Research and Accountability Officer

NOTICE OF PERMANENT M.A.S.S. VACANCY

Position: Research Officer

Annual Salary: Band 8: $100,743.00 - $120,136.00

Location: Research and Accountability Department

New Street Education Centre, 3250 New Street, Burlington

Work Schedule: 35 hours/week

Effective Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2027

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced research professional with advanced expertise in quantitative and qualitative research. This is an opportunity to join the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and provide research and evaluation leadership to support research excellence, evidence-informed decision-making, and a culture of inquiry, equity, and inclusion across the organization.

Reporting to the Manager of Research and Accountability, you will work independently and collaboratively to design, implement, analyze, and interpret research and evaluation projects that support the HDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and operational goals. These projects span the areas of Learning, Engagement and Achievement; Kindness, Connection and Community; Indigenous Rights and Education; Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion; Mental Health and Well-Being; and Environmental and Global Citizenship. You will provide specialized research, statistical, and evaluation services to inform system-level planning, monitor progress toward strategic goals, and assess the effectiveness of educational programs and practices.

The HDSB follows a . In accordance with this Administrative Procedure and with the approval of the immediate supervisor, employees who work at HDSB administrative sites may work from home for up to 50% of their regularly scheduled hours. Work from Home arrangements may change based on the future needs of the Board.

Experience and Qualifications:

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in Education, Social Sciences, Health, or a related discipline, with a strong focus on research design, measurement, and evaluation, and have four to seven years of research experience, preferably in a school board setting. The candidate will bring a strong understanding of education, including curriculum, instruction, special education, equity, and inclusion, as well as demonstrated expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Key Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will provide research leadership and expertise in system-level measurement, research, and evaluation, with responsibilities that include:

• Develop and coordinate system-level measurement and evaluation to support the HDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP), operational goals, and strategic priorities.

• Design and implement research, data collection, and evaluation strategies to monitor system practices, processes, perceptions, and outcomes and support evidence-informed decision-making.

• Collect, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate research methodologies, statistical techniques, and analytical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, Python, NVivo, and Power BI).

• Apply advanced research methods, statistical modelling, measurement principles, and psychometric approaches, as appropriate, to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, examine disparities, and support system improvement.

• Provide research consultation to HDSB staff and other stakeholders on research design, survey development and administration, program evaluation, statistical and qualitative analysis, data management, and the monitoring of equitable practices, opportunities, and outcomes.

• Analyze and interpret education-related datasets, including student achievement, demographic, and student and staff perception data, to inform strategic planning, educational programming, and school and system improvement.

• Apply principles of equity, human rights, Indigenous rights, and Indigenous data sovereignty to research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting, including consideration of OCAP® and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), as appropriate to the research context.

• Support the external research review process within HDSB, ensuring that research activities align with applicable legislation, privacy requirements, and relevant research ethics guidance, including the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).

• Prepare and present clear, accessible oral, written, and visual reports that communicate research findings, analyses, and recommendations to senior administrators and other HDSB stakeholders.

• Contribute to a culture of research excellence, inquiry, equity, and inclusion within the Research and Accountability Department and across HDSB.

• Share research findings and methodological expertise with scientific and professional communities and participate in relevant provincial and national research networks.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A PhD in Education, Social Sciences, Health, or a related discipline, with a strong focus on research design, measurement, and evaluation.

• Extensive knowledge and demonstrated expertise in research design, measurement and psychometrics, research ethics, applicable legislation, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, data management, and reporting, including the use of statistical, analytical, and visualization software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, Python, Power BI, and NVivo).

• Demonstrated experience using programming languages such as R and Python for data management, statistical analysis, modelling, and reporting.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance principles, including the First Nations principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), UNDRIP, and TCPS 2.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the data collection, analysis, and reporting requirements outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Equity Action Plan and the Anti-Racism Data Standards.

• Experience working with education-related datasets commonly used in school board settings, including EQAO assessments, student achievement data, demographic data, and student and staff climate surveys.

• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-informed research on teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, K–12 school effectiveness, and relevant Ministry of Education policies and requirements (e.g., the School Effectiveness Framework).

• Demonstrated understanding of current educational issues, strategic planning and implementation, and the research and data needs of school board leaders and other decision-makers.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders to solve problems and advance shared priorities.

• Superior project management, organizational, and prioritization skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to advance equitable and inclusive practices that recognize and value diversity within educational settings.

• Demonstrated commitment to working respectfully and effectively within diverse school communities, with an understanding of human rights, Indigenous rights, and equity considerations in research and practice.

Additional Requirements:

• A valid driver's licence and reliable transportation.

Applications, along with your resume and other supporting documents must be submitted through Apply to Education – by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2026

Questions about this collection may be directed to Dr. Rossana Bisceglia, PhD, - Manager, Research and Accountability, at

Job Category: MASS (Management & Professionals) - Job Code # 4079524

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

We thank all applicants for their interest in opportunities with the Halton District School Board. Contact will be made with applicants whose experience and qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position. Communication with short-listed applicants will be made through the email address provided on the applicants’ Apply To Education profile page.

First consideration for posted vacancies will be given to qualified applicants from the employee group in which the vacancy occurs.

Applicant Self Identification Questions:

As part of the recruitment and selection function, the HDSB will collect voluntary self identification data from applicants in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, HDSB’s Teacher Hiring Practices Administrative Procedure, HDSB’s Employment Equity Policy and Ontario’s Anti Racism Data Standards:

Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 15, in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56. In accordance with HDSB’s Employment Equity Policy, personal information collected on this form will aim to achieve an inclusive, diverse and representative workforce. It works to intentionally identify and remove barriers for equity-deserving communities at each stage of the hiring process. Encouraging diversity of the workforce in the school board is vital because the workforce should be reflective and representative of the community.

Although hiring policies must adhere to the qualification requirements set out in applicable Regulations (eg. Regulation 298, “Operation of Schools – General”) and any applicable collective agreement provisions, the Board recognizes the importance of the following when developing its selection and evaluation criteria:

• valuing applicants’ additional experience, lived experience, skills, backgrounds and perspectives; and

• granting first consideration, where the skills, ability, and qualifications of the applicants are relatively equal, to applicants who self-identify as members of historically under-represented communities.

We encourage you to respond to our voluntary applicant self-identification questions. This data will inform our understanding of the diversity of our applicant pool as well as the progress of applicants throughout the hiring process. This data will inform our goals, strategies and actions and our progress towards creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable workforce. Any information that you provide in response to these questions will be referred to during the hiring process for this position, and will be shared with the hiring manager and/or committee members responsible for the hiring process.

The section includes questions from Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards (Standards, 2017). The Standards were established to help identify and monitor systemic racism and racial disparities within the public sector. The Standards establish consistent, effective practices for producing reliable information to support evidence-based decision-making and public accountability to help eliminate systemic racism and promote racial equity (adapted from Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards, 2017).

Questions about this collection may be directed to Dixon Mohammed - Manager, Recruitment, Selection and Staffing at .

Accommodation:

Upon request, we will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates who have temporary or permanent disability, or who otherwise require accommodations based on the protected grounds highlighted in the Ontario Human Rights Code in respect to the recruitment and selection process.

Wellness:

The HDSB is committed to providing a respectful and healthy work environment.