University of Toronto Looking for Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer at Toronto, ON Full Time

Date Posted: 02/14/2023
Req ID: 29698
Faculty/Division: VP – Research
Department: Institutional Strategic Initiatives
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00053747

Description:

About us:

The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio supports the University of Toronto as a top public research university in the world. Our mission is to create the most supportive environment possibleso that our researchers, innovators and learners can do what they do best — advance understanding and apply new knowledge. Our work supports, fosters and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty, staff and students, along with our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sector. VPRI provides a full range of services including guidance to faculty, staff and students on funding opportunities, research agreement negotiation, oversight andaccountability services including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

Your opportunity:

Working under the leadership of the Associate Vice-president and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives and reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Initiative Development, this role will work across the university’s three campuses to support the development and growth of high-profile, large-scale, interdisciplinary, multi-unit research initiatives.

The Officer is part of the Institutional Strategic Initiatives team, and as part of the VPRI portfolio, works with the Division of University Advancement, the Office of the Vice President International, and relevant Divisions to operationally support the development and growth of large multi-stakeholder research initiatives. The Officer will also perform quantitative and qualitativeresearch that will drive strategic decisions and support the growth of large multi-stakeholder research initiatives through external funding. Additionally, the Officer will develop and report on appropriate benchmarks and metrics to assess impact and success of initiatives.

This role also supports the development and execution of strategic plans for initiatives designed to secure significant amounts of external funding, including through identifying opportunities to advance the financial supportof initiatives through partnerships (industry and academic), grants (federal, provincial and industry) and contracts (industry and academic) in ways that are consistent with academic principles.

The incumbent interacts with University researchers to educate them with respect to developing and leveraging industry interactions through the various partnered and leveraged funding opportunities; provide excellent knowledge of funding and support programs for industry-academic research collaborations; develop and implement strategies to cultivate new industrial partnerships with the University; and facilitate linkages between potential industry partners and University researchers. In addition to partnership development, the incumbent will research relevant sectors, benchmark competitive institutions and initiatives, and evaluate and report on active initiative partnerships.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing components of programs or projects and strategic plans that support collaboration, partnerships, and funding objectives;
• Developing and tracking initiatives/project plans including milestones, timelines, deliverables and reporting
• Promoting the University’s research capabilities to industrial, governmental and finance sectors to enhance research and innovation funding opportunities
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance; researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships; researching, analyzing and recommending grant opportunities
• Developing and implementing strategies to maximize the economic and social impact of commercialization partnerships
• Writing project-specific proposals and briefings, and drafting internal and external communications
• Conducting detailed data analysis to inform management decision making, developing performance benchmarks and impact metrics, including developing and maintaining a dashboard of key performance indicators, conducting detailed data analyses, synthesizing findings from research and data analysis in written reports and presentations
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships; researching relevant sectors, competitors, institutions and initiatives

Essential Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience
• Minimum six to seven (6-7) years related, progressively responsible experience in identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development partnerships working directly with stakeholders
• Experience in project management including all aspects of project development and execution
• Experience with large-scale grant development and grant writing with a track-record of success
• Experience with performance evaluation and benchmarking of initiatives or projects
• Experience monitoring and assessing research impact
• Proven ability to liaise, build and maintain relationships, and demonstrated understanding on communicating the value proposition to internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to compile and analyze data, prepare reports and other informational materials
• Ability to support the translation of research technologies to industry partners
• Familiarity with strategic partnerships and new business opportunities in a research and/or educational setting
• Demonstrated understanding of the research landscape including the research community, the funding agencies that support research and the broader context
• Flexibility to changing needs; capacity to make project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently, ability to handle conflicting and multiple priorities, superior organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to bring projects to successful completion; determining resource shortages and reacting to prevent project bottlenecks from occurring, and raising attention to leadership where appropriate
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills and highly attentive to detail
• Exceptional communication (oral and written) skills; excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate on initiatives with a wide variety of contacts both internal and external to the University
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office

Assets (Nonessential):

• Proficient in Excel and Pivot tables

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Diligent
• Diplomatic
• Entrepreneurial
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Closing Date: 03/01/2023, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 17 – $96,978 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $124,017. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Anita Chooraman

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.