CRAFT Research & Partnerships Program Manager

Date Posted: 01/17/2025
Req ID: 41341
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Eng
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00046624

Description:

About us:

The Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) is a collaborative research center between the University of Toronto (UofT) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). CRAFT aims to establish an internationally leading and nationally unique research enterprise, focused on device innovation related to (a) diagnostics for remote communities and critical care, (b) organ-on-a-chip technologies, and (c) biofabrication. A particular emphasis is on growing the engagement with industry and clinical partners.

Your opportunity:

Reporting to the Academic Co-Directors, the CRAFT Research & Partnerships Program Manager brings the strategic, operational and programmatic leadership, direction and oversight in order to contribute to and ensure the success of CRAFT. As the senior administrative member of the CRAFT team, the incumbent will play a pivotal leadership role in the strategic development and management of the CRAFT initiative – a cross-divisional and tri-campus entity with the NRC as a valued partner. The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to contribute to developing and building CRAFT by providing strategic direction and leadership in the development of short and long-term strategic plans, programs, research opportunities and collaborations.

Responsibilities include: development and management of strategic partnerships across institutional, governmental, sectoral and geographic borders; development of a scientific and clinical translation strategy and execution of strategic communications plans; developing and maintaining a CRAFT graduate student engagement program; creating a strategy for bringing together and serving researchers from various UofT academic divisions to create an engaged academic CRAFT community of affiliates; preparation of key documents including internal and external progress/impact and financial reports; supporting and managing CRAFT governance; finding and applying for research and innovation funding; developing and cultivating strategic partnerships with external entities (both industrial and academic) across all sectors that will advance CRAFT’s priorities; and planning for the implementation of scientific programs, tracking and allocating budgets.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development collaborations.
• Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting.
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships.
• Developing plans that support research collaborations and advance technologies.
• Coordinating the schedule for program and event calendars.
• Writing grant applications.
• Promoting research initiatives to increase program visibility and reputation.

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or analytical chemistry or acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
• Minimum six years relevant experience within an academic, government and/or industry setting.
• Related experience in business and strategy development, stakeholder management, and program implementation in a research environment, including the ability to negotiate and build partnerships/networks and influence key decision makers at the senior executive level within corporations, government and other key organizations at the national and international level.
• Demonstrated strong project management skills in handling multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and managing financial aspects including expense/revenue modeling and cost forecasting.
• Proven success assessing opportunities in a variety of science and technical disciplines and writing excellent, convincing funding proposals to acquire funding for research programs and consortia.
• Superior ability to work collaboratively with faculty members and other contacts to understand and articulate research goals, requirements of industry, and administer research programs. 
• Excellent research, analytical, negotiation, entrepreneurial, and organizational skills.
• Understanding of research contracts, intellectual property, research applications and research funding opportunities.
• Superior communication skills including the ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively; superior presentation skills with the ability to effectively develop captivating presentation materials using a variety of tools (E.g. Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint).   Demonstrated ability to solve problems in a creative and effective manner.
• Ability to work with a high degree of independence with good initiative, judgement, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotions of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Assets:

• PhD Degree in an engineering discipline or analytical chemistry or acceptable equivalent education.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Communicator
• Organized
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Team player

Closing Date: 01/31/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 17 -- $107,820. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $137,883. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

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.