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POSITION SUMMARY
The Assistant Vice-President, Research Strategy and Services, reports to the Vice-President (Research & Innovation) and is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for advancing the University's research enterprise. The incumbent provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s research development and sponsored research services and oversees a complex portfolio supporting researchers, research teams, faculties, affiliated hospitals, and research institutes throughout the research funding lifecycle.
The incumbent develops a strong culture of service, collaboration, and accountability. He/ she will establish expectations, service standards, and effective ways of working to ensure that researchers and academic units receive timely, clear, coordinated, and solutions-oriented support and that institutional requirements are translated into effective and workable processes.
Working closely with the Vice-President (Research & Innovation), Deputy Vice-President, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Directors, and other senior leaders, the Assistant Vice-President provides strategic advice on institutional research priorities, governance, policy, infrastructure, performance metrics, and emerging funding opportunities. The incumbent serves as a catalyst for institutional collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships and driving continuous improvement in the University's capacity to secure and successfully manage major research investments.
The Assistant Vice-President represents the University and the Research & Innovation portfolio on internal and external committees, and works collaboratively with governments, funding agencies, partner institutions, foundations, industry, and other stakeholders to advance the University's research mission and strategic objectives.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Research Development and Major Initiatives
- Provide strategic leadership for the identification, development, prioritization, and execution of major institutional research initiatives and funding competitions, including CFI, CERC, CFREF, NFRF and other strategic funding opportunities.
- Lead the development of high-value institutional funding proposals, partnership agreements, and implementation plans that position the University for success in competitive national and international funding programs.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration across faculties, research institutes, affiliated hospitals, and external partners.
Research Services
- Lead the University’s sponsored research services and oversee effective delivery across the full funding lifecycle, including funding opportunity identification, application review and submission, sponsored research agreements, amendments and ongoing award administration.
- Oversee service delivery for research software, cloud-, and advanced research computing services to researchers.
- Ensure responsive, consistent, and high-quality services to individual researchers, research teams, Faculties, affiliated hospitals, and research institutes. Establish clear service standards, accountabilities, decision pathways, and escalation mechanisms, and use service data and feedback to improve the researcher experience.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams and strengthen organizational capacity, project management, coordination, and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
Institutional Research Strategy and Planning
- Lead the development and implementation of institutional policies, programs, procedures, and best practices that support research excellence and strengthen the University's research environment.
- Lead institution-wide strategic projects related to research planning, -infrastructure, and capacity-building, including the University's Strategic Research Plan and the implementation and monitoring of related action plans.
- Advise the Vice-President (Research & Innovation) on institutional research priorities, emerging opportunities, policy issues, infrastructure, and other complex matters affecting the research enterprise. Prepare related briefings, reports and recommendations.
- Monitor developments in the provincial, national, and international research funding landscape and assess their implications for the University.
External Relations and Institutional Representation
- Build and maintain productive relationships with federal and provincial governments, funding agencies, foundations, industry partners, research organizations, and peer institutions to advance institutional research priorities.
- Represent the University and the Research & Innovation portfolio on internal governance committees, external advisory bodies, and sector-wide initiatives.
The ideal candidate will possess a graduate degree and a demonstrated record of progressive senior leadership in research administration, research strategy, or research development within a large, complex organization, preferably in a university, research-intensive, or public-sector environment. They will bring deep knowledge of the Canadian research funding landscape, experience leading institutional research initiatives and partnerships, and a proven ability to navigate complexity while driving organizational effectiveness and service excellence. Success in this role will require strategic leadership, exceptional relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and the ability to lead high-performing teams while aligning people, processes, and resources in support of the University’s ambitious research priorities. Bilingualism in English and French is required.
McGill University has partnered with the leadership advisory firm Odgers for this recruitment. Applications are encouraged immediately to Michael Williams, Andrea Patrick and Krutika Hotwani at https://careers.odgers.com/en-ca/job/32099. This is an existing vacancy. The new AVP will assume the position in early 2027.
Inquiries or accommodation requests can be directed to mcgillavp@odgers.com.
McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.
At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.
McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.
McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
