Researcher

Job Summary

The City of Mississauga is seeking a Researcher / Research Analyst to support the development and implementation of strategic initiatives at the City. Reporting to the Manager, Digital Strategy and Experience, the successful candidate will conduct research, benchmarking, policy analysis, and performance measurement activities to inform strategic decision-making and support the adoption of strategic priorities across the organization.

This position will play a key role in identifying leading practices from municipalities and other public sector organizations, evaluating emerging legislation and standards, and developing recommendations that support various strategic initiatives, including the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and Customer Experience (CX) Strategy. The role requires strong analytical, research, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into practical recommendations for leadership and staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Digital Strategy and Experience, the successful candidate will:

• Conduct research, environmental scans, and jurisdictional reviews on artificial intelligence, customer experience, emerging technologies, regulatory requirements, and public sector leading practices.
• Benchmark strategies, governance models, policies, and implementation approaches across municipalities and other organizations to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and lessons learned.
• Analyze provincial, federal, and international regulations, standards, and guidance related to AI, and assess implications for the City.
• Review existing City strategies, policies, procedures, and frameworks to identify opportunities for alignment with the City’s AI and CX strategies and priorities.
• Research and recommend enterprise performance measurement approaches, including key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting frameworks, and evaluation methodologies.
• Gather, analyze, synthesize, and interpret quantitative and qualitative information from a variety of sources to support strategic recommendations and decision-making.
• Prepare briefing notes, reports, presentations, discussion papers, and executive-level materials for project teams, governance bodies, and senior leadership.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and leading practices, providing timely updates and recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities by conducting research, preparing materials, documenting findings, and responding to information requests.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external partners to gather input, validate findings, and support project objectives.
• Maintain project documentation, research records, and reporting materials in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 1 year of experience in research, policy analysis, strategic planning, performance measurement, program evaluation, or a related analytical role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience conducting environmental scans, benchmarking studies, literature reviews, and policy research.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research methodologies, analytical techniques, and performance measurement frameworks.
• Knowledge of artificial intelligence, customer experience, emerging technologies, digital transformation, or public sector innovation is considered an asset.
• Exceptional research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and well-structured reports, briefing notes, and presentations.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present findings and engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.