Road Safety Researcher

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Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position will work 0.50FTE (17.5 hours/week).

Note: Only the Full Time Compensation Range is displayed on the job posting details advertised on the UBC Career sites. The salary for this position will be pro-rated for 0.50FTE.

This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The responsibilities of this part-time position include road safety research support for the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU). Using a Safe Systems Approach lens, the candidate will support the implementation of best practices in BC across the Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, Safe Road Users, Safe Vehicles, Post-Crash Care, and Safe Planning pillars. Specifically, the position is expected to provide critical foundational evidence in support of public road safety campaigns, increased adoption of engineering countermeasures, development of speed management best practices, and will support the monitoring and evaluation of road safety interventions.

Organizational Status

The Road Safety Researcher will report directly to the Director of BCIRPU, and the Director of Road Safety at ICBC. The incumbent will also communicate regularly with members of the investigative teams of various research projects. Research Assistants and other staff may report directly to the Road Safety Researcher depending on the needs of specific research studies.

BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) has contributed to the understanding and prevention of unintentional and intentional injury in British Columbia and beyond. BCIRPU has become a leader through its many partnerships and collaborations among provincial, national and international groups. The mission of BCIRPU is to reduce the societal and economic burden of injury among all age groups in BC. BCIRPU is housed at BC Children's Hospital and is supported by BC Children's Hospital Research, the Provincial Health Services Authority and the University of British Columbia.

The ICBC Road Safety Team is responsible for several high-impact road safety programs in British Columbia and aims to align action with data and research in order to prevent injury and death on the transportation system. Through strategic investments in road infrastructure through the Road Improvement Program, data analysis related to Vulnerable Road Users, co-leading the Intersection Safety Camera program, and funding enhanced traffic enforcement, the ICBC Road Safety Team works to improve the safety of all road users in BC.

Work Performed

High quality research is critical across the full road safety process and is necessary for evidence led practice throughout (1) identification of road safety issues, (2) development of Safe System approaches to tackle high priority and emerging road safety issues, (3) creation of business cases to move key projects forward, and (4) monitoring and evaluation programs. As a result, this position is intended to perform the following key duties:

1. Literature reviews

• Conduct detailed reviews of the existing literature on road safety topics (e.g., vulnerable road users, speeding, distracted driving, etc.)

• Identify key interventions from the literature across all Safe Systems Approach pillars that address specific road safety issues

• Summarize the key findings in a manner that supports the implementation of evidence-led best practices

• Translate academic research findings into lay language that can be used to engage the public and drive culture shifts in road safety (e.g., public attitudes, beliefs, and practices)

2. Research to support business case

• Based on existing research, establish the overall effectiveness of specific road safety interventions and the main factors influencing their effectiveness

• Document best-practices for road safety interventions and how these are supported by the literature

• Develop business cases by demonstrating project alignment with research findings

3. Monitoring/evaluating KPI's

• Identify best practices in road safety evaluation

• Document key evaluation methodologies and the use cases for each methodology

• Develop program-specific performance indicators

• Document existing data gaps that prevent implementation of best-practices in road safety evaluation

• Recommend opportunities for address data gaps, including new and emerging data sources

4. Project and Program Management:

• Create and adhere to project scope and timelines; Identify and mitigate risks to on-time completion of quality deliverables; Create regular documentation of progress

• Work in co-operation with members of the research team and communicate verbally and in writing updates regarding data collection, data management and progress of research

• Work both independently and collaboratively with others, to support meeting the objectives of projects

• Work with larger team and external stakeholders to develop goals, initiatives, implementation, and evaluation

• Actively participate in investigator team meetings

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors made in this position can impede the progress of the research project within the Unit and cause adverse relationships with partners, decision makers, and funding agencies and may compromise the positive promotion of the research. Errors or incorrect decisions could potentially result in delays in completing the project or seriously compromise the quality of the research.

Supervision Received

The work will be carried out independently as a member of a collaborative investigative research team. The Director of BCIRPU will review the Project Coordinator's work to ensure that it meets the expected standards.

Supervision Given

The Road Safety Researcher may supervise undergraduate and graduate research assistants who are assigned to specific projects. This will vary depending upon the projects that are active.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in health, or social science discipline, preferred. Minimum of three years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential qualifications:

Effective interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills; Demonstrated ability to exercise a high level of tact, discretion and sensitivity; Proven analytical, critical-thinking, and conceptual skills; Ability to problem solve complex issues; Excellent organizational skills (ability to set priorities and deal with multiple tasks to meet deadlines); Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team environment to achieve goals; Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of individuals at all organizational levels; Attention to detail; Demonstrated ability to be self directed and to take initiative.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in running research protocols; Knowledge of injury or public health research as well as expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research is preferred; Knowledge of both social marketing and social media; Expertise in knowledge translation; Proficiency in word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases; i.e., MS office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); knowledge of SPSS or other data analytic software would be an asset.