Senior Research and Survey Specialist

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 in a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Master’s degree in measurement and evaluation, applied research, advanced statistics, psychometrics, education, social sciences, public administration, or a related field with 5 years of related experience would be preferred. 

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

• 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.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.

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.