SPARC Research Officer

Date Posted: 09/18/2026
Req ID: 50249
Faculty/Division: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Department: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00060073
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us:

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health is a Faculty of the University of Toronto that originated as one of the Schools of Hygiene begun by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1927. The School, which plays a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic response, went through a dramatic renaissance after the 2003 SARS crisis and it is now the largest public health school in Canada, with more than 850 faculty, 1,000 students, and research and training partnerships with institutions throughout Toronto and the world. With $53.3 million in research funding per year, the School contributes to improving population health and health policy and health systems through discoveries and innovation in data science and AI, maternal, child and reproductive health, climate change, implementation and improvement sciences, preventable disease through vaccines and prevention through wellness such as with diabetes, comparative health policy, sustainable and equitable health systems, global and Indigenous health, among many other areas. This past year, $10 million philanthropic dollars was raised for research, education and knowledge translation, and the over 7000 alumni were deeply engaged through events and networking opportunities.

Your opportunity:

SPARC is a new Centre focused on contemporary health communications. SPARC addresses a modern problem: Canadians are struggling to make healthy choices amid a rapidly shifting digital information ecosystem. SPARC aims to address this challenge by creating and fostering a community of practice that brings together experts from across disciplines in the journalism and media sector, arts and performance sector, and social, information, and medical sciences sectors to network and collaborate on building tools that improve public discourse, professional communications, and trust-building. The Centre will leverage its expertise in higher learning, pedagogy and education scholarship to develop, scale and support curricular interventions that equip experts with communications competencies and skillsets.

As SPARC Research Officer, you will play a key role in supporting research initiatives by coordinating projects, implementing research activities, and contributing to data collection and analysis. You will work closely with researchers, stakeholders, and partner organizations to support project planning, evaluation, knowledge translation, and stakeholder engagement activities. You will also apply strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills to ensure projects are delivered effectively while supporting the generation and dissemination of high-quality research findings.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating research projects and initiatives, including assessing research needs, developing project plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and evaluation frameworks, and coordinating day-to-day project activities
• Conducting and supporting research activities, including implementing qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, and synthesizing technical, qualitative, and contextual findings
• Supporting research administration and stakeholder engagement, including coordinating meetings, workshops, and seminars; fostering relationships with internal and external partners; and supporting research funding and ethics processes
• Preparing and communicating research findings, including drafting statistical reports, preparing presentations and research materials, delivering presentations, and promoting research initiatives and project outcomes
• Providing project coordination and guidance, including directing the activities of casual staff, supporting applicants through funding processes, and serving as a resource on project procedures and research activities

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum five (5) years of experience coordinating and supporting research projects in an academic environment
• Demonstrated experience planning and managing research projects, including developing project schedules, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements
• Experience implementing and executing qualitative and/or quantitative research methodologies
• Experience collecting, coding, analyzing, and synthesizing research data using a variety of data collection and analysis methods
• Experience conducting systematic literature reviews and environmental scans to support research initiatives
• Experience analyzing research findings and preparing statistical reports, summaries, and presentation materials
• Experience coordinating meetings, workshops, seminars, and stakeholder engagement activities
• Experience drafting research ethics submissions, grant applications, or other research-related documentation
• Experience building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, partners, and collaborators
• Experience coordinating the activities of casual staff, students, or research assistants
• Knowledge of research ethics principles, data confidentiality requirements, and research best practices
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, survey tools, and qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess research needs and recommend appropriate methodologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Organized
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Team player

Please note this is a one-year term part-time (50% FTE) position.

Closing Date: 09/28/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Part-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: Prorated USW Pay Band 13 -- $43,170. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $55,207.50. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching
Recruiter: Callum Ferguson

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.