Chief Scientific Officer

**Chief Scientific Officer - Global Institute for Food Security**:
The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) will lead the scientific strategy to advance GIFS's mission of providing innovative, sustainable solutions for global food security. Reporting to the CEO, the CSO will champion scientific innovation, team development, and strategic partnerships, while representing GIFS within the broader scientific and innovation community. This pivotal role involves co-leading the business opportunity pipeline, fostering scientific and operational excellence, and aligning scientific initiatives with organizational goals. The CSO will represent GIFS's scientific work and strengthen its reputation locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

**Key Accountabilities**

**1. Strategic Leadership**
- Drive GIFS's strategy through the development and implementation of the science strategy, through the Science Leadership Team (SLT)
- Enhance financial sustainability by establishing partnerships and expanding GIFS's innovation ecosystem, in alignment with the overarching strategy
- Lead the project portfolio assessment and stage gate process to deliver impact
- Lead and secure strategic grant opportunities aligned with GIFS strategy
- Oversee budget management, and adherence to research compliance standards for the GIFS Science organization.

**2. Executive Leadership**
- Serve on the GIFS Executive Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational decision-making
- Work with the International Science Advisory Panel (ISAP) to understand emerging market and technology trends while exploring new opportunities to enhance GIFS mission.

**3. Scientific Innovation & Leadership**
- Guide innovative approaches across all GIFS research activities to de-risk and accelerate time to impact
- Drive the OneGIFS culture through the leadership of the SLT, reinforcing cross team collaboration
- Lead operational excellence initiatives, ensuring quality management, process improvements, and scalable innovation
- Manage the portfolio of projects, both internal and in partnership with key stakeholders, from discovery through launch.

**4. Business & Innovation**
- Work closely with the Business & Innovation (B&I) team lead
- Lead the grant pipeline in partnership with the B&I team lead
- Collaborate with Integrated Business Processes (IBP) to align scientific initiatives with GIFS’s broader objectives
- Build partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders to address global food security challenges, including the total factor productivity challenge.

**5. Public Representation**
- Act as the primary ambassador of GIFS’s science, communicating the institute's research, capabilities, and achievements
- Serve as a thought leader, influencing policy and scientific direction through active participation in local, national, and international forums.

**6. Team Development & Leadership**
- Recruit, attract, and retain top scientific talent, building a team recognized for excellence in Canada and internationally
- Mentor and develop program and platform leads, promoting a commitment to GIFS's mission, vision, values, and scientific excellence.

**7. Relationship Building & Thought Leadership**
- Build relationships within the scientific and innovation ecosystem, enhancing science connectivity and collaborative opportunities, both internal and external to GIFS
- Influence policy and science in the field, positioning GIFS as a trusted voice and a resource regionally, nationally, and internationally.

**8. Safety & Compliance**
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, with an emphasis on safety and compliance.

**Qualifications**
- Ph.D. in a relevant scientific field (e.g., agriculture, biology, chemistry, engineering, etc.)
- Extensive experience in leading and developing teams and people
- Extensive experience in scientific leadership within industry
- Demonstrated experience with intellectual property management and harvesting
- A proven track record of managing projects through partnership and collaboration
- Proven success in strategic grant funding
- Skilled communicator with a public presence, able to influence and lead diverse stakeholders
- Experience with operational management, quality assurance, and discovery processes for advancing innovation
- Commitment to safety and equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

**Key Competencies**
- Strategic Thinking and Business Acumen
- Leadership and Team Development
- Relationship Management
- Communication and Advocacy
- Operational Excellence
- Continuous Improvement Mindset

**Impact**
The CSO will shape GIFS's scientific future, enhancing its global reputation and fostering a culture of innovation. Through strategic partnerships, operational excellence, and a commitment to scientific leadership, the CSO will play a vital role in advancing GIFS's mission and ensuring the institute’s contribution to globa