Assistant Director

University of Toronto; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI) at the University of Toronto seeks an Assistant Director to lead startup development, oversee operations, and plan strategic initiatives. The role emphasizes securing partnerships, writing grant applications, and driving research translation across campuses.

You will collaborate with senior executives, researchers, and students to build a robust program, aligning with BSMI’s mission for sustainable bio-based innovation and policy impact.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience. PhD an asset.
• Minimum six (6) years of progressive experience in a research environment, preferably in a university or other large research organization.
• Experience writing grant applications including the drafting of the full research proposal based on the outcomes of this phase of the initiative.
• Experience working directly with a broad range of stakeholders including senior executives, researchers and students.
• Experience in strategic planning including milestone and deliverables setting.
• Demonstrated experience writing research funding and grant applications.
• Demonstrated experience championing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills and high attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to liaise, build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Solid project management experience including all aspects of project development and execution.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skill.
• Demonstrated ability to handle conflicting and multiple priorities, superior organizational skills and time management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Responsibilities

• Developing strategic plans to determine the unit's programs and activities.
• Identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development collaborations.
• Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting.
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships.
• Promoting the University’s research capabilities to industrial, governmental and finance sectors to enhance research and innovation funding opportunities.
• Fostering and maintaining networks to build capacity and collaboration

Skills

Strategic planning

Grant writing

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication

EDI advocacy

Analytical thinking

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's Degree

PhD an asset

Job description

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Date Posted: 09/03/2026
Req ID: 50073
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Architecture,Landscape&Design
Department: Daniels Faculty of Arch., Land & Design
Campus:St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00059963
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description

About us

The Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto offers graduate programs in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, forestry, and visual studies. Its mission is to educate students, prepare professionals, and cultivate scholars who will play a leading role in creating more culturally engaged, ecologically sustainable, economically efficient, socially just, and artfully conceived environments.

The greater Toronto region serves as a dynamic laboratory for both its students and faculty, while the University of Toronto, which year after year ranks among the top universities in the world, provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise that they can draw from. Like Toronto, Daniels’ students and faculty are incredibly cosmopolitan in sensibility, hailing from every part of the world, with their work crossing all sorts of geographic and cultural boundaries. The city’s multicultural networks and international connections make the Daniels Faculty a powerful place to start a career.

Your opportunity

The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI) was launched as an Institutional Strategic Initiative at the University of Toronto in 2026 (https://isi.utoronto.ca/initiative/bioeconomy-and-sustainable-materials-institute/). The Institute is dedicated to the sustainable management of natural resources with the goal of creating a viable economy for sustainable bio-based practices and services. BSMI supports the transformation and innovation of the Canadian bioeconomy and utilizes ecosystem-based approaches that harmonize human activities, industrial decisions, and public policy with sustainable ecological systems.

The Institute integrates perspectives and research from diverse disciplines and builds on the University of Toronto’s strengths in forestry, ecology, architecture, and landscape design, as well as economics, engineering, agriculture, and public policy. By integrating diverse disciplines, addressing gaps in approaches and research, and engaging with various societal actors, BSMI aims to develop solutions that are scientifically sound, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.

Working under the direction of the Institute Director, the Assistant Director will play a pivotal leadership role in the strategic development and management of the start-up and development of the Institute. The Assistant Director will oversee BSMI’s operations, plan and deliver BSMI activities, implement and evaluate strategic short- and long-term plans and projects that support the mission of the BSMI, including building a network of scholars across the University’s three campuses, amplifying research and translation impact, and establishing programming to support innovative training opportunities. The Assistant Director will also write grant applications and lead the cultivation of partnerships and strategic alliances that support technology transfer, knowledge mobilization, and commercialization of research innovations.

Your responsibilities will include

• Developing strategic plans to determine the unit's programs and activities
• Identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development collaborations
• Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships
• Promoting the University’s research capabilities to industrial, governmental and finance sectors to enhance research and innovation funding opportunities
• Fostering and maintaining networks to build capacity and collaboration

Essential Qualifications

• Master's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience. PhD an asset.
• Minimum six (6) years of progressive experience in a research environment, preferably in a university or other large research organization
• Experience writing grant applications including the drafting of the full research proposal based on the outcomes of this phase of the initiative
• Experience working directly with a broad range of stakeholders including senior executives, researchers and students
• Experience in strategic planning including milestone and deliverables setting
• Demonstrated experience writing research funding and grant applications
• Demonstrated experience championing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills and high attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to liaise, build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
• Solid project management experience including all aspects of project development and execution
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skill
• Demonstrated ability to handle conflicting and multiple priorities, superior organizational skills and time management skills
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

To be successful in this role you will be

• Articulate
• Diplomatic
• Goal oriented
• Insightful
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Closing Date: 09/17/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 17 -- $109,761. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $140,365. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching
Recruiter: Heather Siemens

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building aculture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectivelyaddress and serve the interests of our global community. Westrongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples,Black and racialized persons, women, persons withdisabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment toequity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverseperspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential tostrengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please seehttp://uoft.me/UP .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please [e-mail] .