Department: Office of Research Services 

Job Type: Continuing

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

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Assistant Vice-President, Research

Employee Group: Management 

Application Deadline: September 24, 2024

Requisition ID: 8645 

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 21,000 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. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict.  Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Position Summary

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus, university known for academic excellence and a culture that inspires lives of leadership and purpose. Laurier has a distinct commitment to teaching, research, experiential learning, sustainability and scholarship, which combine to address critical challenges in society, business, the economy and the environment – globally and in the communities we serve. At Laurier’s heart is its strong student focus, which results in exceptional levels of student satisfaction and a deep sense of community that lives on through the university’s highly engaged alumni.

Laurier takes pride in building meaningful relationships with colleagues and students. The Laurier community supports one another, encourages collaboration and teamwork and respects work/life balance, all while recognizing the importance of a challenging, rewarding and inspiring career. Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well as locations in Kitchener and Toronto.

Diversity is one of Laurier’s core values. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace 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.

We are currently have an opportunity to join Laurier as the Manager, Research Partnerships and Impact.

The Manager, Research Partnerships and Impact is responsible for advancing Laurier’s partnerships with non-profit and public sector entities and for identifying opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations within and outside the institution. The incumbent will be responsible for sourcing and nurturing research partnerships with the non-profit and public sectors. The Manager, Research Partnerships and Impacts will develop and leverage robust external and strategic relationships with relevant non-project and public sector partners and use strong internal relationships across the University to generate new research partnerships, support competitive research funding opportunities, negotiate agreements, and support knowledge exchange. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing Laurier’s research knowledge mobilization strategy and enhancing the impact of our research. The Manager will oversee the effective engagement of research end users and the development of meaningful research outputs. In particular, the Manager will provide key leadership to Laurier’s strategic partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT). Working with stakeholder in the NWT, including government officials, indigenous communities, and researchers the incumbent will advance and strengthen Laurier’s long standing partnership with the GNWT. 

The Manager will also responsible for the effective oversight, management, and administration of Laurier’s interdisciplinary Research Centres and Institutes. The incumbent will ensure the efficient and effective operations of Research Centre and Institutes and will seek ways to enhance their impact.

This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Waterloo Campus. The incumbent provides leadership in a multi-campus environment, requiring regular interaction, communication and collaboration with staff and stakeholders at the Waterloo Campus, Brantford Campus and Toronto office and external partners. The Manager will ensure the unit’s policies, programs and services are delivered equitably across all campuses and reflect the needs of local stakeholders.

Accountabilities

Partnership development and Knowledge mobilization

• Pro-actively identify and target non-profit and public entities for research partnerships
• Cultivate meaningful relationships with external non-profit and public entities
• Oversee the work of the Research Partnership Officer and Coordinator
• Develop and implement an ongoing strategy for research impact at Laurier
• Provide expertise and leadership to support development of public policy and professional practice through Laurier research
• Manage the execution of Non-Disclosure Agreements, agreements and contracts

GNWT-Laurier Partnership

• Liaise with NWT partners including government, industry, and community partners
• Identify new opportunities to advance and strengthen the Partnership
• Cultivate a network of stakeholders within the NWT to further raise the profile of the Partnership and to champion new projects and initiatives
• Work closely with Laurier faculty to oversee the management of NWT based infrastructure, including a Yellowknife Office and a number of field camps.
• Oversee the scheduling and workplan of the five GNWT based Research Associates and ensure annual reporting to funder and spending of grant funds is on track and compliant with funder policy

Research Centres/Institutes

• Oversee the administration of Laurier’s Research Centres and Institutes program
• Develop training resources to support Centre operations
• Proactively identify opportunities to develop meaningful partnerships to broaden the profile and impact of the centres
• Seek ways to strengthen student engagement and opportunities within Laurier Centres to enhance their training.

Reporting Relationships

This Position Reports to: Assistant Vice-President, Research

The following positions report to the Manager, Research Partnerships:

Research Partnerships Officer (1), direct report

Research Partnerships Coordinator (1), direct report

The following positions directly report to the position for performance management, leave reporting, and workload/delegation of tasks, with dotted line relationships to applicable faculty lead(s), who establish the scope of activities:

Research Associate, Cold Region Hydrology and Water Science (1)

Research Associate, Community Engagement and Climate Change Adaptation (1)

Research Associate, Permafrost (1)

Research Associate, Biomonitoring (1)

Research Associate, Ecosystems Resilience (1)

Research Associate, Northern Canada Knowledge Networks (1)

Qualifications

• Minimum Master’s degree in Applied Research Field
• Minimum five years experience related experience with partnership building in university, NGO, government agency/department or equivalent
• Previous experience reviewing and analyzing research relevant to public policy and/or social programs
• Previous supervisory experience
• Project management experience coupled with the ability to work in a self-directed manner, organize tasks and set priorities
• Detail oriented, resourceful, innovative, flexible, accessible
• Effective communicator; able to succinctly present information orally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to work with confidential information, to work as an effective member of a team, as well as the ability to exercise high levels of independence, judgment, leadership and initiative with minimal supervision
• Experience working within a Northern Canada context an asset
• Previous experience working with Indigenous communities an asset

Hours of work 

This is a full-time, continuing position. The normal hours of work are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm including a one (1) hour unpaid meal period.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation 

Level: 2B

Rate of pay: $85,000 to $112,596

Broad salary ranges include a hiring range ($81,888- $92,124 of range midpoint), a target range ($92,125-$112,596 of range midpoint), and a premium range ($112,597 -$127,951 of range midpoint).

When new employees are hired the appropriate base salary is determined using these sub-ranges as a guide while adhering to rules on hiring as defined in our compensation policy. Considerations for new hire salaries include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

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.