Senior Research Scientist

Consider an opportunity to join our talented team

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) was recognized as a National Capital Region Top Employer for ten consecutive years!

Want to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Canadians?
At the MCC, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that ensures physicians have the competencies to support safe, accessible health care in Canada.

You’ll be immersed in a collaborative and inclusive work environment that fosters professional development and work-life balance.

Apply for one of our rewarding positions today!

Senior Research Scientist

Full Time Permanent

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hybrid role

1 vacancy

Shape the future of physician assessment in Canada.

As Senior Research Scientist at the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), you'll lead a research and scholarship program that directly shapes how physicians are assessed, trained, and supported across the country. Reporting to the Medical Education Advisor, you'll drive a strategic research agenda that strengthens evidence-informed decision-making and fuels innovation in medical education and health workforce planning.

You'll lead your own research initiatives, serve as Principal Investigator on high-impact projects, and build meaningful partnerships with academic, regulatory, and health system organizations across the country. Your work will generate rigorous, ethically sound evidence that informs real policy and practice, helping position MCC as a trusted leader in physician assessment.

Beyond your own research, you'll help build MCC's research capacity from the ground up: strengthening governance, mentoring emerging talent, and fostering a culture of scholarship across the organization. You'll represent MCC on national and international stages, contributing thought leadership on physician assessment and the Canadian healthcare system.

This is a role for a scientific leader who wants their research to matter, not just in publications, but in the systems that shape healthcare in Canada.

What you’ll do

• Design, lead and conduct high-quality quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research projects aligned with MCC priorities.
• Oversee study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting to ensure scientific rigor and validity.
• Serves as Principal Investigator on strategic and complex research initiatives.
• Lead dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and other knowledge products that inform practice and policy.
• Ensure compliance with ethical and methodological standards governing research activities.
• Support program evaluation, measurement and quality improvement using rigorous research methods.
• Translate complex findings into meaningful insights that support organizational decision-making and policy development.
• Develop and lead MCC’s overall strategic research agenda, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Identify emerging research trends, opportunities, risks, and partnerships that strengthen MCC's strategic position and influence.
• Lead the development, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of MCC’s research governance framework, processes and infrastructure.
• Oversee Research Ethics Board (REB) submissions, approvals, and compliance activities to ensure adherence to applicable standards and requirements.
• Lead knowledge building, translation, and dissemination activities that connect MCC's research to practice and policy.

What you need to succeed

Experience

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience conducting independent research in health professions education, physician assessment, health services research, psychology, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing leading multi-year strategic research programs.
• Experience serving as Principal Investigator.
• Strong publication record.
• Experience obtaining research funding.
• Experience collaborating across organizations.
• Experience overseeing the work of other contributors.

Technical Skills

• Excellent scientific writing skills.
• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research.
• Proficiency in data management.
• Advanced skills in using statistical software (e.g., SAS, SPSS) for quantitative data analysis.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of approaches to program evaluation.
• Knowledge of psychometrics and assessment.
• Familiarity with data and reference management tools.
• Understanding of ethical data handling and secure storage.
• Knowledge of Canadian physician assessment and licensure systems.

Competencies

• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention-to-detail and strong analytical skills.
• Strong project management capabilities including planning, coordination, and execution of research activities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple, evolving priorities effectively, including under pressure and within tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the capacity to engage and motivate internal teams and external research collaborators.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within diverse teams
• Ability to influence without formal authority.
• Effective conflict resolution abilities, along with diplomacy, maturity, integrity, and a high level of autonomy.
• Receptive to guidance and feedback from leadership, while maintaining the initiative to work independently.
• Sound judgement, initiative, resourcefulness, and discretion in handling sensitive and complex matters.

Education

• PHD in Assessment or Health Professions Education

Language

• Advanced oral and written skills in English are required, with oral and written skills in French considered an asset

The perks

• A defined benefit pension plan.
• A complete benefit package your first day on the job.
• Three weeks' vacation right off the bat.
• A company paid holiday closure in December - our gift to you!
• A 35-hour work week.
• Compressed and telework programs.
• Free onsite parking - any day, any time.
• Free virtual Mobility and Strength & Conditioning classes.

Visit our Careers page to discover what sets us apart and how we cultivate an environment where employees thrive.

The MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace at all levels of its organization. Our team fosters belonging by welcoming and valuing people with diverse backgrounds and incorporating their experiences and perspectives into our work.

AI-based tools from third-party platforms may be used to support application screening and candidate matching. Human recruiters review all applications and make final hiring decisions.

Accommodations can be provided at all stages of the hiring process; we ask applicants to make their needs known in advance.

Please note that only those invited for an interview will be contacted.