Clinical Research Manager, CNDR, Clinical Neurosciences

at  The University of Calgary

Description
The Department of Clinical Neurosciences in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Clinical Research Manager. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 1 year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
The Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry (CNDR) is an initiative that collects patient data from neuromuscular clinics across the country for research purposes.
The Clinical Research Manager reports to the Executive Director and Principal Investigator, CNDR and will provide team leadership and expertise in relation to scientific project management and operations.
The Clinical Research Manager will be responsible for the successful planning and execution of all programs and projects within the CNDR, and will ensure the project scope, budget, proposals, requirements, and deliverables appropriately developed and monitored in collaboration with the CNDR team.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Team Leadership

• Contextualize work in relation to CNDR strategic goals, mission, vision, and values, to align the team in focus and work prioritization
• Provide leadership and clear direction to staff regarding day-to-day tasks in a fast-changing environment where there is complex and partial information
• Support and facilitate staff training and career development, monitoring progress and reviewing performances
• Lead internal sprint planning and retrospective meetings
• Clarify team roles & delegate responsibilities in the context of each project
• Demonstrate integrity, fairness, and respect in all situations
• Recognize team and individual successes and connect each member’s work contribution to the overarching purpose of the program
• Foster a positive environment of teamwork, accountability, respect, and integrity

Program Leadership

• Facilitate success of program to ensure strategic priorities are met
• Work with lead investigators to ensure future direction and planning of the overall registry as well as specific programs
• Understand how the CNDR’s multiple overlapping, high-impact projects and programs impact one another, and use this knowledge to coordinate priorities and timelines
• Create and revise project plans and documents in conjunction with CNDR team and ensure all necessary components are present, including proposals, budgets, and timelines
• Ensure the project plan contains a complete breakdown of all required work and that each task has a corresponding timeline and assignee
• Ensure that the team develops a communication plan for each project or program for engaging and relaying objectives, progress updates, and data requests to CNDR investigators and clinical sites
• Organize and maintain project information and documentation

Operational Management

• Ensure project documents necessary for financial reporting and contracting are developed and submitted in a complete and timely manner
• Liaise with internal university systems including finance and legal to support successful execution and reporting on project
• Milestone reports and financial reporting to academic agencies
• Provide detailed oversight on internal financial management, including: ensure maintenance of spending plan and provide guidance and recommendations on expense transfers, budgetary changes, and project closure
• Lead appropriate team members on preparation and presentation of detailed quarterly financial reports to senior leadership

Scientific Contribution & Communications

• Providing scientific input to ongoing and future research projects with both national and international collaborators
• Developing research proposals, plans, and reports in conjunction with the research team
• Develop a deep understanding of real-world data and the scientific and clinical nuances of database and data items, and use this to guide decision-making on study designs, analyses, and communication of findings to community
• Providing input into processes and procedures for database management and data quality assurance
• Ensure clear plans and timely progress on the development of scientific posters, abstracts, manuscripts and publications
• Lead and organize meetings with stakeholders and steering committees, including scheduling, meeting facilitation and documentation, and follow-up
• Ensure each expert working group has a publication plan and contribute to development, review, and timely completion of manuscripts and other knowledge translation initiatives
• Share program information and resources with relevant groups (may include occasional travel to conferences, workshops, meetings)
• Ensure that ethical approvals are complete and up-to-date as appropriate for the research projects
• Uses tact and diplomacy to exchange information and handle sensitive issues

Judgement & Decision-Making

• Use judgment to identify and resolve day-today technical and operational issues
• Make decisions in ambiguous situations within established processes pertaining to the project and team
• Propose new solutions to the team for potential and existing problems, integrating lessons learned from previous projects as appropriate
• Responsible for the development and management of project and program budget
• Risk management: ensure risks are identified and risk planning completed in the project planning stage. Proactively anticipate problems and develop preventative solutions
• Monitor project and program progress to respond to unanticipated issues and escalate major risks as appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum Masters degree (PhD ideal) in a relevant field such as neurosciences, health sciences, or epidemiology
• At least 3-5 years of experience in managing research; experience related to clinical research or real-world evidence and registries ideal
• Demonstrated track record of first-authored or co-authored manuscripts published in a peer-reviewed academic journal
• Familiarity with clinical research guidelines and human research ethical protocols, including ethical and legal policies regarding data collection, usage, and sharing
• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with experience facilitating a large group of collaborators and researchers with competing interests and priorities
• Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented
• Ability to make decisions and communicate clearly in complex situations with multiple competing priorities
• Strong writing skills with ability to write both project documents (proposals, reports, project plans) and peer-reviewed research publications
• Ability to understand and apply scientific, legal, and ethical requirements relative to role
• Willingness to use, manage, and maintain established project management tools required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ability to clean and analyze large datasets
• Strong knowledge of statistical software (e.g. R, SPSS, S-Plus, SAS) for data management and basic and advanced statistical analysis ideal
• Strong computer skills including knowledge of database software such as REDCap ideal
• Desire to learn and expand knowledge
• Experience managing a team of staff in a unionized environment an asset
• Knowledge of University policies and core business and research systems an asset
• French language proficiency an asset
  Application Deadline: February 5, 2025
  We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
  This position is classified in the Research Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
  For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

Please refer the Job description for details