Senior Specialist, Strategic Research Grants, Research Services

at  The University of Calgary

Description
The Strategic Research Grants Team in the Office of VP Research invites applications for a Senior Specialist. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
The Research Services Office (RSO) works with the University of Calgary’s research community to advance the research enterprise. RSO aims to increase sponsored research revenue, reduce financial, reputational and market risk and manage compliance for the university. Within RSO, the External Grants team and Institutional Programs Division (IPD) focus on assisting and advising researchers applying for project funding from Tri-Council Agencies (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC), other government sources (provincial, federal, and international) and non-profit organizations. With a mandate to provide timely, effective pre-application and post-award services, RSO is accountable to the Vice-President (Research) and operates in a complex and competitive environment serving researchers, Faculties, University leadership, and external sponsors.
This position will offer a model of flexible support, application review, and resources that will ensure the University submits focused and highly competitive applications to granting programs of strategic interest, building on existing service models of RSOs External Grants team and IPD. The Specialist will also provide surge capacity to undertake other grant application and award tasks as needed in alignment with the roles of Research Grants Officers and Institutional Programs Analysts, reporting to managers in the respective teams.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Effectively communicates expert knowledge of strategic research funding opportunities to the University community through several communication channels.
• Maintains close connections with Canadian research funding agencies and other Canadian universities to stay abreast of emerging funding opportunities, issues, and other developments in the national and provincial research funding environment.
• Provides tailored consultations to faculty members and research teams (including internal and external collaborators and partners) on strategic funding opportunities, relevant services available to them, and an appropriate plan for development of a highly competitive grant application.
• Develops a robust review and support model for high-value and complex grant applications, in collaboration with the RSO External Grants team and IPD.
• Designs, develops, and delivers information sessions and workshops on a range of topics, including the promotion of strategic funding opportunities, finding an appropriate opportunity, application development, and completing application forms.
• Develops a range of guidance materials and other tools for researchers, in conjunction with colleagues within RSO, other research support offices, and other Canadian universities, that will improve the quality of applications, facilitate application development, facilitate grant management processes, and ease administrative burden.
• Reviews grant applications at various levels of analysis and criteria, appropriate to the stage of development, providing thoughtful and constructive feedback that will improve competitiveness and ensure compliance with relevant policies and program criteria.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure pre-award research security requirements are met by applicants and the University.
• Liaises with the Vice-President (Research) Office, Faculties, and other relevant units to secure letters of support as needed.
• Liaises with legal teams to navigate the agreement process.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure post-award compliance with research security requirements.
• Ensures all research within the University has up-to-date human research ethics, animal care, and biosafety certificates or permits, where applicable.
• Reviews and submits post award documentation to Finance to set up and occasionally amend the project account.
• Liaises with external funding agencies to confirm policies and regulations on behalf of the researcher and to facilitate requests for amendments to awards.
• Analyzes competition results with the Manager, External Grants and regularly reports to senior leaders on UCalgary performance as well as the state of support services and infrastructure.
• As file owner for grant records, ensures the Research Management System contains current application and award data related to the portfolio, and that electronic files are kept up to date.
• Works to improve service provision and process around application development supports.
• Participates in a team approach to application review during high-volume competitions.
• Co-develops a range of guidance materials, supports and other tools for researchers.
• Collaborates to design and deliver workshops and information sessions on a range of topics.
• Participates in pre-award support processes for selected institutional programs as needed, including application guidance and review, SUPPORT committee peer review processes, budget development and reviews, and institutional sign-off processes.
• Participates in a team approach to application review during higher-volume competitions.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

• A graduate degree (or undergraduate degree with two additional years of relevant experience) is required, with significant work experience in research or university administration or policy.
• Knowledge of the Canadian research funding environment, including key funding agencies, common models for funding programs, and current trends and issues in research funding, is required.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and lead effective workshops and information sessions is required.
• Solid knowledge of University administration and policies relating to research is required.
• Flexible attitude, and ability to adapt to changing workloads and priorities, is required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
• Ability to provide accurate information professionally, courteously, in a timely manner, and respecting appropriate confidentialities, is required.
• Must be a fast learner, able to work independently with appropriate instruction and minimal supervision.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) is required.
• Strong time management and organizational skills are required.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, including interpersonal skills and sound judgement, are required.
• Demonstrated experience in a research environment, preferably at a large research-intensive university and with administrative procedures, would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience with multi-disciplinary and/or multi-organizational research proposals would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience designing or delivering grant development resources, or models of support, would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience with various models of peer- or merit-review processes used by research funding agencies would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of the international research funding environment, including key funding agencies for Canadian universities and current trends and issues in research funding, would be considered an asset.
• Experience in people management or mentorship experience would be considered an asset.
  Application Deadline: November 13, 2024
  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 part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
  For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

• Effectively communicates expert knowledge of strategic research funding opportunities to the University community through several communication channels.
• Maintains close connections with Canadian research funding agencies and other Canadian universities to stay abreast of emerging funding opportunities, issues, and other developments in the national and provincial research funding environment.
• Provides tailored consultations to faculty members and research teams (including internal and external collaborators and partners) on strategic funding opportunities, relevant services available to them, and an appropriate plan for development of a highly competitive grant application.
• Develops a robust review and support model for high-value and complex grant applications, in collaboration with the RSO External Grants team and IPD.
• Designs, develops, and delivers information sessions and workshops on a range of topics, including the promotion of strategic funding opportunities, finding an appropriate opportunity, application development, and completing application forms.
• Develops a range of guidance materials and other tools for researchers, in conjunction with colleagues within RSO, other research support offices, and other Canadian universities, that will improve the quality of applications, facilitate application development, facilitate grant management processes, and ease administrative burden.
• Reviews grant applications at various levels of analysis and criteria, appropriate to the stage of development, providing thoughtful and constructive feedback that will improve competitiveness and ensure compliance with relevant policies and program criteria.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure pre-award research security requirements are met by applicants and the University.
• Liaises with the Vice-President (Research) Office, Faculties, and other relevant units to secure letters of support as needed.
• Liaises with legal teams to navigate the agreement process.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure post-award compliance with research security requirements.
• Ensures all research within the University has up-to-date human research ethics, animal care, and biosafety certificates or permits, where applicable.
• Reviews and submits post award documentation to Finance to set up and occasionally amend the project account.
• Liaises with external funding agencies to confirm policies and regulations on behalf of the researcher and to facilitate requests for amendments to awards.
• Analyzes competition results with the Manager, External Grants and regularly reports to senior leaders on UCalgary performance as well as the state of support services and infrastructure.
• As file owner for grant records, ensures the Research Management System contains current application and award data related to the portfolio, and that electronic files are kept up to date.
• Works to improve service provision and process around application development supports.
• Participates in a team approach to application review during high-volume competitions.
• Co-develops a range of guidance materials, supports and other tools for researchers.
• Collaborates to design and deliver workshops and information sessions on a range of topics.
• Participates in pre-award support processes for selected institutional programs as needed, including application guidance and review, SUPPORT committee peer review processes, budget development and reviews, and institutional sign-off processes.
• Participates in a team approach to application review during higher-volume competitions