Job Opportunity

Researcher needed to conduct focused literature review

Project Title: “Action on systemic barriers to women’s participation in local government.” This is a three-year project, a collaboration between Women Transforming Cities, and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) funded by Status of Women Canada, that will take action on identifying and addressing systemic barriers to women’s participation in civic life at the local level.

Work Location: Vancouver and Surrey, BC

The researcher will undertake the following tasks, and work to complete the deliverable.

  1. Conduct a review of existing literature, including grey literature and other materials and media relevant to the objectives of the project, including:
  2. Published documents, websites, on-line resources, and other resources produced by various levels of government, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, and international organizations pertinent to
  3. identification of barriers to the participation of self-identified women of all diversities in local government, and strategies for overcoming those barriers
  4. identification of best/wise practice and tools in the use of a gender-based and particularly a gender-based intersectional perspective within local governments (especially municipal)as well as other relevant organizations (e.g., businesses, unions, or NGOs) that have a practice which could be applied within a municipality, to inform policy and practice;
  5. identification of best/wise practice and methods in the collection of disaggregated data relevant to intersectional analysis
  6. assessment of the evidence for improved outcomes for cities when equitable inclusion is applied
  7. Identify both strengths and gaps in the existing literature.
  8. Situate the project within the existing body of knowledge and suggest ways in which project outputs and outcomes can best contribute to the expansion of knowledge in the areas of women’s participation in local decision-making, and gender-based intersectional analysis and its application in local government.
  9. Produce the following deliverable:
  10. A summary of reviewed literature organized according to topics/subjects relevant to the project’s objectives, written in clear language, and highlighting examples of successful practice. The researcher will discuss with WTC and CRIAW members and the Project Manager how to organize the report to be most useful to subsequent phases of the project.

This will be a focused review emphasizing methods and practices that have proven to be effective in increasing women’s involvement in local-levelgovernment. (While the literature review will access relevant academic sources, it will not take the form of an academic review.) Of particular interest are practical and on-going uses of gender- and intersectionally based analyses by local governments and effective gathering and use of disaggregated data.The emphasis of the review should not be on intellectual debates over the nature and definition of gender and/or intersectional(ity), but rather, on how those concepts can be and have been operationalized in ways that have made real differences to the lives of women and to their involvement in civic life, especially at the local level. In sum, the review should focus less on theory and more on practice.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Previous experience with undertaking the type of literature review required and the ability to highlight and summarize topics and discussions of particular relevance to the project’s objectives and goals
  • Knowledge of/familiarity with relevant topics, including
  • Operations of local government structures and responsibilities in Canada and especially British Columbia
  • An understanding of and commitment to feminist principles, analyses, and methodologies, and particularly, the use of an intersectional lens
  • Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complicated concepts into plain language, including the ability to present complex concepts and issues in user-friendly ways and in a variety of formats
  • Familiarity with doing research using published resources, databases, on-line resources, un-published but publically available literature produced by governments and non-governmental organizations, unpublished academic theses, dissertations, and other scholarly literature
  • An undergraduate or graduate degree in urban planning; urban studies; women’s or gender studies; political science; sociology or anthropology; or another related field.

Remuneration

Total compensation for this position is $2,500 to be paid in two installments: the first after the completion of tasks 1 to 3, as outlined above, and the second following the successful completion of the deliverable.

Expected Date for Deliverable: No later than July 10th; an earlier completion date is preferable.

Application Process and Deadline

To apply, please submit an electronic letter of application, C.V., and a writing example relevant to the project’s topic by May 24, 2017 to and include “Researcher—Literature Review” in the subject line.

For more information about Women Transforming Cities, visit for CRIAW, visit and for Status of Women Canada, visit