The observatories supply continuous power and Internet connectivity to broad suite scientific instruments located in coastal, deep-ocean, and polar environments. ONC’s digital networks host thousands of sensors distributed in, on, and above the seabed, along with mobile and land-based assets (e.g., ferries, autonomous gliders, moorings, and coastal radars) that provide essential data. ONC makes these data publicly available, free, and in near real-time through ONC’s powerful online data management system Oceans 3.0, the most visible aspect of ONC and one of the means by which ONCs diverse user communities can access, analyze, visualize, and present observatory data.
These strategically located instruments and big data management enable evidence-based decision-making on ocean management, public safety, and environmental protection, address key scientific and policy issues and support several large projects (e.g. the New Frontiers Research-funded Solid Carbon project). Along with national and local governments, ONC also works in collaboration with educators, students, communities, and Indigenous peoples on ocean monitoring initiatives along all three of Canada’s coasts.
ONC’s Impact & Capacity Development unit is responsible for supporting and increasing the ONC user base, developing capacities, maximizing the impact of ONC’s ocean observatory systems and for contributing directly to transforming data into knowledge. The Impact & Capacity Development unit plays a key role by monitoring and reporting on ONC’s key performance indicators to provide a data-driven approach to decision-making and satisfying funder requirements.
Position Summary:
The Impact Officer assists the Manager, Impact & Capacity Development Director, Engagement & Knowledge Mobilization & Science Director in monitoring ONC’s outputs and impact, in organizing and managing ONC’s external user support and in communicating the overall ONC metrics and performance indicators. Key responsibilities include:
- develop innovative key performance indicator tools and strategies to ensure impact is measured for ONC and its affiliated major projects;
- develop and update key performance indicators, and organize and coordinate efforts to measure impacts relating to these indicators;
- assess ONC user and stakeholder experience through satisfaction surveys;
- facilitate research impact communications and reporting;
- lead and manage the ONC User Support function;
- support, contribute to and co-deliver ONC data management system (Oceans 3.0) user training programs.
The Impact Officer works collaboratively with ONC key personnel and external users to develop discipline- and project-appropriate strategies for reporting on non-traditional research outputs, including as part of funding development and reporting. This work also involves providing regular summary and detailed progress reports to the Manager; writing reports; conducting research and analysis; and assisting with activities that advance ONC’s and the University of Victoria’s rankings and reputation.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute ONC Key Performance Indicator (KPI) strategies and plans aligned with ONC’s objectives.
- Develop and maintain a standardized internal reporting process for key performance indicators.
- Develop alternative metrics for assessing organizational impact beyond traditional measures, focusing on community impact, policy influence, and diverse forms of scholarship.
- Establish processes to identify, share, and promote impacts aligned with ONC’s mandate, engaging various partners for effective dissemination.
- Conduct international scans to identify effective tools and practices for KPI’s, critically assessing their suitability for ONC’s activities.
- Drive the development and implementation of systems, workflows, and processes for comprehensive tracking and reporting on KPIs, collaborating across the organization.
- Contribute to project development and approvals to ensure KPI’s are part of workplans and using best practices.
- Maintain ONC’s metrics database by collecting the relevant data from across the organization and assess availability and integrity of required data.
- Analyze the data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Such analyses may include use of AI tools and methods.
- Create compelling data-informed dashboards and reports to communicate performance to a wide range of audiences.
- Use quantitative and qualitative analysis to develop recommendations to grow the ONC user base and enhance scientific output and impact.
- Periodically review the definition of the metrics against which ONC needs to report to a variety of funding agencies and recommend alternative metrics.
- Recommend collection of additional metrics and new metrics collection methods to ensure ONC activities, programs and services are accurately and comprehensively captured and reported to funding agencies.
- Measure and report on ONC user and stakeholder experience through the design, implementation and analysis of satisfaction surveys.
- Jointly develop a compelling ONC annual impact report in collaboration with the Communications Manager ensuring appropriate dissemination.
- Support ONC’s annual operational and long-term strategic planning, through the design and production of quantitative and qualitative reports, analyzing trends and providing forecasts.
- Manage the Jira Helpdesk tool used to collect user input, questions, and feedback
- Triage incoming user requests, questions and comments by distributing them to the relevant teams or individuals at ONC.
- Regularly follow up with ticket assignees to ensure a timely response to users.
- Maintain user support statistics in terms of response time and other key performance indicators.
- Periodically report on the nature of issues raised by users.
- In coordination with other groups at ONC involved with User Support, recommend improvements to the user support process as needed.
- Oversee maintenance and updating of ONC’s Oceans 3.0 user documentation wiki
- Develop and maintain scripts in ONC’s GitHub and Jupyter Notebooks, which help users access, process and visualize ONC data.
- Support, contribute to and co-deliver ONC data management system (Oceans 3.0) user training programs and hackathons, including development of scripts and instructional Jupyter Notebooks as well as collecting instructional datasets
Skills and Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of relevant related experience in research impact analysis, business statistics, data mining or in the data sciences (e.g., statistics, data visualization), and user support, preferably in postsecondary or research institutions. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:
- Experience collaborating with multiple parties to measure, report, and promote project impacts.
- Experience in developing and executing KPI plans.
- Exceptional communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with diverse partners to foster productive relationships.
- Analytical expertise to synthesize and evaluate data for impactful reporting using international best practices.
- Advanced computer skills, specifically in the areas of spreadsheets, databases, graphing software and use of AI tools.
- Ability to present complex data in compelling diagrams and plots.
- Experience developing dynamic data-driven dashboards or visualizations.
- Capacity to communicate complex concepts clearly to both internal and external audiences.
- A proactive approach towards problem-solving, strong conflict resolutions skills with a team-oriented approach.
- Strong interpersonal skills, commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
- Demonstrated time management skills and ability to work against deadlines.
Assets or Preferences:
- Work experience in a research-focused environment.
- Expert knowledge of research management/administration in the post-secondary education sector.
- Background in research skills, methodologies, program evaluation and academic disciplines.
- Knowledge of problem tracking tools such as Jira.
- Knowledge of any branch of ocean science and/or environmental data science.
Salary range: $75,755.00 – $98,528.00
Application deadline: November 5, 2025
