Department: Office of Research Services 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Brantford 

Reports to: Mgr, Research Facilitation

Employee Group: PAG 

Application Deadline: March 13, 2023

Requisition ID: 5278 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary

The Research Facilitator (Brantford) is responsible for identifying, promoting and managing high value/impact research opportunities to Brantford faculty members. The incumbent is responsible for increasing the number and dollar value of successful funding opportunities year over year and for providing expert advice and guidance to faculty in the completion of research applications. This incumbent will maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of funding opportunities and requirements, and will be able to match opportunities to faculty members’ strengths and areas of expertise. They will be expected to encourage partnership and collaboration opportunities, and to recognize opportunities for leveraging relationships across the university and with external sectors. This includes identifying and qualifying prospects, as well as cultivating, soliciting and stewarding opportunities with corporations and foundation in support of faculty-specific needs and priorities. The incumbent will have a strong sense of the timelines involved in funding applications, and will initiate faculty contacts and awareness in a timely manner and will have hands-on familiarity with the requirements of the funding agencies. They will work closely with staff in the Office of Research Services on the Waterloo Campus. 

This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Brantford Campus. Travel, once a week, will be required to the Waterloo Campus. The incumbent provides subject matter expertise to all campuses, requiring regular interpersonal interactions and collaboration with departments at the Waterloo Campus, the Brantford Campus, and external partners. Special attention is given to ensure equitable service delivery across all locations.

Accountabilities

• Identify, analyze and assess funding opportunities for revenue and success potential. Promote and advertise best value opportunities to faculty in all research disciplines.

• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of funding opportunities and requirements to match opportunities to faculty members’ strengths and areas of expertise.

• Identify and contact potential international partners, initiate and set up meetings between Laurier faculty and potential partners to develop joint grant applications and research partnerships.

• Act as key advisor to the Brantford research community on various funding agency requirements and deadlines, including political and financial considerations.

• Assist researchers and/or research teams in the preparation and submission of funding agency applications and processes. This assistance includes detailed, comprehensive critique of grant methodology, organization, “fit” with opportunity, etc. Often, it includes writing entire sections of grants rather than editing text supplied by the applicant.

• Provides advice on budgets related to grant applications, ensuring that budgets are accurate, realistic, and conform to agency guidelines. Often includes creating the budget for the applicant, including researching prices and industry rates.

• Work closely with other facilitators, the Industrial Liaison Officer and Knowledge Mobilization Officer on the Waterloo Campus to review and edit grants that fall within their mandates and to facilitate multi- or inter-disciplinary grants.

• Review and interpret feedback regarding unsuccessful grants with researchers to assist in strengthening future funding applications.

• Monitor project progress and intervene as necessary.

• Independently handle non-routine and/or larger scale funding opportunities.

• Monitor and report on faculty research developments with a view to leveraging key areas of activity into research proposals and revenue growth.

• As necessary, assume responsibility for planning, developing, editing, and disseminating project reports, presentations as well as other project information and communications.

• Responsible for the internal grant applications, including providing information about suitable opportunities, reviewing for eligibility after submission, and following up with potential external grant opportunities.

• Maintains departmental database(s) pertaining to grant and contract applications from client faculty.

Qualifications

• PhD in the social sciences.

• Three years’ experience in building collaborative research teams and multi-disciplinary and/or multi-institutional research proposals for provincial, national and international agencies.

• Related experience in the development of research proposals, publications, grant applications and/or contracts.

• Related knowledge in conducting and designing research programs and in research methodologies.

• Exceptional knowledge of successful grant application procedures and granting agency requirements.

• Experience in budget development.

• Exceptional listening, verbal and written communication skills.

• Very strong editorial and documentation skills especially in relation to technical documents.

• Experience in fostering effective communication within and among groups.

• Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously

• Detail oriented, resourceful, innovative, flexible, accessible.

• Proven capacity to excel in an independent, highly confidential, ever-changing work environment.

• Experience in using word processing, spreadsheet, database and Internet applications and tools.

Compensation

Position Grade: EX-H

Annual Salary: $65,048- $81, 310

Hours of Work

This is a full-time, limited term position until February 9, 2024. The normal hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. 

All Laurier employees and students are required to comply with the University's Covid-19 mandatory vaccination policy. Effective May 1st, Wilfrid Laurier University will pause its proof of vaccination requirements. Should these recommendations change, vaccination requirements can be reinstated on short notice. Community members should remain up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.