Scientific Director, Children's Health Research Institute

**Who We Are**:
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is a world-class academic health sciences centre located in the southwestern Ontario city of London. Just two hours from Toronto and two hours from Detroit, London features a beautiful and walkable downtown core located on the Thames River, a vibrant culinary scene and scores of activities that highlight local arts, culture and music. As one of Canada's largest acute-care teaching hospitals, LHSC delivers world-class care and experiences, built on our commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and learning. In partnership with our communities, we design and advance healthcare to support the wellness of the populations we serve. LHSC delivers both local and regional services, including the Children's Hospital, within a large geographic area. LHSC is known for its great people and great care, with a workforce of close to 15,000, dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care while partnering with communities to transform health, one life at a time.

Children's Health Research Institute, a program of London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), is one of Ontario's only hospital-based maternal and children's health research institutes. Our laboratory-based, clinical and population-based researchers focus on preventing and treating diseases affecting pregnant women, fetuses and newborns, children and youth, helping them lead happy, healthy lives.

**Posting Period**:
September 3 - October 15, 2025

**Job Summary**:
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Research and LHSCRI Scientific Director, the Scientific Director of CHRI will be guided by the CHRI Strategic Advisory Committee (membership below), and will provide overall executive direction and scientific leadership for children's health research, inclusive of all hospital-based research efforts aligned with Children's Hospital at LHSC. The overall goal will be to champion and support health research, knowledge mobilization, and capacity development at the highest level of scientific excellence.

The role may be structured as either part-time or full-time, contingent upon the applicant's existing clinical and/or research responsibilities.

**As Scientific Director of CHRI, the incumbent will**
- support research across all health research areas (e.g., biomedical; clinical; health services; social, cultural, environmental and population health);
- manage the maternal and children's health research team, including but not limited to: working in partnership with hospital and university partners to develop human resources plans, support recruitment activities, develop annual goals and conduct annual performance evaluations;
- maintain an active presence, scientific standing, and engagement in/with the health research community through attendance at, and contributions to, workshops, conferences, scientific fora, and other related activities, at the provincial, national and international level;
- support capacity development of trainees, early
- and mid-career investigators, and in emerging areas of expertise to build health research capacity in CHRI mandate areas;
- foster partnerships amongst researchers, knowledge users, clinicians, community-based organizations, decision makers, and other funders as well as other Research Institutes to sustain inter-professional and inter-sectoral research initiatives and explore opportunities to develop new ones;
- prioritize the dissemination and implementation of new and existing knowledge to inform health practices and policies; and
- through both direct and indirect actions, foster and promote a culturally safe and inclusive environment; maintain awareness of evolving best practices of equity, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, anti-ableism, and anti-racism.

**Other Roles and Responsibilities**:
As a member of LHSC's and Children's Hospital leadership, the Scientific Director, in collaboration with colleagues from other research programs and hospital executive leaders, will:

- provide analysis and advice on Canada's research needs, gaps, and opportunities;
- contribute to the elaboration of hospital-based science policies and research strategies;
- advise on the development of, and investment in, cross-cutting strategic initiatives;
- act as an ambassador for CHRI and a spokesperson for health research on national and international scenes;
- participate (optional) in clinical activities relevant to experience, if applicable
- have an appointment and cross appointments to appropriate faculty within Western University

The Core Budget Funding for CHRI is supported by the Children's Health Foundation (CHF). The Scientific Director will be expected to maintain a strong, responsive relationship with the CHF leadership and be accountable to the CHF Board for its base financial activities. Assuring the CHF has visibility into the CHRI successes and activities will be essential for the CHRI Scientific Director.

**Qualifications**:
**Wh