Research & Development Executive

Muslim Student Leaders & Alumni (MSLA)

Online / Hybrid

Part-time volunteer (approx. 5-10 hrs/week)

Please note: This position will require occasional travel for events and meetings throughout the GTA

Term Length: A minimum of 18 months

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis

About MSLA

The Muslim Student Leaders & Alumni (MSLA) is an organization that works with MSAs on a consultancy capacity, focusing on community growth and sustainability. Our vision is to unite MSA communities that are optimally structured, with strong collaboration, and strong networks that ultimately serve to please Allah.

Role Overview

The Research & Development Lead will design and steward MSLA's approach to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data that supports both Muslim student advocacy (e.g. prayer spaces, inclusion efforts) and organizational growth (e.g. MSA development, leadership training, alumni engagement).

This role combines analytical thinking, research design, and a strong sense of mission. The ideal candidate is passionate about turning numbers and stories into meaningful change for Muslim students nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop standardized tools and protocols (forms, documentation, dashboards, presentations) that local MSAs can use to collect data for varying projects.
Collaborate with MSA leaders to gather data ethically and securely.
Analyze data to identify trends in access to religious accommodations, student engagement, and community wellbeing.
Create quarterly reports (e.g., "Growth of Muslim Students Associations in Canada") summarizing key findings and recommendations.
Produce visual presentations and summaries for advocacy, leadership training, or grant applications.
Advise the MSLA leadership team on how data insights can inform strategic priorities, programming, and outreach.
Help local MSAs adopt responsible data collection practices by leveraging existing resources and tools.
Collaborate with communications to turn insights into compelling public-facing materials.
Assist in planning and execution of on campus MSA think tanks.

Desired Qualifications

Experience as an MSA executive or in relevant positions for at least 2 years.
Background in data analysis, research methods, or related fields (e.g. statistics, data science).
Ability to showcase experience with data collection and analytics tools.
Strong communication and storytelling skills — ability to translate data into actionable insights.
Familiarity with Muslim student life, DEI work, or campus advocacy is a strong plus.
Bonus if there is a strong background in applied data work and statistics
Alignment with MSLA's mission and commitment to community-centered work.

Impact

Your work could help MSAs:

Tell their stories better.
Advocate more effectively for prayer and ablution spaces.
Track community engagement and leadership development.
Contribute to a growing understanding of Muslim student and alumni experiences.
Identify areas of growth.

Why Join MSLA?

You'll be part of a growing movement that bridges student organizing and institutional change. You'll get to define what data-driven Muslim student advocacy looks like — and build tools that will empower future generations of leaders.