Date Posted: 09/08/2025
Req ID: 45090
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: School of Cities
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00058668
Description:
About us:
The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.
We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.
Your opportunity:
The School of Cities’ mission is to convene urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners, institutions and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities, urban regions and communities more sustainable, prosperous and just. It is a place where diverse communities can come together to spark new insights and design creative ways for cities, communities and their citizens to thrive. The School supports scholars, practitioners, and community members to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices and fosters opportunity, insight, and knowledge exchange with a global reach.
Under the joint supervision of the Map and Data Visualization Lead and the Director of the School of Cities, the Data Visualization Developer will design and build public-facing, web-based data tools, interactive maps, dashboards, and data stories. A key focus of the role will be creating a suite of products in collaboration with external partners from the non-profit and public sectors through the School of Cities’ Equitable Development Data Insight Training (EDDIT) Program. Working closely with the Map and Data Visualization Lead, the Developer will manage the full project life cycle, from design and development through to documentation ensuring each product is reproducible, sustainable, and user-friendly. The role also includes supporting related training sessions for both internal and external audiences. We are looking for someone with strong technical development skills, complemented by excellent communication and design abilities, and a genuine interest in advancing social impact projects.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Writing complex technical code
- Designing, testing, and modifying programming code
- Analyzing user needs and business processes to create programming solutions
- Analyzing and writing programming code structures based on user requirements
- Evaluating programming code to ensure it has validity, compatibility, and that it meets appropriate standards
- Collaborating on cost estimates
- Serving as a resource on specific issues to a group of specialists
Essential Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in computer science, geography, urban planning, urban studies, engineering, data science, or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
- Minimum four years working experience in data analytics, GIS, and/or web development.
- Experience working on projects at the intersection of data science and social sciences, specifically on urban-focused projects.
- Solid understanding of key urban issues, including housing, transportation, inequality, and sustainability.
- Demonstrated experience planning, organizing, and leadingsmaller-scale data analysis, visualization, and web-development projects.
- Experience analyzing spatial data and creating maps using GIS software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.).
- Experience using Python and/or R for data analysis and visualization, including for analyzing spatial data (e.g. using geopandas, pysal, etc.).
- Experience in front-end web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- Experience creating custom interactive maps and data visualizations using open-source tools (e.g. D3, MapLibre, Leaflet, etc.).
- Experience using one or more JS front-end component frameworks (e.g. Svelte, React, Vue, etc.) to build websites.
- Experience using graphic design software (e.g., Illustrator, Inkscape, Photoshop, GIMP, and/or Canva, etc.), preferably to create maps, charts, or infographics for public audiences.
- Understanding of common data sources used for urban data analytics.
- Ability to problem-solve technical issues independently.
- General knowledge of quantitative research methods (e.g., descriptive statistics, multivariate regression, cluster analyses, etc.).
- Working knowledge of git and collaborating on GitHub (or a similar platform).
- Self-motivated, professional, and highly organized. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to audiences with limited technical backgrounds.
Assets (Nonessential):
- Master’s degree in computer science, geography, urban planning, urban studies, engineering, or data science
- Experience working in an urban-focused organization or municipal government
To be successful in this role you will be:
- Accountable
- Achievement oriented
- Articulate
- Communicator
- Problem solver
- Resourceful
- Team Player
Notes:
- This is a term position ending December 2026.
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If you are a current USW staff member, please apply using the "Current Staff Apply Here" button on the University of Toronto Careers page.
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A copy of the detailed job description is available upon request from Faculty of Arts & Science Administrative HR Office by emailing: adminhr.artsci@utoronto.ca.
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This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.
Closing Date: 09/16/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 12 -- $81,312. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $103,986. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Information Technology (IT)
Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.
