What matters to you?
Each day we consume. And every piece of consumption is a set of choices. Choices about quality, cost, efficiency - and so on.
The sum of those choices has an impact. Consequences . For the planet, for us, for other people, and for the species we share the planet with.
smallthing is a fully funded tech startup based in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.
We exist to help people better understand the purchasing choices they make — and to improve those consequences. We’re doing this through an app launching in Spring 2026 , initially serving the Canadian market before expanding into the UK and US.
Ahead of our launch, we’re recruiting several new team members for an immediate start, including:
Research Assistant (NOC 41201) – Ethical & Sustainable Product Research
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Hybrid: office + home)
Salary: ~$60,000 per year
Benefits: Health insurance and pension plan
Type: Full-time
The Role
We’re hiring two Research Assistants to help shape the future of ethical product data. You’ll dive deep into consumer product categories, identify what makes a product truly sustainable, and use AI tools to analyze and grade items based on those standards. You’ll also play a hands-on role in refining the tools that make this research possible.
These are both entry-level roles, ideal for a recent graduate looking to take their first step on the career ladder.
What You’ll Do
- Dig into data: Research and analyze product categories to uncover key ethical and sustainability attributes.
- Evaluate products: Assess and grade products based on transparent, research-driven criteria.
- Leverage AI: Use AI and machine learning tools to streamline data gathering, analysis, and grading.
- Manage data in our app: Work with the Mac version of our internal platform to load, review, and organize product information.
- Help us build better tools: Provide feedback and insights to improve our in-house research tech.
- Collaborate creatively: Work closely with our in-house journalist and tech team to turn research into real-world impact.
What You Bring
- A university degree (which has involved significant data research)
- Solid analytical and research skills, with a knack for spotting patterns and details.
- Curiosity about sustainability, consumer ethics, and tech-driven innovation.
- Comfortable with the rudiments of prompt engineering, working with spreadsheets and other data tools.
- Self-motivation and adaptability in a hybrid startup environment.
- Experience using Mac OS and data-analysis apps is a plus.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Be part of a mission-led startup with a real social and environmental purpose.
- Work with a smart, cross-disciplinary team combining tech, research, and journalism.
- Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work with time at home and in our Halifax office.
- Grow your career at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and innovation .
