Community Initiatives & Research Specialist

Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 71,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization in Edmonton is seeking a Community Initiatives & Research Specialist to support its community-focused projects. The ideal candidate will provide facilitation and coordination for community tables, collect and analyze data for decision-making, and enhance collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Strong communication and organizational skills, alongside a background in social sciences or community development, are essential. This role offers a salary range of $71,397 to $75,000 annually, with various benefits and a flexible work environment.

Benefits

Health and Dental Benefit Package

12 Wellness Days per calendar year

Unlimited paid vacation

Flexible hours

RSP Matching Program

Qualifications

• 4 to 6 years of experience in a related role.
• Experience in systems and social change.
• Training or certification in evaluation or community engagement is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide facilitation and support for community tables.
• Collect and analyze data to monitor sector-wide trends.
• Support evidence-based planning and reporting.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Analytical thinking

Collaboration

Education

Post-secondary education in social sciences, community development, or public policy

Job description

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) is a member‑based non‑profit organization serving voluntary sector organizations in Metro Edmonton by supporting the growth and development of their volunteer programs and services through resources, networking, and skill development opportunities. Members of ECVO represent a wide array of subsectors, missions, and mandates, each working to improve quality of life in our communities.

Additional information about our organization can be found by visiting our website: www.ecvo.ca

THE OPPORTUNITY

ECVO provides backbone support for the Human Services Council (HSC) that focuses on advancing community‑driven initiatives in the human services sector through inclusive engagement, collaborative research, and strategic convening. The HSC centres specifically on the human services ecosystem, aligning organizations, funders, and partners around shared goals and designing long‑term, collaborative solutions for sector transformation.

The Community Initiatives & Research Specialist plays a key role in supporting the HSC by establishing & coordinating community tables, supporting the development and implementation of program initiatives, providing research information and analysis, and ensuring meaningful representation of diverse voices throughout.

Reporting to the Manager, Strategy & Engagement, the Community Initiatives & Research Specialist provides coordination, research, and evaluation support to advance the HSC’s strategic goals and support long‑term systems transformation.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination and Backbone Support – 60%

Under the guidance of the Manager, Strategy & Engagement the Specialist ensures that community‑driven initiatives are well‑supported, evidence informed and aligned with the HSC’s strategy. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing facilitation, coordination and logistical support for the development and ongoing work of community tables and collaborative initiatives.
• Administrative support for the community tables including agenda preparation, minute taking, correspondence, and follow‑up actions.
• Tracking and reporting on the progress and impact of initiatives identified by the community tables.
• Collaborating with social service agencies, key partners, and others to identify needs, opportunities and emerging issues for collective action.
• Supporting inclusive engagement processes that elevate community voices and ensure diverse representation in the HSC initiatives.

Research, Evaluation & Learning – 30%

This role will support research and evaluation methods that contribute to the development and implementation of the HSC’s theory of change and evaluation framework while ensuring alignment with the four strategic pillars: Workforce, Data & Storytelling, Inclusive Governance and Collective Voice. Responsibilities will include:

• Collecting, analyzing and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data to monitor sector‑wide trends, challenges and opportunities.
• Tracking and reporting on initiative progress, milestones and impacts.
• Supporting evidence‑based planning and reporting.
• Preparing research summaries and environmental scans to inform decision‑making.
• Supporting knowledge mobilization efforts by preparing summaries, reports, and presentations that communicate key insights, data, and stories across the sector.
• Staying informed about emerging trends, policies, and environmental factors that may affect initiatives of the HSC and goal setting.
• Upholding data integrity, equity, and confidentiality in all research and reporting activities.
• Contributing to the development of tools, resources, and training to strengthen sector capacity in evaluation, storytelling, and inclusive governance.

Organizational Supports – 10%

• Actively engaging in program development and improvement and contributing to the ECVO team.
• Supporting the ECVO in written funding applications and reporting to key funders.
• Participating in activities that support the growth and development of the ECVO.
• Other activities as assigned.

IS THIS ROLE FOR YOU?

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact while working with a dynamic, forward‑thinking team? ECVO is looking for a creative, driven, and adaptable individual to support our HSC initiatives. If you thrive in fast‑paced environments, love tackling new challenges, and bring a collaborative spirit to everything you do – we want to hear from you!

We’re seeking someone who’s not only a self‑starter with a positive attitude, but also a community builder who thrives on building relationships and fostering collaboration. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with a solid research background, analytical thinking and experience in data collection and presenting findings. Professionalism, flexibility, and accountability are key within our organization – and if you bring a sense of fun and curiosity to your work, even better!

What you’ll bring

• Post‑secondary education in a relevant field (for example: social sciences, community development, public policy).
• Four to six years of experience in a related role.
• Experience in systems and social change, collaborative initiatives, or complex collaborations.
• Training or certification in evaluation, facilitation, community engagement would be an asset.

WHY WORK WITH US?

Our organization supports our team’s work/life balance through continually evolving and exploring health and wellness initiatives.

Salary: $71,397-75,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Hours of Work: Full‑Time, Monday through Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Benefits

• Health and Dental Benefit Package
• 12 Wellness Days per calendar year
• Unlimited paid vacation
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Flexible hours
• RSP Matching Program

EQUITY STATEMENT

The ECVO greatly values diversity of thought and experience and believes this is essential to a thriving organization and sector. We are sincere in our approach to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where individuals feel valued and respected for their differences. We continually strive to identify, remove and reduce barriers in the recruitment and selection process and promote fairness, equity, and inclusion in all areas of our employment practices. The ECVO welcomes all applicants regardless of race, religion, gender identity, disability, or status.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: [e-mail]

We want to thank all applicants for their submissions, but only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

The successful candidate must be lawfully eligible to work in Canada.

Deadline to apply: January 5, 2026