Description

Join to apply for the Research Lead role at Touchstone Institute.

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

About Touchstone Institute
Touchstone Institute is the largest assessment centre of its kind in Canada, providing professional competency assessment and learning programs to support the delivery of high-quality health care.

Touchstone Institute is a non-profit corporation governed by a board of directors and receives financial support from the Government of Ontario. Currently implementing a growth strategy, Touchstone Institute looks to expand its impact in supporting broad health human resource solutions and by strengthening effective practice of health care professionals. Nearly 50 full-time staff contribute to the organization’s success, including experts in competency design, assessment, and health and education program development.

Touchstone Institute works closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers who provide subject matter expertise to assess and improve competency levels across individual practice. Building on its history of facilitating entry to training or practice for Internationally Educated Health Professionals, Touchstone Institute seeks to continue this work while expanding to support excellence in competent practice for all healthcare providers.

Position Description

As a member of the Touchstone Research and Analysis Team, the Research Lead will provide senior-level research/evaluation support to the organization to:

  • Implement, evaluate, and validate current programming.
  • Advance evidence-informed decision making across programs.
  • Create knowledge products to promote knowledge sharing with partners in health professions education and assessment.

The Research Lead will liaise with internal stakeholders to build research and evaluation capacity at all levels of the organization. This is a one-year contract with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

Current Programs

  • Contribute to the development, administration, and evaluation of assessment and learning programs.
  • Lead end-to-end research and evaluation projects from conceptualization to knowledge product development under the guidance of the Managing Director.
  • Conduct literature reviews and create evidence summaries to support program development, validation, and research projects.
  • Consult with staff and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop products and services using assessment/learning theories and methodologies.
  • Create resources to train SMEs on assessment tools and scoring rubrics.
  • Work with the program team and IT to ensure data collection supports program improvement and research activities.

Data Analytics

  • Lead data collection activities for research evaluation initiatives.
  • Link, clean, and transform data from multiple sources to create comprehensive datasets.
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis to contribute to program validation and quality improvement.
  • Develop knowledge products such as reports, briefing notes, presentations, conference submissions, and manuscripts.

Assessment Standards

  • Document assessment program development and implementation following best practices.
  • Ensure adherence to the APA Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing to mitigate legal and reputational risks.

Qualifications

  • Graduate training in Psychology, Education, or Health Services Research, with a focus on quantitative data analysis (PhD is an asset).
  • Intermediate to advanced coursework in statistics and research methods.
  • Minimum 5 years of research experience in an organization.
  • Knowledge of advanced statistics and psychometrics is a strong asset.
  • Experience with program evaluation theories and approaches.
  • Strong writing skills for technical reports and manuscripts.
  • Publication record and success in securing research funding are assets.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Note: The role follows a hybrid work model with in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Candidates must be available to work on-site these days.

Closing date: May 23, 2025.

Touchstone Institute is committed to diversity and accessible employment practices. Accommodations are available upon request during the hiring process.

#J-18808-Ljbffr