Kind Minds Family Wellness (KMFW) Member (Lead, Research)
- Hours: 20–28 hours/week
- Pay: 30–35/hour
- Contract–Renewable annually
- Hybrid work model
- Flexible work schedule
- Up to 8 free counselling sessions
- Available parking
- Mileage reimbursement for approved work-related travel
- Reimbursement of approved work-related expenses
- Potential contract extension based on performance and mutual fit
- Opportunity to contribute to broader organizational initiatives and community projects
- Location: Hybrid. This role requires regular in-person engagement with community members, service providers, and Black-led organizations — it is not a remote position.
- Start Date: As soon as possible, upon successful completion of the recruitment process.
- Equity and Accessibility: Kind Minds Family Wellness is committed to an equitable, inclusive, and accessible recruitment process. All candidates are assessed consistently against the requirements of the position. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process upon request.
Overview
Kind Minds Family Wellness (KMFW) is seeking a Lead Research to take ownership of the research and evaluation strategy across KMFW's community-based programs. This is a leadership role: you will set the research approach, make judgment calls on methodology and ethics as issues arise, and be trusted to solve problems independently rather than escalate every decision. This role may support one or more concurrent initiatives depending on organizational need.
You will lead the design and execution of intervention research and evaluation activities end-to-end, from protocol development through data collection, analysis, and knowledge mobilization, ensuring every stage is grounded in Afrocentric, anti-racist, and trauma- and violence-informed frameworks. Working closely with program leadership, community partners, researchers, service providers, and Black-led organizations, you will drive how community perspectives get embedded into the research itself, not just consulted on afterward. You will also shape culturally grounded training tools and lead the translation of research findings into resources, reports, and policy recommendations that genuinely strengthen services for the families and communities KMFW serves. We're looking for someone who takes initiative, spots problems before they escalate, and is comfortable making decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving community-based work — not someone who waits to be told what to do next.
Key Responsibilities
Research Design and Protocol Management
- Own the design and ongoing management of research protocols, making independent methodological decisions aligned with each program's intervention research and evaluation objectives.
- Lead the drafting and submission of ethics protocols to the Community Research Ethics Office (CREO), proactively resolving reviewer feedback rather than simply passing it along.
- Take direct responsibility for ensuring full ethics clearance is secured before any data collection begins — flag and solve compliance gaps before they become problems.
- Monitor ethical compliance across every phase of research and step in decisively when an issue is identified, rather than waiting for it to be raised by others.
- Anticipate the need for protocol amendments as research progresses and lead the process of updating and re-approving them.
Data Collection and Analysis
- Design and lead administration of pre-, mid-, and post-training surveys for participating service provider staff, adapting the approach when response patterns or field conditions call for it.
- Lead focus groups and interviews with service users, caregivers, and community participants, exercising judgment to adjust facilitation in the moment as needed.
- Lead qualitative data analysis end-to-end, including thematic analysis of interviews, focus groups, and needs assessment findings, and identify emerging patterns proactively rather than only reporting what was asked for.
- Track and interpret organizational change among participating service providers; policy shifts, referral practices, service delivery improvements, and flag implications for the program's direction.
- Conduct key informant interviews with service providers and organizational leaders, probing beyond surface answers to assess real policies, tools, and data practices.
- Synthesize environmental scan and evaluation findings into comprehensive reports, drawing out implications and recommendations rather than only summarizing data.
Curriculum and Tool Development Support
- Co-lead the design and refinement of culturally grounded training series and intervention support tools, bringing forward original ideas rather than only executing others' direction.
- Develop pre- and post-assessment tools and qualitative research instruments aligned with each program's intervention research plan.
- Critically review training and research materials through an anti-racist and culturally grounded lens, and push back or revise where materials fall short.
- Take ownership of cultural safety and relevance in language, framing, and case studies used across research and training materials.
Knowledge Mobilization
- Lead validation of research findings with community partners and Black-led organizations before publication or dissemination, resolving disagreements about framing directly with stakeholders.
- Lead the sharing of preliminary findings with community stakeholders using accessible formats, including storytelling and Afrocentric knowledge-sharing approaches.
- Document program strengths, limitations, and lessons learned, and proactively recommend adjustments based on what's observed.
- Develop infographics, research reports, and plain-language briefs that make findings genuinely usable for community and program audiences.
- Identify opportunities for and prepare presentation proposals for national conferences.
- Represent KMFW's research at conferences, webinars, and community events.
Collaboration and Ethical Compliance
- Ensure consent forms and participant materials are translated and genuinely accessible — identify gaps proactively rather than waiting for complaints.
- Lead training and guidance for program staff and facilitators on TCPS2 ethical principles for research involving human participants.
- Actively contribute to relevant Communities of Practice, including quarterly virtual meetings and annual in-person gatherings, bringing forward issues and ideas rather than attending passively.
- Work as a genuine partner — not just a coordinator — with program partners, community organizations, and service providers to keep the research community-informed and culturally responsive.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience in research management, program evaluation, or intervention research, preferably within community-based, public health, or social service settings.
- Strong understanding of Afrocentric, anti-racist, and trauma- and violence-informed research approaches.
- Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and thematic analysis.
- Familiarity with research ethics processes and TCPS2 guidelines for research involving human participants.
- Experience working collaboratively with Black communities, community organizations, and service providers, and genuine alignment with KMFW's mission and values.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, exercise sound independent judgment, and solve problems in ambiguous or fast-changing community-based settings.
- Strong analytical, writing, and knowledge translation skills.
- Ability to synthesize complex research findings into accessible and community-friendly formats.
- Excellent project coordination and organizational skills.
- Knowledge of the communities and service landscapes served by KMFW's programs is considered an asset.
- Master's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Sociology, Community Psychology, Evaluation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
Why Join Kind Minds Family Wellness?
At Kind Minds Family Wellness, your work contributes to the well-being of children, youth, and families. We value people who bring curiosity, compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to meaningful work. If you are looking for an opportunity where your skills can make a difference, we invite you to apply.
Pay: $30.00-$35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Flexible schedule
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Describe the most significant research study you have personally led. What was the research question, what methodology did you use, what data did you collect or work with, and what did your analysis demonstrate?
- What experience do you have conducting qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, or other qualitative data collection? Please describe how you moved from raw data to coding, thematic analysis, interpretation, and research findings.
- Describe your experience taking research findings beyond the analysis stage and turning them into a research report, publication, presentation, knowledge product, or policy recommendation. What did you personally produce, and how did you ensure that the interpretation accurately reflected the underlying research data?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kitchener, ON N2G 1A3
