Research - Methodologist, Research Epidemiological - BC Cancer Vancouver

Research - Methodologist, Research Epidemiological

BC Cancer

Vancouver, BC

The Methodologist, Cancer Control Research reports to the Principal Investigator of Cancer Control Research projects.  Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the Methodologist Cancer Control Research is responsible for the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of population-based epidemiologic, clinical, and health services research for cancer control.

What you’ll do

• Consistent with PHSA and BCCA policy and professional standards of practice, and under the direction of the Principal Investigator, carries out epidemiologic, clinical, methodologic, and health service research activities in collaboration with health care professionals and other relevant stakeholders within the BCCA and as external partners.
• Design and develop computer code and structured query language (SQL) data queries and scripts to extract, transform, load diverse patient, outcomes and population based data sets, thereby enabling effective interpretation and analysis of these complex data stores.
• Perform database administration tasks including database creation, database tuning, security administration, file management and data replication.
• Perform data administration tasks including the maintenance and integrity of study specific data infrastructure, modelling the conceptual, logical and physical data architecture, creating value added data elements, and reporting of complex integrated information.
• Implement and refine complex data infrastructure and works with other Methodologists to incorporate the infrastructure into analytic workflows.
• Develop cancer control research projects by understanding and addressing data issues as well as identifying and implementing interoperability enhancements.
• Conduct cancer control research projects with a population, clinical, or health services perspective, by manipulating large administrative datasets to create research files, carrying out data analyses, and interpreting and presenting research results to health care professionals and other relevant stakeholders both internal and external to the BC Cancer Agency.

What you bring

Qualifications:

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Masters’ Degree in Data Science, Epidemiology, Public or Population Health, Statistics, Biostatistics or related discipline
• A minimum of one to two (1-2) years recent related experience in a population health or academic research environment.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Cancer contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and   how they intersect across the health care system.

Core Competencies:

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

You have:

• Knowledge of population health research issues, and demonstrated competence in the application of epidemiologic, health services, and statistical methods to cancer control studies. 
• Knowledge of study design, data collection, data cleaning, and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to perform advanced data manipulation, analysis and information presentation through the use of database spreadsheet and statistical software.
• Working knowledge of cancer control and health systems.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships. 
• Ability to collaborate and work within a team while working independently. 
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to comprehend complex issues and related data/information and present information in concise and meaningful ways. 
• Demonstrated organizational skills to generate work plans to meet project deadlines within timeline, scope and budget. 
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time (Until March 9, 2026) 

Salary Range: $74,618- $107,264 per year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Location: 675 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday; 08:00 - 16:00 / 08:30 - 16:30 / 09:00- 17:00

Requisition Number: 180348E

What we do

BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia. BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.