INTERNAL / EXTERNAL POSTING
Bulletin No. 2026-07
Senior Researcher
Social, Economic and Policy Department
Ottawa, Ontario
Internal Posting Deadline: August 26, 2026
External Posting Deadline: September 4, 2026
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is the largest labour organization in Canada, bringing together dozens of national and international unions, provincial and territorial federations of labour and community-based labour councils to represent more than 3 million workers across the country.
Our staff are a team of dynamic professionals dedicated to growing worker power and ensuring every working person has a voice on the job. When you work at the CLC, you’re more than just an individual employee — you’re helping to lead a movement.
The Canadian Labour Congress has vacancy for a Senior Researcher within the Social and Economic Policy (SEP) department. This position is based at the CLC’s headquarters located in Ottawa, Ontario with the expectation of regular presence in the office to help facilitate collaboration with colleagues, management, and the leadership team.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Director of SEP and will have broad responsibilities for monitoring and analysis of social and public policy issues, and for supporting the development and articulation of the CLC positions on social and economic policies.
Duties and Responsibilities
Current priority policy areas for the CLC include investing in the care economy and workforce, a Just Transition to a net zero-carbon economy, affordability and cost-of-living pressures, labour market, training and skills development policies, labour law and employment standards reform, and corporate accountability in Canada and around the world.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop broad familiarities with these areas, and more specifically expertise in the areas of social policy, the changing world of work, and the regulation of global supply chains. The Senior Researcher will support research needs for the CLC’s engagement on national and international corporate accountability issues.
In addition to undertaking research and analysis, the duties of the Senior Researcher include:
- working in close collaboration with staff from Social and Economic Policy and other CLC departments, researchers from affiliated unions, and researchers and advocates from the progressive policy community on several issues;
- briefing CLC Officers;
- supporting CLC campaigns and digital media engagement;
- preparing briefs, research, policy papers and education materials; and
- representing the CLC in meetings with affiliated unions and government representatives and in public forums.
Qualifications
The successful applicant will have:
- a graduate degree in a field directly related to the research topics, or significant research and policy analysis experience and a publication record which demonstrates a similar level of knowledge and expertise;
- a sound knowledge of the labour movement, working class issues and the role of unions in our workplaces, communities, country and international solidarity;
- a demonstrated understanding of social policy and public services issues;
- knowledge of the social policy process and of the part played by the labour movement in that process;
- an ability to communicate analysis and issues clearly in written form to a range of audiences, including public officials and policymakers, the social policy community, and union activists;
- an ability to produce clear written work on complex issues to meet deadlines, and to work cooperatively with colleagues;
- the ability to integrate a feminist and anti-racist perspective into union work;
- the ability to travel (mostly domestic);
- fluency in English is required, and French language skills are considered an asset;
- knowledge of techniques of quantitative analysis and familiarity with statistical analysis software which is considered an asset; and
- experience as a researcher in a political party/analyst in a union and/or a social policy organization which is also considered an asset.
The starting salary for this position is $127,361.35 annually (plus benefits) under the Collective Agreement of IAMAW Local Lodge 3111 CULR. This includes generous health and welfare benefits, pension, as well as a monthly vehicle allowance and coverage for fuel, internet, and cell phone.
Please submit your application to the attention of Lori McCarthy, Director of Human Resources, via email: careers@clcctc.ca, by August 26, 2026, for internal candidates and by September 4, 2026, for external candidates. Please quote Bulletin 2026-07 in your application.
Note: The CLC will complete its internal hiring process prior to proceeding with external candidates. While we appreciate all applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not used as part of the hiring process at the CLC.
The Canadian Labour Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Members of equity seeking groups are encouraged to self-identify. Women, workers of colour, workers with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex and Indigenous workers are encouraged to apply for this position.
The CLC is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities during the hiring process as needed. Please inform us if you require any accommodation.