Senior Research Associate, Indigenous Data Governance Matters

Pour obtenir une traduction en français de l’offre d’emploi suivante, veuillez envoyer un courriel à careers@ontariohealth.ca. Les demandes seront traitées dans un délai de trois jours ouvrables et la période de dépôt des demandes sera prolongée de trois jours.

 

To obtain a French translation of the following job posting, please email careers@ontariohealth.ca. Requests will be addressed within three business days, and the application window will be extended by three business days.

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value. How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity, humility and care.   

What Ontario Health offers:   

 

Achieving your career goals is a priority to us. Benefits of working at Ontario Health may include the following based on employment type:   

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day  

• a health care spending or wellness spending account  

• a premium defined benefit pension plan  

• three personal days and two float days annually  

• three weeks’ vacation to start (for individual contributors), increasing to four weeks after two years 

• career development opportunities  

• a collaborative values-based team culture  

• a wellness program 

• a hybrid working model  

• participation in Communities of Inclusion   

Want to make a difference in your career?  Consider this opportunity.   

The Indigenous Health Unit (IHU) is committed to fostering strong relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) communities, leadership, and organizations to ensure Ontario Health’s (OH) care system reflects and addresses their needs. This work is grounded in open communication, partnership, and respect. The IHU collaborates directly with OH Regions and Regional Cancer Programs to ensure strategies and programs are relevant and effective at the community level. It is also responsible for developing a coordinated engagement model with FNIMUI partners, leading Indigenous health initiatives across OH and the Regions, creating FNIMUI Health Frameworks and Cancer Strategies, and advancing the OH Indigenous Data Governance Matters (IDGM) initiative in partnership with FNIMUI communities.

The OH IDGM initiative was established to uphold FNIMUI data sovereignty and governance principles. It is being developed and implemented in collaboration with distinct FNIMUI partners across Ontario. The initiative includes an internal OH process designed to protect FNIMUI data held at OH and to guide the organization in using this data respectfully and responsibly. This process facilitates FNIMUI data requests and ensures appropriate FNIMUI partners, governance committees, or approval groups are engaged in reviewing, providing input on, and approving OH projects involving their data. The process is continuously refined in partnership with FNIMUI communities and aims to:

• Work alongside and build upon existing FNIMUI data governance models and processes developed by FNIMUI communities and organizations.

• Enhance OH’s data processes by introducing additional accountability for projects involving FNIMUI-identifying data. This includes:

• Requiring OH teams to complete a detailed IDGM application intake form outlining how their proposed work respects FNIMUI data sovereignty and governance principles and benefits FNIMUI communities and organizations.

• Supporting FNIMUI partners in reviewing, providing input on, and approving relevant OH projects involving FNIMUI-identifying data.

Another key objective of the OH IDGM initiative is to support FNIMUI partners and communities in accessing their own health data held at OH to advance their health priorities and community-led initiatives. The IDGM Research Associate will play a central role in supporting and sustaining relationships with FNIMUI and internal partners to further develop, implement, refine, formalize, and maintain the OH IDGM process. This role ensures the process continues to respect and uphold FNIMUI data sovereignty and governance principles. Responsibilities include working with OH teams on IDGM applications and supporting FNIMUI partners in reviewing and approving relevant OH projects involving their health data. The Research Associate will also collaborate proactively with FNIMUI partners on research and evaluation projects and contribute to developing organizational processes that enable FNIMUI communities to access and use their health data to support their priorities and initiatives. Working within a multidisciplinary and cross-functional team, the Research Associate will gain valuable experience across a range of initiatives.

Here is what you will be doing:

• Understand and uphold FNIMUI data governance principles to support the OH IDGM initiative.

• Collaborate with internal and external partners to refine and implement the OH IDGM process, including reviewing applications, providing feedback, working with internal teams to revise proposals, summarizing and sharing applications with FNIMUI partners for review and approval, and supporting ongoing monitoring and engagement.

• Serve as a key relationship facilitator with internal Ontario Health teams and FNIMUI communities, building on existing relationships and establishing new, nuanced partnerships.

• Monitor IDGM application correspondence, track submissions, and support ongoing requests and projects.

• Stay current with literature on governance models at the provincial, national, and international levels.

• Support communication about the OH IDGM initiative within Ontario Health, regional and provincial agencies, and with FNIMUI partners.

• Engage effectively with high-level stakeholders to maintain the reputation of Ontario Health and the Indigenous Health Unit.

• Ensure OH business units engage FNIMUI partners appropriately and follow culturally respectful engagement protocols.

• Maintain an up-to-date list of FNIMUI approval bodies and advisory groups in Ontario.

• Contribute to the development of FNIMUI data inventories and dictionaries at OH.

• Create and present materials using strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills, effectively conveying complex concepts to diverse audiences.

• Support administration and reporting for relevant research and program grants.

• Apply quantitative and qualitative methods to measure, monitor, and evaluate OH system performance in collaboration with FNIMUI communities.

• Strengthen research and evaluation capacity among FNIMUI partners.

• Address health system gaps through knowledge exchange activities with FNIMUI partners.

• Participate in Measure, Monitor, and Evaluate team meetings and other IHU meetings to share updates and collaborate with Ontario Health and Regional Indigenous Leads.

• Assist with research grant applications that address community-prioritized questions.

• Collaborate with internal and external partners on shared priorities aligned with provincial FNIMUI goals.

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

• Completion of a master’s degree in a health-related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• A minimum of 3–5 years of experience leading and supporting healthcare projects, programs, or research.

• Experience working with FNIMUI communities and supporting FNIMUI health-related initiatives.

• Proficiency in working with qualitative and quantitative data, conducting literature reviews, and developing knowledge translation and exchange materials for diverse audiences.

• Experience collaborating with researchers and organizations focused on FNIMUI health and well-being.

• Experience addressing FNIMUI chronic disease issues is considered an asset.

• Strong understanding of the social determinants of health and health equity.

• Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and research analysis software.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis history, culture, and health and socio-economic issues in Ontario, including governance structures.

• Familiarity with FNIMUI community-based participatory research methodologies that inform program development or enhancement.

• Effective relationship management, leadership, and communication skills to support IDGM work with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, FNIMUI communities, and healthcare organizations.

• Ability to manage and foster stakeholder relationships while recognizing when to escalate issues to leadership to mitigate risks to relationships and the reputation of Ontario Health.

• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships and work productively in a multidisciplinary team environment with minimal supervision.

• Exceptional attention to detail, with strong organizational and time management skills.

• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills to support sound decision-making and risk management.

• Ability to prepare analyses, briefing notes, reports, visual schematics, and presentations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Location: GTA, Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change)

#LI-hybrid

Employment Type:

Temporary + (Fixed Term) Full time

Contract Length:

20 Month(s)

Salary Band:

Band 5

External Application Deadline Date:

July 14, 2025

All applicants must be a resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.  

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; members of Black and racialized groups; 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary individuals; and people living with disabilities.

Ontario Health is an accessible employer, and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email careers@ontariohealth.ca and a member of the team will connect with you within 48 hours.