Research Officer – Construction Productivity & Optimization

Job title: Research Officer – Construction Productivity & Optimization

Job description: Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

• The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Construction

Classification: RO

Tenure: Continuing

Duration: This is a Continuing position, as well as anticipatory staffing for positions of various tenures

Language Requirements: English and Anticipatory staffing for various linguistic profiles

The NRC Advantage

Great Minds. One Goal. Canada’s Success.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the Government of Canada’s largest research organization supporting industrial innovation, the advancement of knowledge and technology development. We collaborate with over 70 colleges, universities and hospitals annually, work with 800 companies on their projects, and provide advice or funding to over 8000 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) each year.

We bring together the brightest minds to deliver tangible impacts on the lives of Canadians and people around the world. And now, we want to partner with you. Let your expertise and inspirations make an impact by joining the NRC.

At the NRC, we know that diversity enables excellence in research and innovation. We are committed to a diverse and representative workforce, a safe and respectful work environment, and contributing to a more inclusive Canadian innovation system. We welcome all qualified applicants and encourage you to complete the employment equity self-declaration questions during the job application process.

Please let us know of any accommodation measures required to help you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Please note that the information you provide will be treated confidentially.

Your Challenge

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada’s largest research and technology organization.

NRC Construction is implementing the “Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale” (NRC Platform) to accelerate and scale up new technologies to help transition the Canadian construction sector towards decarbonization and contribute to the emerging low-carbon economy. It will also establish new codes, standards, specifications, and guidelines to position the sector to achieve its 2050 greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon reduction targets. These investments will help spur the growth of Canada’s clean technology sector and help achieve Canada’s international commitments to reduce GHG emissions.

Federal Budget 2022 proposed that the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) receive $183.2 million over seven years (2022-29) to transition the Canadian construction sector towards decarbonization and enhanced productivity. The funding will support the implementation of a NRC Platform consisting of three integrated and synergistic Programs to advance the transformation of Canada’s construction sector and contribute to the emerging low-carbon economy.

The Digitalization and Productivity Challenge Program (approximately $70M over seven years) will drive transformation to digitalized and automated construction and accelerate the adoption of novel off-site construction methodologies. The program will support lower construction time and cost, while improving sector innovation potential, productivity and the pace at which low-carbon solutions can be deployed in new and retrofit construction projects. The program will be specifically designed to harness and focus Canada’s research and innovation capacity in industry, academia and research-based OGDs to fill key knowledge gaps (e.g. guidelines, standard methods of data exchange, standards development, integration of off-site manufacturing design and practices for deconstruction, productivity quantification, among others) to realize the potential benefits of off-site construction and automation. It will seek to implement processes to optimize the designs and compliance of buildings and infrastructure, leverage benefits of advanced manufacturing processes including modular off-site construction (MOC), and advance development of low-carbon retrofit solutions that lever performance-based design.

Your Challenge (Con’t)

Research and development motivated by this program will provide the technical solutions needed for early adopters in the private sector to uniformly implement integrated digital construction practices throughout the asset lifecycle and across the sector. Demonstration projects with early adopters will showcase the value of digitalized construction solutions, which will help increase sector productivity, reduce time and cost, when coupled with a shift from prescriptive to performance-based solutions.

The primary responsibility of the RO is to support the goals of NRC’s Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale, and other Programs served by the Intelligent Building Operations unit. These goals require research of international calibre and the development and application of advanced technologies to support the needs of our numerous industry partners. The RO works in a team environment with researchers and technical experts in world-class facilities. Activities also include the development of proposals for new research initiatives, effective project management, support to the enhancement of facilities, and communication of research plans and results to stakeholders.

We are looking for a Research Officer (RO), Construction Productivity & Optimization to support the Construction Research Centre. The RO will support the NRC Platform and would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

Screening Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

A PhD in Construction Management or Industrial Engineering with an emphasis on Construction Value Chain.

A PhD in a related field, combined with significant experience in measuring and analyzing construction productivity/efficiency or related research may also be considered.

Education related to construction supply chain valuation, life cycle environmental and/or cost assessment maybe considered an asset.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see

Experience

• Experience in conducting research on construction productivity and/or conducting comparative studies on productivity/performance data to enhance construction productivity (time, cost, environmental impacts) through applications such as MOC, IPD, BIM or other construction practices. Experience related to comparative analysis of MOC vs conventional construction may be considered an asset.

• Experience in construction supply chain logistics/network optimization, including areas such as transportation systems, operations research, or stochastic optimization.

• Experience in research proposal development, working with diverse stakeholders and multi-disciplinary teams, project execution, documentation, and reporting.

• 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 in business development, marketing activities, and/or the development of partnerships and collaborations may be considered an asset.

Condition of Employment

Reliability Status

Language Requirements

English

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical Competencies

• Ability to apply knowledge to research and technology development projects. Knowledge in leading/participating in research project planning, work scheduling, costing, proposal development, and engaging with stakeholders.

• Advanced knowledge in construction performance measurement frameworks and metrics focusing on productivity improvement and/or carbon reduction.

• Advanced knowledge of productivity enhancements and/or emissions reductions through non-conventional construction practices such as leveraging MOC, IPD, Digital Tools/Solutions, AI.

• Knowledge of comparison research for construction performance and productivity of:

o different construction practices, technologies, processes, and/or materials; and/or

o planned vs actual outputs.

• Knowledge in benchmarking construction performance and productivity may be considered an asset.

• Knowledge in multiple MOC practices (e.g. volumetric modular, open/closed panels, mass timber, precast) may be considered an asset.

Behavioural Competencies

• Research – Creative thinking (Level 2)
• Research – Communication (Level 2)
• Research – Partnering (Level 2)
• Research – Teamwork (Level 2)
• Research – Results orientation (Level 2)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s):

Relocation

Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC’s directives.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff an early to mid-level Research Officer position (AsRO to AcRO) with a salary range of $74,230 to $123,393.

NOTE: Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of including comprehensive health and dental plans, pension and insurance plans, vacation and other leave entitlements.

Notes

• ​A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (19313) to:

E-mail:

: 343-571-6509

Closing Date: 1 November 2023 – 23:59 Eastern Time

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Date modified: This page is updated continuously.

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