Research Team Lead

A member of the Dean’s office staff team, the Research Support Team Lead is responsible for strengthening the Faculty’s research enterprise by providing strategic coordination, expert guidance, and high quality administrative support across all stages of the research funding lifecycle. Reporting to the Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, the role ensures that researchers affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences receive timely, accurate, and proactive assistance in seeking and administering research funding.

The mandate of this role is to translate Faculty research priorities into effective operational practices at the Faculty-level; oversee the delivery of research support services offered through the Dean’s office; maintain a high standard of compliance, efficiency, and client service; and provide strategic grant and award facilitation services. The position leads a small team of research support staff, fostering a collaborative, solutions oriented environment that enables consistent, reliable support for grant development and funding administration.

The role holds authority to organize and prioritize team workflows, recommend improvements to faculty research support processes, and advise the Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies on emerging needs, risks, and opportunities. Success in this role is defined by increased funded research activity and success rates, strong relationships with faculty members and central services, and a well coordinated team that delivers responsive, high quality service.

Objectives

• Strengthen the Faculty’s research funding enterprise by supporting strategic grant development and award nominations.
• Provide Faculty-level training, professional development, and grant development support to faculty members and postdoctoral researchers, with the goal of strengthening the quality and competitiveness of grant applications before submission to the central review process.
• Develop and maintain efficient Faculty-level systems, procedures, and resources that support research proposal development (i.e. creation of templates, best practices, resource documents, quick sheets, process to allocate matching funds and/or internal support)
  
  

This position requires a level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a graduate degree and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Include

• Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive and respectful working and learning environment.
• Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading and motivating a team of professionals.
• Ability to identify and analyze issues, develop solutions, and implement effective strategies to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to collaborate, build and maintain positive relationships with diverse individuals and work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated experience in research grant preparation.
• Knowledge of Canadian funding agency requirements and post-award research administration processes.
• Knowledge of the Canadian and the international award landscape.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex policies, guidelines, and funding regulations.
• Knowledge of basic project managements skills and tools (e.g., PM software, RACI, Gannt charts)
• Strong ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities, seamlessly transition between projects, and adapt to evolving business needs while maintaining high standards of quality and stakeholder service
• Organized, detail-oriented with strong administrative skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complex processes and timelines.
• Experience developing tools, resources, or processes that improve administrative efficiency.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to review and provide feedback on complex documents.
• Experience with planning and delivering workshops and professional training opportunities.
• Proficiency with common administrative and research systems (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, research administration systems).