CRIS Collaborative Programs Officer

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 97,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Toronto is seeking a Collaborative Programs Officer to drive interdisciplinary research initiatives. This role involves developing strategic plans, managing complex relationships, and fostering partnerships with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in academia, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record in project management. The position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment that promotes research excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of six to seven years in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Proven ability to cultivate partnerships with stakeholders.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for collaborative programs and support services.
• Liaise with management to determine goals and priorities.
• Research and recommend solutions to project challenges.

Skills

Strategic planning

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Relationship management

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree (asset)

Tools

Microsoft 365 Office

Virtual collaboration software

Job description

About us

The Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) serves as a visible and virtual hub and tri‑campus connector with a physical location at the Gerstein Science Information Centre and a researcher‑centric website where faculty can learn about and easily access the many existing services, training, research tools and expertise offered across the University. By providing leadership and coordination with central units and academic divisions, CRIS promotes the visibility of, access to and value of research and innovation supports. CRIS coordinates and delivers a broad range programming that supports researcher development in six key functional areas. Through design and delivery of collaboration supports, this role accelerates faculty‑led cross‑divisional, interdisciplinary and excellence‑driven research.

Your opportunity

The University of Toronto seeks a collaborative, self‑directed and results‑focused professional who thrives in a high‑paced environment. Reporting to the Manager, CRIS Operations and Programs and working closely with colleagues in CRIS and across the University, the successful applicant will lead projects and develop the strategy to design and deliver supports for new programming that enable faculty and their key partners to engage in meaningful dialogue, understand community‑driven needs and build successful research relationships. The successful applicant will also support activities that advance cross‑divisional, interdisciplinary and major team collaborations. Projects include leading the planning and execution of both faculty‑led workshops as well as strategic engagements with faculty leadership, sponsors and other research and innovation stakeholders of strategic importance with the goal of enhanced research excellence, productivity and impact; and reporting on successes and identifying opportunities for improvement to recommend to the Director. The Collaborative Programs Officer also develops and deploys resources to enable facilitation practice that are scalable and adaptable. To be successful in this role, the candidate will maintain good rapport and relationships with faculty and their staff to understand their intended outcomes, to develop tailored supports and programming. Finally, the successful candidate will contribute to the promotion of our collaborative program and other CRIS offerings to ensure faculty are aware of and knowledgeable about CRIS offerings by collaborating with others to utilize existing CRIS promotional materials, including website, e‑communications and presentations at stakeholder engagement opportunities to actively promote and seek feedback on these services.

Your responsibilities will include

• Developing strategic plans to determine the unit’s collaborative programs and support services in order to accelerate faculty‑led cross‑divisional, interdisciplinary and excellence‑driven research
• Developing overall project design, including scope, project timelines
• Liaising with management to determine goals and priorities
• Implementing project communications plans
• Coordinating tasks for projects and other strategic initiatives with stakeholders
• Researching, analyzing and recommending solutions to project challenges
• Cultivating ongoing, high‑profile prospective partnerships that advance strategic agendas
• Fostering and maintaining networks to build capacity and collaboration

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience. Master’s Degree is an asset.
• Minimum of six to seven years, working directly in an interdisciplinary research environment in which management of complex relationships, strategy development and implementation of academic and research programs were core components of the role.
• Experience working with cross‑divisional, interdisciplinary groups and building relationships with academic staff, faculty members and both internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in developing and fostering positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including experience cultivating successful partnerships with granting organizations, industry partners, government, community partners and other not‑for‑profit organizations for the purposes of advancing research outcomes and impact.
• Exceptional grasp and experience with virtual and in‑person collaborative research approaches such as ideation, group consensus, decision‑making facilitation methods to advance interdisciplinary and excellence‑driven research initiatives as well as those that meet community‑partner needs.
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate meetings and discussions with partners in a way that fosters collaboration and outcomes that meet a variety of stakeholders and interests.
• Understanding of large‑scale grant development, major research project research management and operations, and complex research administrative concepts.
• Exceptional oral communication skills, presentation and writing skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and e‑mail software applications; proven ability to learn new systems and tools quickly and independently. Advanced proficiency in virtual software platforms that enable both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration.
• Ability to compile and analyze data, prepare reports and other informational materials.
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills and highly attentive to detail.
• Flexibility to changing operational needs; capacity to make project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently, ability to handle conflicting and multiple priorities, superior organizational and time‑management skills.

To be successful in this role you will be

• Adaptable
• Multi‑tasker
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Resourceful

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.

Key Details

Closing Date: 01/09/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full‑Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 15 – $97,348, with an annual step progression to a maximum of $124,491. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Anita Chooraman