Head of Research

Jobtailor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Toronto, Canada, seeks a lead research analyst to produce findings from public data, policy, and proprietary signals, and to forecast immigration trends. You will develop living market models and publish flagship reports while aligning research with the COO's agenda.

Required depth in migration, demography, or public policy, plus strong data storytelling and publication cadence. AI-enabled data wrangling and rigorous methodologies are essential, with Canada-focused context a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience with census and administrative datasets, survey design, or population modeling.
• Domain depth in migration, demography, or public policy, or demonstrated ability to build it quickly.
• Translate rigorous findings into headlines and journalist-quotable writing.
• Experience with a cadence of publications, reports, or briefings.
• Use of AI throughout the workflow for data wrangling, literature synthesis, or model prototyping.
• Intellectual honesty and commitment to rigorous, caveated findings.
• Comfort being the entire research function initially.
• Direct Canadian immigration, citizenship, or diaspora research experience is a bonus.
• Experience at Statistics Canada, IRCC, a think tank, or migration-focused academic centre is a bonus.
• Public research byline is a bonus.
• Genealogy, historical-records, or population-ancestry research exposure is a bonus.
• Experience making research a growth engine is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Produce original findings, models, and analysis from public data, policy, and proprietary company signal
• Answer market-sizing questions and maintain living market models
• Track policy signals and program data to forecast immigration trends
• Produce original data stories, eligibility analyses, trend pieces, and annual flagship reports
• Build methods, privacy discipline, and rigor for converting search demand, community questions, assessment data, and case patterns into insights
• Size new practice areas and markets for company investment decisions
• Represent research through methodology notes, media briefings, and occasional speaking engagements
• Set the research agenda with the COO
• Coordinate the publishing calendar with the media team
• Supply research for CV Labs and CanadaVisa content, newsletters, PR, strategy, and policy conversations

Skills

Empirical Research

Demographic Data Analysis

Policy Analysis

AI Data Wrangling

Migration Research

Census Data Analysis

Survey Design

Population Modeling

Data Storytelling

Market Sizing

Trend Analysis

Research Methodology

Statistical Analysis

Data Visualization

Report Writing

Intellectual Honesty

Communication

Collaboration

Adaptability

Critical Thinking

Education

PhD (Preferred)

Tools

AI Tools

Statistical Software

Data Management Systems

Content Management Systems

Publishing Platforms

Job description

• Produce original findings, models, and analysis from public data, policy, and proprietary company signal
• Answer market-sizing questions and maintain living market models
• Track policy signals and program data to forecast immigration trends
• Produce original data stories, eligibility analyses, trend pieces, and annual flagship reports
• Build methods, privacy discipline, and rigor for converting search demand, community questions, assessment data, and case patterns into insights
• Size new practice areas and markets for company investment decisions
• Represent research through methodology notes, media briefings, and occasional speaking engagements
• Set the research agenda with the COO
• Coordinate the publishing calendar with the media team
• Supply research for CV Labs and CanadaVisa content, newsletters, PR, strategy, and policy conversations

Requirements

• Serious empirical work with demographic, economic, or policy data
• Experience with census and administrative datasets, survey design, or population modeling
• Domain depth in migration, demography, or public policy, or demonstrated ability to build it quickly
• Ability to translate rigorous findings into headlines and journalist-quotable writing
• Experience working to a cadence of publications, reports, or briefings
• Use of AI throughout the workflow for data wrangling, literature synthesis, or model prototyping
• Intellectual honesty and commitment to rigorous, caveated findings
• Comfort being the entire research function initially
• PhD is a strong signal but not a requirement
• Direct Canadian immigration, citizenship, or diaspora research experience is a bonus
• Experience at Statistics Canada, IRCC, a think tank, or migration-focused academic centre is a bonus
• Public research byline is a bonus
• Genealogy, historical-records, or population-ancestry research exposure is a bonus
• Experience making research a growth engine is a bonus

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in empirical research, particularly with demographic, economic, and policy data, while effectively translating complex findings into accessible narratives. Proficient in utilizing AI for data analysis and maintaining rigorous methodologies in research outputs.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Empirical Research
• Demographic Data Analysis
• Policy Analysis
• AI Data Wrangling
• Migration Research

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Census Data Analysis
• Survey Design
• Population Modeling
• Data Storytelling
• Market Sizing
• Trend Analysis
• Research Methodology
• Statistical Analysis
• Data Visualization
• Report Writing

Soft Skills

• Intellectual Honesty
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Critical Thinking

Certifications & Qualifications

• PhD (Preferred)

Industry Keywords

• Migration
• Demography
• Public Policy
• Statistics Canada
• IRCC
• Think Tank
• Research Publication
• Genealogy
• Population Ancestry
• Immigration Trends

Tools & Technologies

• AI Tools
• Statistical Software
• Data Management Systems
• Content Management Systems
• Publishing Platforms