with Canadian housing priorities and government priorities.
• Integrate empirical and technical evidence into strategic narratives, scenarios and solutioning options.
• Anticipate emerging housing challenges and future research needs for executive, Board, and Ministerial audiences.
• Translate complex findings into clear, relevant insights for senior leaders, the Board, industry and government stakeholders.

Leadership and Management

• Set clear strategic priorities, foster collaboration across research pillars and challenge teams to deliver high quality, accessible analysis.
• Ensure research outcomes balance methodological rigor with timeliness, clarity and relevance for a wide range of audiences.
• Build and sustain a high-performing research leadership team with the skills required to deliver complex, multidisciplinary research that is accessible to a wide audience.
• Lead the relationship, liaise, and ensure collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including federal, provincial and municipal government partners, housing industry, academics, etc.
• Instill a client-centered, focused and performance-oriented culture and facilitates resolution of cross-functional challenges aligned with stakeholders and CMHC needs.

Planning and Performance

• Contribute to the ongoing strategy development and divisional business planning, ensuring research and insights support the achievement of corporate, sector and divisional goals.
• Forecast, manage and track the external research budget, with a focus on optimizing outcomes and minimizing lapsed funds.
• Ensure effective deployment of resources to achieve sector objectives within financial and performance targets.

Strategic Direction and Advice

• Ensure research agendas across empirical, technical and strategic domains are aligned with evolving corporate strategy, government priorities, policy cycles and decision timelines.
• Provide authoritative advice on research limitations, assumptions, uncertainty and risk to support informed decision-making.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for funding external research and forming collaborations with recognized research organizations and academics.
• Lead the division in anticipating key housing related questions, including those from senior management, the Board and the Minister’s Office, and identify the projects and research themes required to develop analysis and evidence in support of policy recommendations and corporate objectives. Draw on internal and external networks to identify information sources and support timely delivery of results.

What you should have:

• A graduate degree in a related field such as economics, finance, engineering, public policy, statistics, business administration or a related discipline. A PhD in economics, public policy, finance, engineering, statistics or a related field is an asset.
• A minimum of thirteen (13) years of progressive experience in applied research, policy analysis or related analytical functions, including experience leading complex, multidisciplinary research programs. Experience managing and reviewing quantitative research methodologies and outcomes preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in managing and leading teams.
• Experience in leading edge applied research organizations, such as think tanks, applied research centers, research consultancies.
• An ability to communicate complex research findings to a wide array of expert and non-expert audiences, in writing, visually and verbally.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one research pillar (empirical, technical or strategic), with the demonstrated ability to provide informed leadership across all three.
• Exceptional understanding of the Canadian housing system, mortgage and financial markets, socio-economic policy and the factors affecting them.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Canadian housing policy landscape at federal, provincial and municipal levels.
• Demonstrated understanding and ability to analyze and conduct international comparative assessments.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex technical and empirical findings into clear strategic advice for senior executives and government decision-makers.
• An ability to communicate complex and technical information to non-technical audiences for internal and external clients with clarity and credibility and in both official languages (French and English).
• An ability to influence, establish and maintain effective working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Posting closing date: Note, the competition will remain active until filled.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

We’re committed to employment equity and encourage women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans and persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions to apply. We also welcome applications from non-Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada.

CMHC is an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought – and of people – are recognized, valued, and considered essential to achieving our mission.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion

What happens after you apply

We know that applying for a new job can be both exciting and daunting, and we appreciate your effort. Learn more about our hiring process. If you are selected for an interview or testing, please advise us if you require an accommodation.

If you applied before and you were not successful don’t worry – we're always posting new positions, so don’t hesitate to give it another shot. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table this time around!