The Future Skills Centre – Centre des Compétences futures (FSC-CCF) is an exciting new arms-length research centre established through the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program to strengthen Canada’s skills and training ecosystem and ensure Canadians are skilled and equipped to meet the diverse needs of the nation’s employment market. A collaboration between Ryerson University, the Conference Board of Canada and Blueprint-ADE, the FSC-CCF will identify, replicate, and scale evidence-based solutions to improve knowledge of trends and skills, promote more inclusive and responsive career development processes, and improve access to high quality training. Working in collaboration, the FSC-CCF will access a network of more than 150 partners linking thousands of service providers, employers, community groups, academic and practitioner researchers. Building on this growing community of practice, the consortium will complement existing structures and drive systems change by promoting effective policies and practices. The FSC-CCF will enhance existing networks, promoting collaboration using leading-edge technology platforms to create and disseminate new knowledge. It will advance evidence-driven innovation in skills development to improve outcomes, increase inclusivity and resilience, and fuel growth.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director, Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization will collaborate with consortia partners to access their research expertise and leadership in order to craft and consolidate a strategy that leverages existing research efforts, identifies areas for further inquiry, and works with partners to advance that work as a team. The Director will also supervise the FSC-CCF management and administrative support staff.
The Director will play a key role in leading the following:
- The development and implementation of a Research Strategy focused on advancing Canada’s knowledge base on skills development innovation;
- A pan-Canadian research strategy focused on advancing skills development innovation against the FSC’s strategic goals;
- A learning strategy that defines key research questions to frame pilot projects and partnerships while ensuring rigorous evaluation;
- A thought leadership strategy that consolidates findings to inform further research questions and translate findings into an actionable agenda about “what works” in skills development innovation;
- A knowledge mobilization strategy to effectively disseminate evidence-based findings that can inform and support innovation in skills development;
- A pan-Canadian, cross sectoral network of diverse research partners and stakeholders to leverage expertise and ongoing learning about skills development innovation.
As the ideal candidate, you are a seasoned, passionate and innovative leader with at minimum five years’ experience in a leadership role in applied research, project management and knowledge mobilization, preferably within the public or broader public sector. In that capacity you have demonstrated your ability to manage staff and to foster a work environment and culture characterized by innovation, professionalism, respect, collaboration, continuous learning and accountability. You possess a post-graduate degree in a related field. You have considerable experience in all aspects of knowledge mobilization (e.g., generation, synthesis, critical appraisal, product development, knowledge translation, dissemination, exchange, management and evaluation) including partnership development and engagement. You have experience in program evaluation, managing and maintaining partnerships, managing contracts, and in leading and managing staff within a unionized environment. You have a high degree of comfort working in a new organization that is growing and forming. Being adaptive and flexible with the ability to assume various roles within your key areas of responsibility will be important. Competency with French would be considered and asset.
The FSC-CCF welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
If you are interested in this opportunity offering market-competitive compensation and benefits, please contact Janet Rose, Robert Fleming, or Amorell Saunders N’Daw at 1-866-822-6022, or submit your application online at: www.kbrs.ca/career/14034.