Research Project Assistant Jobs in Calgary, AB (NOW HIRING)

Explore the agricultural industry, research procedures, and data management to enhance cattle welfare and productivity!  

Our Team and what we will accomplish together

TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods is advancing sustainable food production through data-driven research. We tackle one of agriculture's most pressing challenges: achieving efficient livestock production while reducing environmental impact.

Our team includes researchers, project managers, data specialists, and field coordinators who are passionate about animal agriculture and committed to delivering insights that producers rely on. You'll work in a high-performance culture where your contributions directly shape how cattle producers make decisions about animal health, nutrition, individual animal management, and sustainability.

Your Impact: By managing research studies that validate feeding, animal health, and production protocols and products, you'll contribute data that producers use to improve animal welfare while reducing environmental footprint. 

What you'll do

As the Cattle Research Project Manager, you support implementation of research studiesfrom coordinating study logistics with on-farm partners to compiling final data deliverables that inform product decisions and producer recommendations.

Study Planning & Coordination

• Work closely with Research Team Management to implement study designs, support timelines, and produce final data for decision-making.
• Manage 812 concurrent studies at any given time across commercial feedlots and calf grower operations in Canada, the USA, and Mexico
• Ensure all studies align with research procedures and quality standards

Field Execution & Data Collection (~20% of role)

• Work chute-side at client operations to ensure the accuracy of data collection and smooth implementation of our study designs
• Communicate and coordinate with cattle managers at participating operations to explain data collection protocols, and troubleshoot implementation and data issues that arise during studies
• Conduct on-site sample collection (nasal samples, fecal samples, feed samples) at local commercial feedlots and calf growers
• Manage sample organization and shipping to analysis labs
• Support data integrity and accuracy for valid decision-making

Data Management & Analysis (~40% of role)

• Access data from multiple sources and compile large, clean Excel spreadsheets of animal health, production, and feed data
• Build and maintain large, analysis-ready datasets
• Identify data gaps, inconsistencies, or quality issues and resolve them with site managers or research team
• Support various study designs: small-pen (1020 animals per pen), large-pen (100+ animals per pen), and individual animal 

Results & Reporting

• Compile study results into tables, reports, and slide presentations
• Assist with technical writing for executive summaries and final reports that communicate findings to producers and research stakeholders

Study Coverage

• Support studies in animal health, feeding and nutrition, performance enhancement, and marketing strategies
• Work across feedlot and calf grower production settings in various geographies and production scales

What you bring

• Master's Degree in animal science, agriculture, epidemiology, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience coordinating research projects and working with research data
• Comfort and confidence handling live cattle is essential; you'll regularly handle animals and work safely in feedlot and calf grower environments
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel (formulas, pivot tables, data validation, multi-sheet workbooks); ability to compile, organize, and validate large datasets
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent studies with competing deadlines, prioritize tasks, and maintain attention to detail in a data-intensive role
• Ability to communicate technical study protocols clearly to non-technical on-farm partners 
• Strong critical thinking; ability to troubleshoot data issues and logistics challenges, independently and collaboratively

Great to Have:

• Familiarity with feedlot production systems and cattle health/nutrition fundamentals
• Basic understanding of statistical analysis and data visualization
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a significant asset for cross-border studies and communication in USA and Mexico operations (no travel required)
• Experience with automated data collection systems or farm management software

Why this role matters

This position is ideal if you're passionate about animal agriculture and want to see your work drive real-world impact. You'll develop expertise in research implementation, data management, and livestock productionskills that open doors to careers in agricultural research, animal health, animal nutrition, sustainability, or production management. You'll build relationships and contribute to research that shapes industry practices.

At TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods, we pledge our commitment to actively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, reconciliation and accessibility. We celebrate and value your unique perspective and life experiences, and we invite you to join us in our journey of growth and learning. Together, we aspire to foster a global community where all individuals are respected, heard, and can authentically bring their whole selves to work.

A significant and sustained effort will be made to support candidates from equity-deserving groups and with lived experience of marginalization and oppression (including Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, LGBTQIA2S+ and persons with disabilities). We offer accommodation for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.