Description

The Department of Family Medicine in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Senior Research Associate. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 6 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Principal Investigator.

This position will support research projects within the Department of Family Medicine and the DFM Research program, including our practice-based research network (SAPCReN). The incumbent is expected to work closely with research project staff and provide oversight and mentorship in the execution of research protocols. This role requires judgement and decision-making which impacts programs, services, and/or departmental operations. The role works in an environment where there is ambiguity, continuous change, and shifting priorities. Peak periods during the year are stressful because of high volume, and the work requires management of competing interests with satisfactory outcomes for all involved. This requires a high level of collaborative work with large project teams, as well as external collaborators. The Senior Research Associate will serve as a key resource to all those involved in project activities including providing direct mentorship and in-scope supervision to research associates, research assistants, and research students.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Research Activities:

• Supports all aspects of ethics applications, participant recruitment, data collection, analysis, and knowledge translation
• Responsible for participant recruitment and all activities related to maintaining accurate records of participation and consents, delegating activities to other project team members as appropriate
• Conducts qualitative interviews and develops codebooks as appropriate to guide qualitative analysis
• Conducts qualitative analysis of project data, working with the team to appropriate abstraction of results and mentoring others to do the same
• Develops and adapts research protocols
• Oversees the development of and plans, coordinates and analyses research implementation indicators
• Oversees the preparation of literature reviews to support research activities

Leadership and Management:

• Leads the planning, implementation, and execution of research activities in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and project team
• Provides project management related to implementation study activities, including development of timelines and oversight of project staff to ensure tasks are completed on time
• Provides expert advice and guidance to the project teams regarding evaluation and mixed-methods research activities
• Supervises research associates, research assistants, and research students in completion of research activities, providing mentorship and training
• Manages a diverse group of research staff, including hiring, performance reviews and terminations, as needed
• Ensures work tasks are completed on schedule and standards and policies are followed
• Defines roles and responsibilities of staff, based on understanding of individual skills and project requirements

Communication & Relationships:

• Ensures effective communication of research activities and outcomes within the large research teams and to diverse external stakeholders. Keeps research team well informed of changes related to research activities
• Effectively communicates relevant project information to Principal Investigator(s) and research team
• Promotes collaboration and knowledge translation with internal and external members at every opportunity
• Delivers engaging, informative, well-organized presentations
• Resolves and/or escalates issues in a timely fashion
• Coordinates and manages project meetings
• Understands how to communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Minimum Master's degree or higher with health sciences, social sciences or humanities background with formal research training with knowledge of qualitative research methods
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working within a healthcare and/or University environment, with progressive advancement in research and project coordination. Alberta experience is an asset
• Well-developed knowledge and expertise in the Primary Health Care setting, particularly conducting research with physicians and patients
• Experience setting timelines for the team, providing mentorship, giving direction, and supervising other members of the research team required
• Effective time and project management, organizational skills, supervisory skills, leadership skills, facilitation skills, personal initiative, and teamwork with a history of meeting commitments and deadlines
• Experience & training in diverse health services and evaluative research methods and methodologies
• Experience writing ethics protocols, development of data collection forms, enrolment of participants, qualitative interviewing, ethnographic observations, qualitative analysis, and report generation required
• Experience presenting at research forums, and writing manuscripts for publication required
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to communicate effectively with diverse audiences including policy makers, academics, senior leaders, and socially vulnerable clients
• Ability to work independently and to accept responsibility for complex and sensitive decision-making
• Results-driven individual with a history of delivering high-quality work
• Strong collaborative and problem-solving skills
• Capable of juggling multiple tasks

Application Deadline: September 23, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in the Research Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website .