Research Analyst; Level I​/II

Job Title: Research Analyst (Level I/II)

Department: Research & Advocacy

Reporting to: Vice President, Research & Advocacy

Location: 191 New Toronto Street, Toronto, ON, M8V 2E7

Salary: $70,000-$90,000 per annum, commensurate with experience and level

Terms: 35 hours a week / Permanent, Full-Time, Hybrid

This position is being posted at the Research Analyst or Senior Research Analyst level; the final level will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Daily Bread’s Research & Advocacy team conducts critical research on poverty and food insecurity and advances evidence-based policy solutions with all levels of government. The Research Analyst plays a vital role in supporting this mission by coordinating and conducting qualitative, quantitative, and secondary research to understand the root causes of food insecurity and the impacts of government policies on our food bank clients.

In this role, you will coordinate and deliver key data and research products while identifying and effectively communicating notable trends, inequities, and emerging issues, including for our annual "Who’s Hungry" initiative. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Developing research work plans, study designs, and data collection tools to support qualitative, quantitative, and secondary research projects;
• Conducting primary and secondary research, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and literature reviews;
• Cleaning, managing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, including Statistics Canada, Daily Bread’s client intake database, and survey findings, while maintaining data integrity;
• Coordinating research committee meetings and data collection logistics;
• Supporting policy analysis and research on issues related to poverty reduction and access to food;
• Identifying key findings, trends, inequities, and emerging issues, and clearly communicating their implications for internal staff, sector partners, and advocacy efforts through accessible written products, slide decks, presentations, and other audience-appropriate materials;
• Reviewing communications and public-facing materials to ensure data accuracy and consistency;
• Representing Daily Bread in meetings with external stakeholders, including community partners, government staff, elected representatives, students, and educators;
• Providing research and data analysis support to other Daily Bread departments as needed.

• Post‑secondary degree in a relevant field (graduate level preferred) or equivalent professional experience and training in applied research, evaluation, or data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience designing and carrying out qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods research using sound research practices and maintaining data integrity.
• Strong analytical judgement, critical thinking, and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to identify the right evidence, ask the right questions, interpret complex data, and generate meaningful, actionable insights.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including the ability to communicate key findings, trends, and policy implications clearly and accessibly through reports, briefing notes, slide decks, presentations, and other audience‑appropriate materials.
• Experience managing research projects from inception to completion, including developing timelines, sequencing tasks, managing multiple priorities, and identifying or mitigating risks.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and SPSS or another statistical analysis program is required; experience working with large datasets, Power BI, or other data visualization tools is an asset.
• Collaborative, inclusive, and professional, with the ability to build trust, work effectively with teammates, organizational partners, and community members, and exercise discretion and respect for confidentiality.
• Organized, resourceful, and detail‑oriented, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Experience producing public‑facing, advocacy‑oriented, or policy‑related research outputs is an asset, as is experience in community‑based research or knowledge of…