Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer

Date Posted: 11/13/2025

Req ID: 45992

Faculty/Division: VP - Research

Department: Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number:

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:

Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, 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 Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer is a key member of the Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) team within the VPRI portfolio. The role contributes to ISI team operations and supports the advancement of large, multi-stakeholder research initiatives.

This position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans for each initiative, aimed at securing substantial external funding. Working collaboratively across the University and with internal and external partners, the Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer will identify research funding opportunities, support the preparation of collaborative funding applications, draft and edit proposal materials, and develop strategies to foster partnerships.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Writing funding applications, proposals and briefings, and drafting internal and external communications
• Developing components of program/project and strategic plans that support collaboration, partnerships, and funding objectives
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships
• Developing initiatives/project schedules including milestones, critical path,timelines, deliverables and reporting
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
• Promoting the University's research capabilities to external partners to enhance research and innovation funding opportunities
• Assessing and determining performance benchmarks and impact metrics
• Conducting detailed data analysis to inform management decision making, and synthesizing findings from research and data analysis in written reports and presentations

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) discipline or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum six to seven (6-7) years experience with writing, editing and coordinating the creation of complex, multi-stakeholder research grant applications in an academic research environment with a track record of success
• Experience in identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development partnerships working directly with government and/or industry
• Experience in project management including all aspects of project development and execution
• Experience with performance evaluation and benchmarking of initiatives or projects
• Proven ability to liaise, build and maintain relationships, demonstrated understanding on communicating the value proposition to internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to compile and analyze data,prepare reports and other informational materials
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills and highly attentive to detail
• Familiarity with strategic partnerships and new business opportunities in a research and/or educational setting, including collaborations with government agencies
• 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
• 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

To be successful in this role you will be:

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

Closing Date: 11/21/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW 

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing 

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  

USW Pay Band $109,761. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $140,365. 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.