Position Description

Position Title: Research Assistant (Job ID: 2026ARC1)
Organization: The Centre for Global Chinese Church Research (CGCCR), CGST Toronto
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario (Hybrid)
Appointment: Full-time, 12 months, with possibility of renewal
Start Date: January 2026

About the Project

The Global Chinese Church Census and Missional Identity study is a multi-site, mixed-methods research program examining Chinese churches and their missional identity in the post-Christendom West. The project includes church census data, congregational and pastoral surveys, and qualitative studies across multiple regions, including Canada, USA, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Hong Kong.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and self-motivated Research Assistant to support the Director of CGCCR (or CGCCR Director) / Principal Investigator (PI) in day-to-day research operations, data management, and knowledge dissemination.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the CGCCR Director/PI, the Research Assistant will:

1. Church Liaison & Communication

• Liaise with pastors and leaders of Chinese churches across different regions to invite participation in the Census and Missional Identity study.
• Respond to inquiries from churches, provide clear information about the project, and maintain respectful, professional relationships with partner congregations.
• Coordinate the distribution of survey links/QR codes and project materials to participating churches.

2. Manuscript & Knowledge Dissemination Support

• Assist with submission of manuscripts to scientific journals, including preparing tables and figures, proofreading, drafting cover letters, and coordinating documentation for electronic submission.
• Help prepare scientific reports and presentation materials for conferences, churches, and academic audiences.

3. Literature Review & Proposal Support

• Conduct literature searches and synthesize research findings for manuscript development, grant submissions, and presentations.
• Assist team members in preparing materials for proposals, progress reports, presentations, and publications.

4. Research Ethics & Study Materials

• Support the preparation of research ethics submissions and related documentation (e.g., informed consent forms, study leaflets, lay summaries).
• Ensure that all procedures and documents align with research ethics and integrity standards.

5. Recruitment & Data Collection

• Conduct telephone, online, or in-person recruitment of participants (e.g., pastors, churches, congregants), including obtaining informed consent.
• Assist in distributing and tracking online surveys and follow-up questionnaires to participating churches and individuals.

6. Data Management & Analysis

• Complete data entry and perform quality control checks to ensure accuracy and integrity of data.
• Investigate missing or inconsistent data and help prepare clean datasets for analysis.
• Compile and manage multi-site datasets from multiple countries/regions.
• Use SPSS to carry out data management and quantitative analysis (e.g., data cleaning, coding, descriptive statistics, basic inferential analyses).
• Assist in qualitative data analysis (e.g., coding interview/survey responses) as needed.
• Maintain organized, secure, and well-documented data records and workflows.

7. Project Coordination & Administration

• Help maintain research files and shared project folders for easy storage, access, and retrieval of study materials.
• Schedule and attend research meetings; prepare agendas and meeting minutes.
• Communicate regularly with the CGCCR Director/PI to provide updates on recruitment, data collection, and analysis.
• Monitor deadlines and prioritize tasks to ensure timely completion of project milestones.
• Provide general administrative support as required (e.g., filing, photocopying, or project documentation).

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., psychology, sociology, public health, religious studies, theology, or related social sciences).
• Demonstrated experience with research processes (e.g., literature reviews, data entry, basic data analysis, report writing).
• Proficiency in SPSS for data management and basic statistical analysis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and online survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, JotForm, Google Forms).
• Strong reading and writing ability in both English and Chinese (Traditional and Simplified).
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small research team.

Assets

• Experience with additional statistical or programming tools (e.g., R, Stata).
• Experience with qualitative data analysis (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose, or coding in Excel/Word).
• Familiarity with research ethics processes and consent procedures.
• Knowledge of, or experience with, Chinese churches and/or diaspora Christian communities.
• Theological training at the certificate, diploma, or master’s level (e.g., DCS, MCS, or similar) will be considered a strong asset, and applicants with such training may be given priority.

Work Arrangement & Hours

• Expected workload: 37.5 hours per week.
• Work may be conducted in a hybrid format
• Occasional meetings may be scheduled in other time zones (e.g., with collaborators or churches in different regions); this may at times involve early morning or evening online meetings with reasonable advance notice.
• Overtime pay is not available. When project demands require additional hours beyond the usual workload, these may be compensated through equivalent time off, to be arranged in consultation with the PI and in line with institutional guidelines.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation will be $20 – $26 per hour, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Paid sick time in accordance with institutional policies and relevant employment standards.
• Vacation leave (pro-rated to the appointment percentage and contract length), to be scheduled in consultation with the CGCCR Director/PI.
• Paid statutory holidays as per local employment standards and institutional policy.

How to Apply

Please submit the following as a single PDF to cgccr@cgst.edu with the subject line “Research Assistant”:

• A cover letter (1–2 pages) describing your relevant experience and interest in the project;
• A current CV or résumé;
• Contact information for two academic or professional referees and one pastoral referee; and
• Signed Statement of Faith (link on website)

Application deadline: December 12, 2025 or until the position is filled.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.