Research Assistant

Title: Research Assistant (Grants, Contracts & Awards)

Status: Regular, Full-Time (1.0 FTE)

Start Date: As soon as possible

Program: Bloorview Research Institute

Supervisors: Donna Yee & Cecilia Pangilinan

This administrative role offers an exciting and strategic opportunity to dive into the heart of research operations, providing crucial grants- and contracts-related support that empowers research teams to thrive. From ensuring grant applications (0.5FTE) are complete and compliant to tracking and guiding their processing journey from intake to post-award, you will be a vital player bringing innovative projects to their start line. In supporting research contracts (0.5FTE) from initiation to execution, you will provide key contributions for our researchers while they navigate negotiations for funds. With a focus on meticulous coordination and communication, you will play a key role in gathering institutional metrics and facilitating awards processes.

The position strikes a balance between administrative precision and strategic collaboration, offering the chance to engage with dynamic teams, contribute to impactful research, and refine organizational processes - all in a fast-paced, evolving academic research environment. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your career while making meaningful contributions to groundbreaking work.  

This position has dual reporting to the Manager, Grant & Award Development, and the Manager, Research Contracts. Position works closely with the BRI Operations team and BRI Research Teams. This is a hybrid role with 3 days per week onsite. 

Key Responsibilities

• Take the lead in various administrative aspects of research contracts, grants and awards processes including intake, data entry, coordination of internal approvals, obtaining signatures, as well as the creation, distribution and follow ups of internal communications and documents and documents storage
• Organize and maintain templates and electronic contracts databases under the guidance of the Research Contracts Manager
• Maintain and participate in process improvements for existing organized system of digital and electronic records for BRI Operations 
• Generate periodic reports to track progress of grants and contracts
• Regularly updates and serves as the main contact person for the Research Contracts intranet site 
• Coordinate wide spectrum of grants-related activities to ensure accuracy and completeness and good grant management and accountability 
• Assist with internal awards committees, collection of application documents, data entry and communications
• Support award nominations endorsed by BRI, including tracking all nominations from intake to submission through post-award 
• Coordinate letters of support, including developing and providing templates as appropriate 
• Contribute to board reports, slides for scientist and business meetings 
• Guides and oversees review panels and selection committees   
• Communicate, provide guidance, and liaise effectively with research teams and personnel as needed (i.e. collection of required documents, clarification of requests, sharing of additional resources etc.) on matters pertaining to grants, awards and contracts
• Handling research and hospital related confidential information
• Other duties as required

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree preferred (in life sciences, or health-related field)
• At minimum, one year of working experience in an academic or clinical research environment as a research assistant or coordinator  
• Previous experience with research grant budget management, research contracts, and/or tri-agency funding is an asset
• Adept at working in a fast-paced, rapidly changing academic research environment
• Excellent communication, judgment, interpersonal skills, analytic skills, problem-solving skills and consultative skills 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently
• Computer proficiency, especially MS Office applications, Adobe Acrobat, and Sharepoint 
• Background in childhood disability is an asset
• Ability to set priorities and manage a busy work schedule