Career Opportunity
Summer Youth Opportunity – Research Officer
Competition #: 2026-08
Posting Period: April 22, 2026
to May 3, 2026
Location: Ottawa (Hybrid) Position Status: 8 weeks, 35 hours per weekNumber of position available: 1Hourly Wage: $23.40
Position Summary and Responsibilities:
Please Note: This position is partially funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program. To apply you must be:
- Must be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment.
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
- have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
- International students are not eligible.
This role is based in Ottawa, but serves the region of Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark and Renfrew Counties. This position is a hybrid position with two days a week expected onsite
Tasks and Responsibilities:
The Community Impact department of United Way East Ontario is offering a summer development experience for a young professional to support the research behind an update to our Strategic Priorities that support the children and youth to succeed, and improve community equity, connections and belonging. We are currently working in a hybrid environment using a variety of virtual engagement and digital project management tools.
The Research Officer, will work with United Way East Ontario’s Community Impact, notably the Strategic Priority Review project team, to identify and fill existing gaps in knowledge about who is most vulnerable in East Ontario, barriers to overcome, as well as provide insights into innovative preventative solutions for systemic change. The officer is responsible for research tasks that include:
- Co-design a research plan with the Strategic Priority Review project team
- Gather and synthesize data to be used to identify high priority populations, set benchmarks and report on our work
- Apply various research methods to write environmental scans, content reviews, literature reviews, and briefings.
- Meet with community partners to consult and/or gather information on different issues, as needed.
- Explore new data sets that can be used to measure United Way’s local impact
- Monitor news and official announcements for policy changes relevant to United Way’s work to ensure children and youth are on track to succeed, and our community is great for everyone by improving equity, inclusion and belonging.
- Participate in UWEO meetings and events
- Present the research findings to the senior management team
Qualifications:
- Students currently completing a graduate or undergraduate degree or diploma in Sociology, Political Science, Public Administration, Planning, Community Development, Rural Studies or Social Sciences.
- 2+ years experience creating briefing notes, literature reviews and/or environmental scans.
- Intermediate knowledge of excel and database search techniques
Skills:
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Strong judgment, discretion and critical thinking skills that align with the objectives of United Way East Ontario.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-faceted environment.
- Excellent project and time management skills leading to an ability to balance and manage competing interests.
- Proactive research practices to stay informed of emerging issues and topics of interest to United Way.
- Experience with editing, proofreading and factchecking.
- Experience working with quantitative data analysis and meta-data tools
- Flexibility, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity.
- Strong listening skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently.
- Criminal and credit check required.
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit a detailed cover letter and a resume indicating their interest in the role in confidence by May 3rd, 2026. Please quote the competition number when submitting your resume.
United Way East Ontario does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position.
United Way East Ontario encourages qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those who may need accommodation, to apply to join our staff team. Please advise if you require accommodation throughout the recruitment process.
We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
