Managing Director, Grid Modernization Centre (One Year Term)

Date Posted: 04/01/2025
Req ID: 42343
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00057843

About us:

The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is Canada’s top-ranked ECE department, and one of the largest. We are home to 100 active and Emeritus professors, more than 1,400 undergraduate and 800 graduate students. Many of our faculty members are world leaders in their field and have been recognized as the brightest and most promising scientists and engineers across the country.

ECE is a hotbed of research commercialization, by far the most productive department for new inventions at the University of Toronto. In our department, you will work at the heart of the most rapidly developing technology humankind has ever seen.

Your opportunity:

The University of Toronto has developed a proposal to support the launch and initial operation of a Grid Modernization and Testing Centre. Industry facing, this test centre will help address a market capacity gap related to technology testing and real time simulation of various grid models. Net Zero and energy transition will require new connections to the grid and improved sustainability. This grid modernization testing facility will bring unique testing capabilities for the Canadian electrical energy industry to help in the evolution to a more decarbonized, decentralized, and digitalized power system. This facility will support a grid system that offers resiliency, efficiency, sustainability, security, adequacy and quality of service.

Reporting to Dr. Ali Hooshyar, Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair in Electrical Systems, the Managing Director, Grid Modernization Centre, will develop an administrative structure, develop university-industry collaborative research projects, pursue major externally-funded initiative and team grants, and conduct overall administrative responsibilities for the centre.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Cultivating ongoing, high-profile prospective partnerships that advance strategic agendas
• Developing fee structure for industry and academic use of research facilities
• Delivering presentations to promote programs, opportunities and/or initiatives
• Promoting and advancing institute interests to industry representatives and government officials
• Conducting detailed analysis of grant application policy to maximize research funding
• Writing grant applications
• Producing detailed statistical report and analysis on facilities utilization, planning and revenue generation/spending to support decision making
• Tracking the status of business development initiatives, activities and outcomes

Essential Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or Doctorate Degree in engineering science or management sciences, or an acceptable combination of education and equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of experience in the energy sector.
• Experience in business development that fosters growth opportunities between complementary organizations.
• Demonstrated experience with grant and/or contract writing.
• Demonstrated experience collating and organizing data for reports.
• Experience coordinating meeting schedules, agendas, materials, action and follow up items, and resolving scheduling conflicts.
• Demonstrated experience fostering positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to gather, formulate and present complex information.
• Ability to work independently, show initiative and exercise diplomacy and good judgment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write and communicate effectively with a wide-range of people (administrators, government, industry and researchers).
• Excellent organizational, prioritization and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proven commitment to providing a high level of service and to take initiative in identifying and resolving issues.
• Ability to understand and articulate research goals and requirements of industry and academic contacts; Understanding of research contracts, intellectual property.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Achievement oriented
• Adaptable
• Articulate
• Entrepreneurial
• Resilient

Note: This is a one year term.

Work location: This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline. 

Closing Date: 04/14/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Grant - Term 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 15 -- $95,627. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $122,290. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

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.