Research Officer - Modular Off-Site Construction & Automation
About The Position
The National Research Council (NRC) Construction is initiating the "Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale" (NRC Platform) to accelerate and scale new technologies for transitioning the Canadian construction sector towards decarbonization and contributing to the low-carbon economy. This initiative aims to establish new codes, standards, specifications, and guidelines to help the sector achieve its 2050 greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon reduction targets. Federal Budget 2022 allocated $183.2 million over seven years (2022-29) to support this transition, focusing on enhanced productivity and the growth of Canada's clean technology sector. The Digitalization and Productivity Challenge Program, with approximately $70M over seven years, will drive transformation towards digitalized and automated construction and accelerate the adoption of novel off-site construction methodologies. This program seeks to reduce construction time and cost, improve sector innovation, productivity, and the deployment of low-carbon solutions. It will leverage Canada's research and innovation capacity to fill knowledge gaps in areas such as guidelines, data exchange standards, standards development, integration of off-site manufacturing design, deconstruction practices, and productivity quantification. The goal is to optimize building and infrastructure designs and compliance, benefit from advanced manufacturing processes (including off-site panelized and modular construction), and advance low-carbon retrofit solutions using performance-based design. Research and development from this program will provide technical solutions for early adopters in the private sector to uniformly implement integrated digital construction practices throughout the asset lifecycle. Demonstration projects will showcase the value of digitalized construction solutions, increasing sector productivity and reducing time and cost, shifting from prescriptive to performance-based solutions. The Research Officer (RO) will support the goals of the NRC Platform, contributing research of international calibre and developing advanced technologies for industry partners. The RO will work in a team environment with researchers and technical experts in world-class facilities, engaging in activities such as developing research proposals, project management, facility enhancement support, and communicating research plans and results to stakeholders. This specific RO role focuses on Off-Site Modular Construction & Automation within the Construction Research Centre.
Requirements
- A PhD in Civil, Construction or Architectural Engineering with an emphasis on Modular Off-Site Construction (MOC), Construction Automation.
- A PhD in a related field, combined with significant experience in MOC consulting or research may also be considered.
- Extensive experience in conducting research on MOC demonstrating potential benefits compared to conventional construction methods.
- Significant experience in MOC concepts in design & construction (e.g. DfMA and DfD, collaborative project delivery such as Design-Build or IPD, modular construction standards, module transportation, off-site manufacturing).
- Significant experience in the full spectrum of research activities including identification of research requirements, proposal writing, project management, client/stakeholder interaction, data production and analysis, and reporting through written documentation, presentations and publishing.
- Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams.
- Reliability Status (verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required).
Nice To Haves
- Education related to construction automation (either on-site and/or off-site), life cycle environmental and/or cost assessment may be considered an asset.
- Experience working with MOC private sector organizations with hand-on MOC product knowledge may be considered an asset.
- Experience in construction (on-site and/or off-site) automation (e.g. automated data acquisition, automated collision avoidance, automated manufacturing technologies and processes) may be considered an asset.
- Experience related to conducting comparative analysis of MOC vs conventional construction may be considered an asset.
- Knowledge of automation in construction (on-site and/or off-site) research and/or projects and/or knowledge in Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), and/or Design for Deconstruction/Disassembly (DfD) may be considered an asset.
- Knowledge in multiple MOC practices (e.g. volumetric modular, open/closed panels, mass timber, precast).
- Knowledge of using MOC practices for retrofit solutions may be considered an asset.
Responsibilities
- Support the goals of NRC’s Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale.
- Conduct research of international calibre.
- Develop and apply advanced technologies to support industry partners.
- Work in a team environment with researchers and technical experts in world-class facilities.
- Develop proposals for new research initiatives.
- Manage research projects effectively.
- Support the enhancement of facilities.
- Communicate research plans and results to stakeholders.
Benefits
- Robust pension plan
- Comprehensive health and dental coverage
- Disability and life insurance
- Office closure at the end of December
- Additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
