Research Lead

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Research and Facilitation, Level C

Job Title
Research Lead

Department
Partnership for Work, Health and Safety jobsincanada.one School of Population and Public Health jobsincanada.one Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range
$5,906.25 – $8,508.42 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
April 26, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Dec 31, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

JOB SUMMARY

This is a full-time position for an 18 months term appointment with the possibility for an extension depending on the availability of future funding. The Research Lead is an integral member of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety (the Partnership). Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) are effective tools for preventing workplace injury and illness. The incumbent will be responsible for all aspects of framework and tool design and development to create an occupational health and safety management approach and tool specific to small and micro construction firms. This role will lead the project on a day-to-day in consultation with the Principal Investigator. Will conduct environmental scans, triangulate evidence, conduct key informant interviews and focus groups, facilitate expert advisory groups, analyze data, develop OHSMS framework and tool in collaboration with stakeholders and report writing.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The Partnership for Work, Health and Safety (the Partnership) is a research program within the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. This innovative research program conducted in partnership with WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia) brings together policymakers, researchers and data resources from both organizations as well as external partners to address current and emerging issues of work-related health and workers’ compensation. The Partnership uses mixed methods, both qualitative and quantitative, to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational health and workers’ compensation programs and policies. The Partnership takes the lead in work-related health research in BC and Canada by developing and promoting the use of routinely collected health and compensation data from multiple sources via our data partner, Population Data BC. Our research results inform the design of evidence-based policies and prevention programs to create safer and more secure workplaces and help improve opportunities for recovery after injuries occur.

Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit that encompasses many of the health-related groupings at UBC as a collaborative venture. The School is structured around four divisions: Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations. The resulting mix of professions and disciplines is seen as a means of connecting individuals and learners to galvanize the relationship between health research, public health and health services and to enhance learning.

The Research Lead will work in a team environment with statisticians, analysts, programmers, researchers and faculty at SPPH. This position will be hybrid, and while on-site, will work on the third floor of the OEH division on SPPH at the University of British Columbia and work mostly virtually from home. A shared space will be provided in room 328. This position conducts site visits throughout the province with regular exposure to hazards such as noise, dust, and adverse weather conditions. Use of personal protective equipment may be required during site visits.

WORK PERFORMED

• Manages multi-scope research projects, including project conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting to ensure multi-year project commitments are being met effectively and efficiently.

• Leads, develops and implements research plans, including schedules, timelines, and budgets for multiple knowledge translation and outreach activities.

• Identifies, problem-solves, and implements the removal of barriers for successful project activities, with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships between researchers, collaborators, funding agencies, and external stakeholders.

• Responsible for conducting a triangulation of health OHSMS practices through various sources.

• Conducts an environmental scan and review of construction OHSMS/OHS assessment tools.

• Responsible for the development and implementation of the qualitative interview guide alongside other data collection instruments and other recruitment-related materials for key informant interviews.

• Conducts key informant interviews with health and safety organization professionals, OHS regulators, employers, and labour/workers from multiple jurisdictions.

• Develops and maintains comprehensive study/methodological documentation.

• Responsible for analyzing, coding and interpreting key informant and focus groups data.

• Conducts health and safety site visits within the office, construction, or industrial environments.

• Prepares various reports, research briefs and recommendations.

• Establishes, leads, and manages all interactions with expert advisory groups nationally.

• Applying health and safety theoretical and triangulation findings, develops an OHSM framework and tool appropriate for small and micro construction firms in BC for use by the BCCSA and other Canadian construction safety associations.

• Develops and delivers training for stakeholders on assessment tool implementation as required.

• Keeps current with health and safety best practices, legislation changes, new developments and trends.

• Reviews and interprets federal and provincial occupational and public health legislation as it applies to micro and small firms in the Construction Sector. 

• Consults and advises stakeholders on the interpretation of applicable occupational hygiene regulations and standards of practice.

• Provides content expertise and leadership in the development of Occupational Hygiene assessment tool, including project report, KT and training materials, and other research outputs.

• Develops and executes project implementation plans in consultation with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Responsible for interacting with OHS personnel at various sites to investigate occupational hygiene issues arising from operational activities to provide context for a conceptual framework and tool development.

• Represent PWHS interests in dealing with stakeholder groups such as WorkSafeBC or other Safety Associations on matters related to Occupational Hygiene.

• Communicates project status and contributes to positive working relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including community partners, members of industries/ communities affected by the research, government officials and policymakers.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

Employees always work under strict confidentiality because of the nature of the data use in the Partnership’s projects. Core activities such as database documentation of maintenance and access, research and support for both internal and external researchers are all critically dependent on the security and privacy of information systems that have been developed and are maintained. Any privacy breach in data security or errors in judgment could lead to serious errors in data systems, affecting the reputation of SPPH, the Partnership and other data partners. Any breach in confidentiality or data security would place the future of the organization at risk. The Research Lead must be able to exercise judgment regarding the validity of the analytic data, checking the quality of the data against expected values. Care must be exercised in designing and performing tasks to avoid inappropriate assumptions.
Complexity of Duties: This position requires a considerable degree of creativity, as written and analytical tasks undertaken do not have standard solutions and must be approached as unique problems of logic.
Accuracy and Accountability: Errors in judgment may have significant negative impacts on the Partnership, the investigators of the projects, the project budget and the quality of reports. Incorrect statistical analysis can adversely impact the results of a study, resulting in the rejection of manuscripts or damage to the reputation of the investigator(s) and the Partnership.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Research Lead reports to the Principal Investigators and frequently interacts with the Director of Privacy and Operations of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety. The Research Lead may also receive direction from and regularly interacts with Co-Investigators of the assigned project. Will work closely with external stakeholders and industry experts in developing and testing an assessment tool in preparation for its implementation nationally.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

Supervises the work of the Research Assistants in the project and summer students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

For research work, a post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation with a minimum of four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of six years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
 

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• As per the minimum qualifications, a Master’s Degree in Occupational Hygiene from a recognized institution with a minimum of four years of progressive experience in environment, health and safety, or industrial hygienist related work. Alternatively, a Bachelor/ Undergraduate degree in Health and Safety, Environmental Science, or a related field, plus six years of professional experience in occupational hygiene, which includes hands-on expertise in field skills such as sampling and assessments, is required.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to analyze data, interpret results, and develop an assessment tool is required.

• Valid G driver’s license, with no current suspensions or charges pending, and the use of a personal vehicle for business is required.

• Post Graduate Degree in Environment, Health and Safety.

• Experience in incident investigations and safety inspections in a consulting, municipal, or educational setting.

• Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation preferred.

• Knowledge and experience with the development, implementation and monitoring of an OHS management system.

• Thorough understanding of Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Legislation and Regulations and health and safety practices and procedures in the construction sector.

• Experience or graduate-level training in quantitative or mixed methods research.

• Experience using Nvivo or other qualitative analytical software.

• Recent, related work experience in qualitative research.

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to problem-solving and continual improvement.

• Demonstrates an active commitment to safety.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.

• Strong research and technical writing skills.

• Results driven and strong organizational/ time management skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to influence and persuade others.

• Ability to effectively facilitate meetings, expert advisory groups, focus groups and other related groups/meetings as required.

• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, and presentation).

• Systems thinking, including current computer literacy in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

• Knowledge of applicable legislation and regulations.

• Strong knowledge of workplace health and hygiene theory and techniques as well as safety theory and techniques.

• Ability to exercise initiative, judgment and discretion.

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.