Manager, Strategic Operations

**Schedule**

Monday to Friday

8:30am to 4:30pm/35 hours per week

Hybrid Working Arrangement

**Education Level**

Master's degree in a relevant field.

**Career Level**

Requires 5 years working in comparable roles, preferably within an academic research environment.

The Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Transfusion Research (MGD-CTR) is a newly re-branded research centre that includes the clinically oriented McMaster Centre for Transfusion Research (MCTR) and the McMaster Platelet Immunology Laboratory (MPIL), a translational research and diagnostic laboratory. In addition to managing large research projects, clinical trials and a testing facility, a recent gift from the MGD Gift Board of $5M will allow the centre to advance transfusion science using innovative methods. The Centre’s mission is to improve health and outcomes of blood transfusion recipients and blood donors, and to ensure that our blood supply is safe and sustainable. Activities in the centre include multicentre, multinational clinical trials, large database projects, observational studies all linked with laboratory-based discovery work providing a unique translational research focus.

The Strategic Operations Manager is a critical position that will lead the advancement of the MGD-CTR. The MGD-CTR is an expanding translational research centre with projects and initiatives that span discovery laboratory research, diagnostic testing, and patient-based clinical trials.

The manager will develop the strategic goals and execute a supporting plan to guide the MGD-CTR through its growth and expansion. The manager will oversee the operations of the centre and develop strategic relationships (internal and external) that are in alignment with centre’s strategic direction. They will establish an annual budget that best utilizes available resources (research, contract, trust and operating) to achieve the centre’s goals while ensuring appropriate responsibility and stewardship of funds. The Manager will help identify and implement opportunities that integrate the clinical and laboratory research teams, pursue opportunities that could leverage the reach and impact of the centre and actively engage with the Centre’s network with other centres and institutes. Additionally, the Manager will attract and develop industry partnerships to identify funding sources and opportunities for the Centre outside of the normal research partnership funding provided by the current source.

Key responsibilities:

- In collaboration with the Centre’s Co-Directors and faculty steering committee, identify strategic priorities that will span expanding research, funding, external collaboration, technology, and clinical impact opportunities. Develop strategic plans to advance identified priorities.
- Manage the operating budget and provide recommendations.
- Provide day-to-day leadership and direction for Centre operations, including supervisory responsibilities and financial control and management.
- Lead people planning, training, resourcing, and development functions of the centre. This includes recruitment, coordination of work priorities and schedules, and managing employee issues/concerns including those of performance.
- Serve as the human resources lead to ensure the centre has the people resources required to achieve impactful results
- Manage all resources of the Centre including staff, finances, equipment, and space.
- Oversee the financial administration of the centre and ensure appropriate financial reporting.
- Generate, justify, and implement the centre’s operating budget on an annual rolling basis.
- Monitor centre’s research accounts and spending, making corrections and adjustments as needed and in collaboration with Health Research Finance and the core administrative team.
- Collaborate closely with Research Finance on such matters as financial reporting, invoice generation, budget approvals for hiring and financial audits.
- Develop and monitor metrics to measure indicators of research progress, impact, and success in alignment with the strategic plan.
- Cultivate external relationships with key stakeholders to develop new partnership opportunities including those that will be potential for commercialization.
- Lead contract development and contract maintenance, including preparation of proposals, quotations and contracts, reports, and invoices.
- Pursue opportunities that could attract new partners and establish new funding opportunities.
- Review contracts and oversee the fulfilment of funding obligations.
- Liaise with university partners, hospital-based research administration partners, advancement teams and external partners.
- Promote the Centre’s services and impact on external partners, including preparation of promotional literature and development and maintenance of the Centre’s website.

Skills and Qualifications:

- Master's degree in relevant field.
- 5 years working in comparable roles, preferably within an academic research env