Director, Research Operations, Clinical Trials and Partnerships

Humber-River-Health; Toronto; On-site; CAD 160,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Humber River Health is seeking a Director of Research Operations, Clinical Trials and Partnerships to lead multi-site clinical research, governance, budgets, and partner engagement. The role aims to expand patient access to trials and strengthen investigator collaborations at Humber River Health.

The position reports to the Chief of Staff, is permanent full time at the Wilson Site with travel to other sites as required, and requires strong leadership, regulatory, and financial oversight

Qualifications

• Undergraduate and graduate degree in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, academic, hospital, clinical research, CRO, or health research environment.
• Experience leading clinical research operations, clinical trials, governance, ethics and regulatory processes, and quality assurance activities.
• Experience managing research budgets, grants, contracts, sponsor relationships, strategic initiatives, and performance reporting.
• Strong knowledge of TCPS2, ICH-GCP, Health Canada requirements, research ethics, privacy legislation, and governance frameworks.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, negotiation, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and growth of clinical trials, sponsored research, investigator-initiated studies, and multi-site initiatives.
• Provide leadership for research operations, including start-up, ethics/regulatory processes, QA, compliance, audit readiness, and infrastructure.
• Develop and implement policies, SOPs, systems, and processes to support efficient, compliant research operations.
• Lead operational planning, governance, and performance measurement to support research priorities and program growth.
• Identify opportunities to expand research capacity and advance multi-site initiatives across the organization.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with investigators, academic institutions, sponsors, industry partners, and TAHSN-related initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Graduate degree in Health Sciences / Healthcare Administration

Job description

Position Profile

Humber River Health. Tomorrow's Healthcare, Today.

Humber River Health is a multi-site organization serving a population of more than 850,000 people in the northwest Greater Toronto Area. The organization is a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) and operates Hennick Humber Hospital, along with its Finch and Church campuses, supported by more than 5,000 employees, approximately 800 physicians, and over 600 volunteers.

Hennick Humber Hospital is North America’s first fully digital hospital. Through robotics and advanced technology, patients benefit from less pain, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays. A custom combination of technology and clinical expertise supports a reimagined model of care focused on safety, efficiency, and improved outcomes. Its digital ecosystem includes automated laboratory services, medication management robotics, electronic health records, a Command Centre, computerized physician order entry, bedside computer terminals, and surgical tracking systems that keep families informed in real time.

These innovations enhance communication, improve efficiency, and create a more connected experience for patients and families.

This transformation has been made possible through the dedication of Humber’s staff, physicians, and volunteers. Together, they are united by a shared belief: the power to transform healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and excellence. With strong teams and a commitment to continuous improvement, Humber River Health continues to deliver Tomorrow’s Healthcare, Today.

Position Overview

The Director, Research Operations, Clinical Trials and Partnerships provides subject matter expertise and leadership across research operations, governance, budgets and contracts, clinical trial administration, ethics and regulatory processes, sponsor and partner engagement, and performance reporting. The Director builds a sustainable research infrastructure that expands research activity, increases patient access to clinical trials, and strengthens partnerships with investigators and academic collaborators – aligning research operations with Humber River Health’s strategic priorities.

Employment Status: Permanent Full Time

Location: Humber River Health, Wilson Site, travel to other sites as required

Hours of work: Monday to Friday

Employee Group: Management

Reporting Relationship: Chief of Staff

Wage Rage: $159,584.10 - $194,159.55

Key Responsibilities

Research Operations & Clinical Trials

• Lead the delivery and growth of clinical trials, sponsored research, investigator-initiated studies, and multi-site research initiatives.
• Provide leadership for research operations, including study start-up, ethics and regulatory processes, quality assurance, compliance, audit readiness, and research infrastructure.
• Develop and implement policies, standard operating procedures, systems, and processes that support efficient, compliant, and sustainable research operations.

Strategy, Governance & Performance

• Lead operational planning, governance, and performance measurement activities that support organizational research priorities, academic objectives, and program growth.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand research capacity and advance interdisciplinary and multi-site initiatives across the organization.

Partnerships & Research Development

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with physician investigators, academic institutions, research sponsors, industry partners, research institutes, community organizations, and peer hospitals to advance Humber River Health’s research agenda.
• Represent Humber River Health in external collaborations, including Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) operational tables, working groups, implementation initiatives, and multi-site research networks.

Research Finance, Contracts & Compliance

• Oversee research budgets, grants, contracts, sponsor relationships, financial performance, risk management, and regulatory compliance activities.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree and graduate degree in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in a healthcare, academic, hospital, clinical research, contract research organization (CRO), or health research environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading clinical research operations, clinical trials, research governance, ethics and regulatory processes, and quality assurance activities.
• Experience managing research budgets, grants, contracts, sponsor relationships, strategic initiatives, and organizational performance reporting.
• Strong knowledge of TCPS2, ICH-GCP, Health Canada requirements, research ethics, privacy legislation, and research governance frameworks.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Experience supporting multi-site research collaborations, academic partnerships, TAHSN-related initiatives, or comparable external research networks is considered a strong asset.

Why choose Humber River Health?

At Humber River Health, our staff, physicians, and volunteers are delivering Tomorrow's Healthcare, Today. We are proud to have been recognized as a part of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. We support employees by providing evidence-based leadership and cultivating a culture that consistently wows with our unwavering commitment to staff, physician and volunteer engagement. We are dedicated to high-quality patient care and demonstrate our values of compassion, professionalism, and respect.

Humber River Health is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace that reflects the diversity of our communities. Guided by our strategic direction to embed equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do – and to address systemic barriers – we foster a culture where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to contribute.

We welcome applications from individuals of all equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, persons living with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and seniors. We recognize that diverse identities and perspectives strengthen our ability to deliver safe, innovative and compassionate care.

As an equal opportunity employer, Humber River Health complies with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other protected ground.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process and employment. Please contact our recruitment team to discuss your needs confidentially.

This position is being posted in response to an existing vacancy at Humber River Health.