Lead Recovery Research Specialist

Title: Lead Recovery Research Specialist

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2026 , we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Lead Recovery Research Specialist supports the Recovery Service Line in integration of research findings into organizational programs, services, and initiatives to ensure alignment with evidence-based practices and stakeholder expectations. The role will be responsible for leading internal and external research and knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives to enhance organizational profile and recognized expertise.

In this role, you will :

• Lead the development, integration and implementation of research approaches that support Recovery Services
• Work in collaboration with other service lines and business units to leverage existing research capacity, expertise and resources across the organization.
• Act as a technical advisor to senior leadership on a range of issues relating to disaster recovery, offering expert analysis, evidence-based insights, information synthesis, and strategic recommendations.
• Develop informed content on recovery, reports, guidance materials, and resources that support internal decision-making and external engagement.
• Design and implement planning processes and methodologies, which may include procedural requirements for service delivery, advocacy, or regulatory compliance.
• Conduct and oversee research, literature reviews, policy and legislative scans, and impact assessments within the recovery to inform the development and refinement of organizational positions.
• Prepare high-level briefings, reports, documents, and presentations for senior leadership and external partners.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including academic institutions, partner organizations and relevant communities to advance shared objectives.
• Ensure that diverse perspectives and considerations-such as equity, accessibility, and community impact-are embedded in development, design, and decision-making processes.
• Participate in related coordination structures, working groups, and advisory forums at the local, national, or international level.
• Publish, present and profile research based and expert reports and other materials from CRC recovery programs on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross.

What we are looking for :

• Qualifications include a minimum of 8-12 years of related experience and relevant advanced university degree (such as a Master's Degree or PhD) and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Doctoral preparation will be preferred
• Demonstrated experience leading complex research files, publications and advising senior executives.
• Proven experience working with diverse communities or in areas requiring cultural competency and inclusive practices.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and practical experience in implementation of research methodologies.
• Ability to identify complex problems, conduct deep analysis in unfamiliar areas, predict outcomes, and develop innovative, collaborative solutions by balancing technical inputs with strategic objectives.
• Communication and influencing skills to synthesize diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives and find mutually beneficial solutions, often in sensitive or complex situations.
• Exceptional writing skills to develop a wide range of knowledge products for internal and external audiences, including senior leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management capabilities.
• Requires relevant expertise within analysis and research domain area.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint is required and database platforms is required.
• Familiarity with one or more research software (e.g. NVivo, STATA, Qualcoder or SAS, etc.) is required. Experience of doing systematic review is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required, French is an asset.
• Kindly attach or share links to your research publications, journal articles etc.

Working Conditions :

• The majority of work will be conducted from a home-office or office-like setting.
• Work requires the ability to work to multiple, conflicting deadlines.
• Requires significant attention to detail and concentration and ability to mentally process, analyse and synthesize large amounts of information.
• The work pace is often unpredictable with significant time pressures.
• Ability to adapt to frequent and often urgent changes in priorities, and make decisions under pressure, and work at an unpredictable pace.
• The role includes occasional fieldwork, periodic deployment to emergency operations, and office-based work during non-deployment periods.
• Some domestic or international travel to generally safe locations; exposure to moderate adverse conditions requiring attention to personal safety.
• As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English.
• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).