Senior Research and Survey Specialist

Government of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 82,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

The Government of Alberta is seeking a Senior Research and Survey Specialist in Edmonton to lead advanced research, psychometric work, survey design, and reporting that informs performance measurement across the K-12 system.

You will design and review psychometric studies, coordinate survey planning, analyze data, and develop insights for ministry planning, reporting, and accountability, working with cross‑ministry teams to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience applying advanced statistical methods to inform policy.
• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate surveys with psychometric considerations.
• Strong data analysis and reporting for performance metrics.
• Proficiency with SPSS, R, Python, or similar tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and review psychometric research to support performance measurement and policy development.
• Coordinate survey planning, questionnaire development, sampling, administration, and evaluation.
• Analyze survey data and performance information to identify trends and inform ministry planning and reporting.
• Provide expert consultation on research methods, survey design, and reporting processes to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with ministry staff to clarify research needs and develop reporting solutions.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Psychometrics

Survey design

Data interpretation

Education

Master’s degree in measurement and evaluation, applied research, statistics, or related field

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SPSS

R

Python

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Job Information

Job Title: Senior Research and Survey Specialist

Job Requisition ID: 85870

Ministry: Education and Childcare

Location: Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: September 28,2026

Classification: Program Services 4

Salary: $3,148.20-$4,126.82 bi-weekly ($82,168- $107,710/year)

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

Strategic Services and Governance Division

The Strategic Services and Governance Division is responsible for providing policy development and corporate planning services for the department and coordinating intergovernmental strategy and providing support for international education.

Corporate Planning Branch

The Corporate Planning Branch is responsible for ministry planning and reporting, including ministry business planning and reporting, operational planning, enterprise risk management, performance measurement and reporting.

For more information on the Ministry of Education, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/education.aspx .

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Performance Measurement and Reporting, the Senior Research and Survey Specialist provides advanced research, psychometric expertise, survey design, statistical analysis, and reporting support to inform performance measurement and accountability for Alberta’s K-12 education system.

Research Design & Psychometric Expertise

• Design, conduct, and review psychometric research, trends, and benchmarking activities to support performance measurement, policy development, and survey research.
• Provide expert advice on psychometric methodologies, research design, survey feasibility, sampling approaches, and the appropriate use of statistical techniques.

Survey Design, Implementation & Administration

• Coordinate survey planning, questionnaire development, sampling strategies, administration, implementation, and evaluation to ensure reliable, valid, and meaningful results.
• Provide methodological advice on question design, survey execution, data collection, and quality assurance for provincial education surveys and performance measures.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Performance Measurement

• Analyze survey data and performance information to identify trends, assess implications, and inform ministry planning, reporting, and decision-making.
• Support the development, monitoring, and continuous improvement of performance measurement frameworks, reporting methodologies, targets, and accountability mechanisms.

Consultation, Advice & Stakeholder Support

• Provide expert consultation and guidance to ministry staff, cross-ministry teams, and working groups on research methods, survey development, psychometric analysis, and reporting processes.
• Collaborate with ministry representatives and stakeholders to clarify research needs, assess feasibility, develop solutions, and enhance reporting processes in support of continuous improvement.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on this position.

APS Compentencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

• Systems Thinking: Considers how survey design, psychometric research, statistical analysis, performance measures, and reporting processes connect to broader ministry priorities and Alberta’s K-12 education system outcomes. Anticipates impacts, uses evidence and stakeholder perspectives to identify trends and implications, and supports sound, defensible recommendations for performance measurement and accountability.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Builds and maintains effective relationships with ministry staff, cross-ministry partners, contracted service providers, and education system stakeholders to support survey planning, research activities, performance reporting, and continuous improvement. Facilitates consultation, shares technical expertise clearly, and helps integrate diverse perspectives into practical solutions.
• Agility: Adapts to changing ministry priorities, survey requirements, reporting timelines, stakeholder needs, and emerging research or analytical approaches. Demonstrates initiative by identifying opportunities to improve survey methodologies, performance measurement frameworks, reporting processes, and analytical products while managing multiple complex assignments.
• Drive for Results: Delivers accurate, timely, and high-quality research, survey, analytical, briefing, and reporting products that inform ministry planning, accountability, and decision-making. Plans and coordinates projects, resolves implementation issues, verifies data and methodologies, and ensures results are meaningful, reliable, and appropriate for internal and external audiences.

Qualifications

University graduation (measurement and evaluation, applied research, advanced statistics, psychometrics, education, social sciences, public administration), or a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency

Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Required Skills

• Experience in applying advanced statistical, research, psychometric, survey, or evaluation methodologies to support evidence-based analysis and recommendations.
• Experience designing, implementing, evaluating, and quality-assuring surveys, including questionnaire design, sampling, administration, and related psychometric analysis.
• Experience analyzing complex quantitative data, interpreting trends and implications, and developing reports, briefings, presentations, and recommendations for varied audiences.
• Proficiency using statistical, analytical, or reporting software such as SPSS, R, Python, Visual Basic, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent tools.
• Experience developing or supporting performance measures, indicators, targets, methodologies, reporting frameworks, or accountability processes.
• Strong consultation, communication, project management, organizational, and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently and with discretion.

Assets

• Master’s degree in measurement and evaluation, applied research, advanced statistics, psychometrics, education, social sciences, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience supporting ministry business planning, annual reporting, performance measurement, accountability reporting, or corporate planning processes.
• Knowledge of Government of Alberta performance measurement, reporting, business planning, annual reporting, or accountability frameworks.
• Experience working with provincial education data, education system performance measures, satisfaction surveys, or K-12 education stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating contracted survey, research, analytics, or evaluation services, including proposals, work plans, deliverables, and vendor relationships.
• Experience participating in cross-ministry committees, communities of practice, working groups, or stakeholder engagement initiatives related to research, reporting, or performance measurement.
• Experience developing innovative approaches, tools, templates, dashboards, or reporting processes to improve data analysis, survey administration, or performance reporting.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

This is a permanent in-person position located in Edmonton, AB. This position works 36.25 hours per week, 8:15am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Links And Information On What We Have To Offer

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Liliane Karara at [e-mail] .