Research Assistant

Why make ONWA your career choice?

Make a difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples by supporting and advocating for positive change. ONWA prides itself on providing all employees with a total rewards package that is generous and supports our workforce and their family members:

• Competitive salaries
• Generous paid vacation time
• Paid time off at Christmas above paid vacation time
• Additional paid stat and civic holidays
• 35-hour work week 
• Comprehensive benefits program including health, paramedical, dental, vision, and EAP. All premiums are covered by the employer.
• Healthcare Spending Account and Lifestyle Spending Account
• Participate in CAAT defined benefit pension plan and retire with secure lifetime retirement income
• Paid sick days
• Paid cultural/personal wellness days
  
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Ongoing professional development
  
• Possible reimbursement on a portion of cell phone and internet expenses
  

VISION:

At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we celebrate and honor the safety and healing of Indigenous Women and Girls as they take up their leadership roles in the family, community, provincially, nationally, and internationally for generations to come.

SCOPE:

Reporting to the Research Manager, the Research Assistant provides overall support and assistance to ONWA's Research and Evaluation Portfolio. The Research Assistant assists with community-based research projects and engagements using Indigenous community-based research methodologies and wise practices from Indigenous women.

The Research Assistant collaborates with Researchers and staff working on research projects to prepare information packages, toolkits, and research reports. The position assists in gathering data through various Indigenous research methodologies, conducting gap analyses, and developing preliminary outcome indicators to measure Indigenous women's safety while integrating social and economic determinants.

The Research Assistant participates in working groups on pertinent issues impacting Indigenous women and their families in Ontario. The position brings current developments in provincial and federal policies affecting Indigenous women and their families to the attention of the Research Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Indigenous Studies, Women's Studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum one (1) to three (3) years of related experience in research, policy analysis, community engagement, or project support.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and presentation skills with the ability to follow through on assigned duties independently within strict deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of and adherence to established Indigenous community-based research methodologies while gathering, compiling, and organizing research data and materials.
• Experience conducting environmental scans and literature reviews and synthesizing findings for reports, presentations, materials, and publications while ensuring cultural relevance and sensitivity.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with strong listening skills and the ability to effectively interpret verbal and non-verbal communications.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and competency working with databases and related systems.
• Proven knowledge of analytical techniques including gap analysis and gender-based analysis.
• Ability to compile, organize, and support the analysis of qualitative and quantitative information gathered from multiple sources.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
  

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of and experience working within not-for-profit organizations.
• Experience working with Indigenous organizations is considered an asset.
• Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous community-based research methodologies and wise practices.
  
• Experience working with Indigenous communities and knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, teachings, and community perspectives.
  
• Knowledge and understanding of current issues affecting Indigenous women and their families, including Indigenous Gender-Based Violence and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and 
  Girls (MMIWG).
  
• Knowledge of Indigenous data sovereignty principles and practices. OCAP® training is considered an asset.
  
• Understanding of social determinants of health and their impacts on Indigenous women, families, and communities is considered an asset.
  
• Knowledge of current provincial and federal policy issues affecting Indigenous women and their families.
  
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is considered an asset.
  

Please know, this is an existing role we are looking to fill.

The full salary range for this role is $56,400 - $69,405. ONWA conducts annual performance reviews, and employees may be eligible for salary adjustments based on performance outcomes and available funding.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

If you would like to learn more about the job, please send us an email at [email protected].