Research Program Director

at  Western University

ABOUT US

The Robarts Research Institute within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University has a mission to accelerate medical discovery. Through a powerful integration of basic and clinical research, we drive major advances that impact on many of today’s most devastating diseases.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s of Science in Life Sciences
• Completion of, or working towards, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• PhD in Life Sciences is preferred

Experience:

• 5 years of senior level experience managing multiple research projects, and managing and monitoring research budgets
• 2 years of experience in project management/administration or running a laboratory in a research and/or academic research environment
• 2 years of experience leading staff and large-scale research programs
• Experience in the preparation of grant reporting and ethics submissions
• Post-doctoral experience and publication record in neuroscience, behavior or imaging preferred
• Considerable experience of the full project life-cycle and project management methodologies is preferred
• Experience in strategic planning, implementation, and operationalization is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Expert knowledge and experience of effectively using Project Management Principles to align projects with strategic goals and operational objectives, ensure team roles are clear, milestones are communicated, and deadlines are met
• Knowledge best practices in building a strong collaborative team and leading people and of best approaches for creating a shared vision
• Self-driven individual who is highly motivated and possesses an intrinsic passion for quality
• In-depth knowledge of academic research best practises and neuroscience to effectively meet the requirements of this position
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to complete detailed analytics and reports
• Ability to lead meetings with leading neuroscientists
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple activities that are accurate and thorough, sometimes of a complex nature or involving competing priorities
• Proven ability to set and achieve goals and to maintain focus of the big picture while also being aware of the details
• Demonstrated ability to foster positive relationships amongst stakeholders and provide information in a positive light to advance the profile of the project
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively on priorities and to work flexibly around variable work demands
• Communication skills with the ability to converse with, write reports for, and deliver presentations to all levels of the organization as well as stakeholder organizations
• In-depth knowledge of research design, principles and techniques related to neurobiology
• Knowledge of general laboratory procedures and familiarity with methods for research design, implementation, and analysis
• Familiarity with project management software, communication tools, and financial principles and budgeting with the ability to ensure expenditures and resources are within allotments, and to make appropriate modifications when required
• Ability to focus and attend to detail while also understanding the big picture
• Results-oriented with the ability to motivate and coach others to meet high performance standards, while working effectively as a member of the leadership team
• Ability to recommend controls to manage operational and legal risks
• Ability to delegate work and provide team members with clear direction and support in meeting their objectives
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of project management
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) with the ability to learn and use relevant software that achieves required outcomes and is in line with best practices
• Capacity to think and act at a strategic level and achieve operational requirements
• Demonstrated ability to organize data and prepare reports for publication
• Demonstrated ability to research/investigate issues and resolve problems
• Ability to work under pressure (whether created through timescale, resource scarcity or other issue) and in changing and ambiguous circumstances

The Research Program Director provides leadership for all aspects of the Translational Initiative to De-risk NeuroTherapeutics (TRIDENT) platform, in collaboration with the Lead Investigator (Dr. Ravi Menon). The role facilitates the development of a large interdisciplinary research project, leading and providing oversight for team leads for the activities and platform milestones with both the large multi-Institute initiatives across the 5 sites and Institute-specific initiatives that they manage. The role is accountable for the comprehensive management, planning, oversight, and execution of research projects under TRIDENT by ensuring that numerous technologies, data acquisition, analysis and interaction are harmonized between participating research groups at Western, University of Toronto and McGill. The role collaborates with team leaders (co-investigators) to facilitate the coordination of research conducted in different laboratories at the 5 sites involved in this initiative. The role will identify opportunities for process improvements, and design and/or revise practices, with appropriate controls, to ensure that risks are mitigated.
The role will provide technical expertise and coordination, including managing budgets and monitoring expenditures to ensure compliance with the research plan and funding agency guidelines, manages relationships and follow-up activities with stakeholders, and will facilitate collaborations and communications between teams, with investigators and other partners to ensure the successful attainment of research objectives. The role will develop and set goals in collaboration with the Lead Investigator ensuring milestones are met and deliverables are produced on time, which is a key evaluation aspect for NFRF-T grants. The role offers expertise in all aspects of the assigned portfolio and implications for the TRIDENT platform and ensures the effective alignment of resources to best support the attainment of the strategic objectives. The role facilitates achievement of the strategic plan of the platform, manages financial information and develops reports and forecasts in compliance with funding guidelines.