JOB PROFILE
POSITION # 00115716
TITLE: RESEARCH ANALYST
CLASSIFICATION: RESEARCH OFFICER 21
MINISTRY: ADVANCED EDUCATION
DIVISION / BRANCH: FMSD / POST-SECONDARY FINANCE
SUPERVISOR TITLE: MANGER, FUNDING AND ANALYSIS
SUPERVISOR POSITION #: 84723
The Post-Secondary Finance Unit establishes and distributes operating grants to British Columbia’s public postsecondary institutions (PSIs). The unit also monitors student full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolment targets;
monitors financial performance; and provides accounting policy and financial accountability advice to British
Columbia’s public post-secondary institutions (PSIs) and to other Ministry departments/branches.
JOB OVERVIEW
This position provides research and analysis expertise on a diverse range of policy issues. Focusing on analysis
and reporting of student FTE enrolments in public PSIs, including assessing implications of new initiatives. The
position also provides high quality data analysis used to support decision making within post-secondary
education system to meet government direction and priorities.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Required:

Drafts research plans and strategies that use valid statistical/mathematical concepts, models and
simulations.

Adapts and incorporates appropriate methodologies of data analysis.

Develops instruments/tools incorporating statistical/economic/mathematical concepts, models and
simulations.

Identifies, creates and incorporates data sets and/or access tables, and new sources of data, including
determination of currency, validity and feasibility.

Identifies limitations and variations of base data.

Designs and conducts statistical surveys.

Analyses and synthesizes data from various sources to identify impacts, potential outcomes and risks.

Conducts various types of analyses such as trend, cost benefit, comparative, statistical, and economic.

Develops conclusions and recommendations and tests reliability.

Prepares financial, statistical, narrative and analytical reports.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Policy & Research
Research & Statistics
Applied Research
Professional
July 2011

Prepares flow charts, fact sheets, discussion papers, briefing notes and correspondence.

Prepares and participates in briefings for senior executive and stakeholders.

Identifies the need for additional studies or different methods of analysis.

Provides evaluation advice on research methods, sampling techniques, questionnaire design, data
analysis and other evaluation processes.

Directly oversees the collection and analysis of student FTE enrolment information from public PSIs,
including developing reporting templates, collecting and consolidating data, liaising with PSIs to resolve
questions or reporting discrepancies, and preparing meaningful information summaries.

Analyses variances between actual student enrolments and planned targets, and provides explanations
to public PSIs and the Ministry’s senior management to facilitate timely decisions and corrective
actions.

Ensures coordination between PSIs’ operating grants from the Province and related student enrolment
targets throughout all aspects of the budget development cycle.

Manages branch updates of enrolment and operating grant data in the public B.C. Data Catalogue.

Manages inquiries and processes related to branch SharePoint sites including user access, document
management and site updates.
JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s Degree in statistics, mathematics or social science field, or equivalent.

Minimum 2 years of recent (within the past 3 years) related work experience, including:
o Data analysis and conducting qualitative and quantitative research ;
o Experience interpreting policy and conducting analytical research;
o Experience analyzing data for variances and trends, and recommending options and courses of
action.

Strong written and oral communications.

Experience with MS Office applications (preference will be given to applicants who are proficient in
Excel / Pivot tables).

Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and clients while
upholding the highest standards of tact, discretion and professionalism.

Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a
criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security
screening checks as required by the ministry (Note: It is important that you read the job posting
carefully to understand the specific security screening requirements pertaining to the position).
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Policy & Research
Research & Statistics
Applied Research
Professional
July 2011
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
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Conceptual Thinking is the ability to identify patterns or connections between situations that are not
obviously related, and to identify key or underlying issues in complex situations. It includes using
creative, conceptual or inductive reasoning or thought processes that are not necessarily categorized
by linear thinking.

Information Seeking is driven by a desire to know more about things, people or issues. It implies going
beyond the questions that are routine or required in the job. It may include "digging" or pressing for
exact information; resolution of discrepancies by asking a series of questions; or less-focused
environmental "scanning" for potential opportunities or miscellaneous information that may be of
future use.

Planning, Organizing and Coordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and
allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also
involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the organization's mandate.

Teamwork and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively within diverse teams, work groups
and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability
to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.

Relationship Building is working to build or maintain ethical relationships or networks or contacts with
people who are, or may be, potentially helpful in achieving work-related goals and establishing
advantages. These people may include: customers, clients colleagues, etc.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Policy & Research
Research & Statistics
Applied Research
Professional
July 2011