Current postings
Researcher for Racial & Socio-economic Equity, CCPA-BC Office
Posting date: May 3, 2023
Closing date: Friday June 2, 2023
This is a permanent full-time position in a unionized workplace with competitive salary, employer-paid health benefits, pension and generous vacation. See further information below.
Summary of role
This is a new full-time, permanent research position at CCPA-BC with a data-driven, intersectional focus on racial and socio-economic equity. Working with an advisory committee and CCPA colleagues, the Researcher will collaboratively develop an empirical research program that helps shape the public conversation about structural racism and socio-economic inequalities. The researcher’s work aims to help explain and challenge overlapping systems of oppression experienced by Indigenous, Black and racialized people in BC and beyond, including those based on gender and social class.
The Researcher will conduct a mix of original primary research, public policy analysis, and rapid-response commentary on the issues of the day through mainstream and social media. As a public intellectual, the Researcher’s work will support organizations and advocates working for racial, gender and economic justice and decolonization. The advisory committee will include people from such organizations as well as academics and policy analysts doing related research.
This position requires a strong background in social and economic policy, and the ability to draw on different theoretical perspectives in an applied context, including political economy, decolonization, intersectionality, critical race and critical feminist theory, and human rights. The Researcher will have strong quantitative skills, familiarity with relevant statistical data sets and their limitations (particularly with respect to disaggregated data), facility with quantitative software, and experience with qualitative methodologies along with an appreciation for different ways of knowing. The must be a strong writer and public speaker with the ability to translate complex ideas and information into plain terms.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The CCPA-BC is committed to equity in the workplace and creating a diverse and inclusive team, including through our recruitment processes. We strongly encourage applications by candidates with lived experience relevant to this specific role, and more broadly those from traditionally marginalized groups or identities. You are welcome to self-disclose information about your identity or relevant life experience in your application.
About the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC Office
The CCPA-BC is an independent, non-partisan research institute. We undertake research and public engagement that supports root-cause social change and transformative policy making by governments. We work alongside progressive movements, providing research that informs struggles for social, economic, racial and environmental justice and human rights. We have a longstanding commitment to challenging conventional economics and examining socio-economic and gender inequalities. We are broadening our focus and relationships to more deeply engage in ongoing struggles against white supremacy, colonialism and racial injustice. The creation of this new research position is a part of that work.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and undertake original empirical research within the Researcher’s mandate, including a variety of short- and longer-term projects. This will include analysing existing economic and demographic data and developing policy proposals to reduce racial, gender-based and socio-economic inequalities.
- Analyze the racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions of major policy choices, including provincial and federal budgets.
- Write research studies, reports, policy briefs, blog posts/opeds and other public-facing materials for publication by CCPA-BC.
- Collaborate with existing and potential partner organizations to identify research needs/priorities to support their advocacy work.
- Develop a strong public profile by providing expert commentary via mainstream and social media and monitoring the current affairs/news environment to make regular strategic interventions.
- Act as one of several staff research spokespersons for CCPA-BC, speaking with policy makers, at public events/conferences, and with organizational partners.
- Identify/seek funding opportunities (including grant writing), and engage with CCPA-BC individual and organizational donors.
Key Qualifications
- Graduate degree in sociology, economics, political economy or other relevant discipline.
- Experience with relevant theoretical perspectives including political economy, decolonization, intersectionality, critical race and critical feminist theory, and human rights -- and the ability to integrate them in an applied, public-facing research context.
- Experience designing and conducting empirical research related to racial inequities.
- Strong understanding of the economy and a critical perspective on classical/neo-classical economics, including familiarity with the dynamics of neoliberalism.
- Demonstrated research experience using quantitative methods and facility with relevant statistical software. Experience with qualitative and/or mixed methods research.
- Close knowledge of statistical data sets that can be used to analyze racial, gender and socio-economic inequities and economic trends.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas and information for non-technical audiences.
- Collaborative work style and experience building positive, reciprocal relationships with colleagues and allied organizations.
- Passionate about using research for social change, including a demonstrated commitment to CCPA-BC’s aims and values.
- Knowledge of the BC public policy landscape and social movements working for racial justice is an asset.
Salary, Benefits & Work Conditions
Position details: Full time, permanent position in a unionized workplace, with six-month probationary period.
Salary: $91,792 (rising to $101,908 after three years of employment). Note that salaries and other benefits are not negotiable by applicants, as they are set via the collective agreement.
Benefits: Excellent employer-paid health plan. Pension plan with employer contribution in addition to base salary rate. Six weeks paid leave in first year of employment (four weeks vacation plus a two-week office closure in December).
The CCPA-BC’s offices are located on the stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh Nations in downtown Vancouver. The CCPA-BC is currently a hybrid work environment, but this position is required to work in the office part-time and to attend a variety of in-person meetings and events.
This position is an excellent opportunity to engage with a multidisciplinary community of researchers and advocates to produce research that advances racial, gender and economic justice and that influences public policy.
To apply
Please email your resume with a cover letter in PDF format (as one document) to [email protected] before midnight on Friday June 2, 2023. You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted.
Interviews will take place during the week of June 19.
If you have any accommodation requests, please include them with your application and we will do our best to honour them during the hiring process.
If you have questions about this position or its requirements, please feel free to reach out to Shannon Daub, CCPA-BC Director, via the email address above or by calling 604 801 5121 x226.
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