Strategy & Research Assistant

YMCA of Greater Toronto•Toronto, ON

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategy & Research Assistant supports research and analysis related to youth employment and pathways-to-work initiatives. The role helps interpret information from internal and external sources to generate clear insights that support planning and understanding. It contributes to preparing accessible summaries that inform discussions and reporting within the team. Overall, the position provides foundational support to evidence-based program development in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services.
YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter.
Be between 15 to 30 years of age at the start of the employment.
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
Post-secondary education in public administration or social sciences, or equivalent experience.
Knowledge or previous experience with youth employment policy and programs.
Strong qualitative and quantitative research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
Knowledge or previous experience analyzing large sets of documents and data and deriving meaningful insights.
Proficiency with personal computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite and AI tools.
Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as data visualization with the ability to distill complicated issues into plain language that can be easily understood.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Detail-oriented and conscientious, with a commitment to producing high-quality work.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging.

Responsibilities

Conduct secondary research and literature reviews, identify experts and organizations working in the field, and analyze needs, gaps, and opportunities related to youth employment and pathways to work.
Collect information and review YMCA program evaluations, documents, partnerships, and participant data, and analyze findings related to youth employment and pathways to work.
Write briefing notes and reports, summarize findings, and translate insights into actionable outputs for the YMCA, including preparing presentations, dashboards, and data visualizations.
Support meetings, workshops, and data collection by organizing logistics, preparing materials, and documenting results.
Perform other duties as assigned.