Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 114,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Toronto seeks an Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer to advance large-scale research initiatives across campuses. You will identify funding opportunities, draft proposals, and build partnerships with government, industry and academia to secure external funding.

The role emphasizes strategic planning, collaboration and clear communications to internal and external partners, with a focus on defence, security and dual-use technologies.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in STEM or equivalent experience.
• 6–7 years writing, editing and coordinating complex grant applications.
• Experience developing strategies for research partnerships with government/industry.
• Experience with strategic research and landscape analyses.
• Experience with performance evaluation and benchmarking.

Responsibilities

• Write funding proposals, briefs and communications for external audiences.
• Develop program components, plans and milestones to enable collaborations and funding.
• Track initiatives with timelines, deliverables and reporting.
• Develop performance benchmarks and impact metrics.
• Research opportunities for collaborations; prepare proposals and briefs.

Skills

Grant writing

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Written communication

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master's Degree in STEM

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer

Date Posted: 11/09/2026
Req ID: 50956
Faculty/Division: VP - Research
Department: Institutional Strategic Initiatives
Campus:St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00046743
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us

The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio supports the University of Toronto as a top public research university in the world. Our mission is to create the most supportive environment possibleso that our researchers, innovators and learners can do what they do best — advance understanding and apply new knowledge. Our work supports, fosters and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty, staff and students, along with our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sector. VPRI provides a full range of services including guidance to faculty, staff and students on funding opportunities, research agreement negotiation, oversight andaccountability services including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

Your opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, this role will work across the university’s three campuses to support the development and growth of high-profile, large-scale, interdisciplinary, multi-unit research initiatives.

The Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer is a key member of the Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) team within the VPRI portfolio. The role contributes to ISI team operations and supports the advancement of large, multi-stakeholder research initiatives. A key focus of this position will be advancing the University's Defence and Sovereignty Network, supporting research collaborations, strategic partnerships and funding opportunities in defence, security, sovereignty and dual-use innovation.

This position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans for each initiative, aimed at securing substantial external funding. Working collaboratively across the University and with internal and external partners, the Institutional Strategic Initiatives Officer will identify research funding opportunities, support the preparation of collaborative funding applications, draft and edit proposal materials, and develop strategies to foster partnerships.

Your responsibilities will include

• Writing funding applications, proposals and briefings, and drafting internal and external communications
• Developing components of programs or projects and strategic plans thatsupport collaboration, partnerships, and funding objectives; including writing proposals, conducting consultations and organizing workshops, & related duties
• Developing and tracking initiatives/project plans including milestones, timelines, deliverables and reporting
• Developing performance benchmarks and impact metrics
• Researching and recommending new opportunities for external collaborations and partnerships; researching relevant sectors, competitors, institutions and initiatives
• Conducting detailed data analyses, synthesizing findings from research and data analysis in written reports and presentations
• Promoting the University’s research capabilities and building relationships with stakeholders and partnersof strategic importance

Essential Qualifications

• Master's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) discipline or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum six to seven (6-7) years experience with writing, editing and coordinating the creation of complex, multi-stakeholder research grant applications in an academic research environment with a track record of success
• Experience identifying, developing and executing strategies for research and development partnerships involving government and/or industry, including demonstrated success in securing funding or contracts for collaborative research programs in sectors relevant to defence, security, sovereignty or dual-use technologies.
• Experience conducting strategic research, environmental scans and landscape analyses to identify emerging research and innovation priorities, funding opportunities and partnership prospects, particularly in areas related to defence, security, sovereignty and dual-use technologies; demonstrated ability to synthesize findings into strategic recommendations, reports and briefing materials.
• Experience with performance evaluation and benchmarking of research initiatives or projects
• Experience with project management including all aspects of project development and execution
• Demonstrated ability to organize and conduct seminars and workshops
• Demonstrated knowledge of Canada's defence, security and dual-use research and innovation ecosystem, including relevant government priorities, research funding programs, and opportunities for collaboration among academia, research hospitals, industry and government
• Proven ability to liaise, build andmaintain relationships, demonstrated understanding on communicating the value proposition to internal and external stakeholders
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills and highly attentive to detail
• Familiarity with strategic partnerships in a research and/or educational setting
• Demonstrated understanding of the research community, the funding agencies that support research and the broader context
• Flexibility to changing needs; capacity to make adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently, ability to handle conflicting and multiple priorities, superior organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to bring projects to successful completion
• Exceptional communication (oral and written) skills; excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate on initiatives with a wide variety of contacts both internal and external to the University
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office

To be successful in this role you will be

• Adaptable
• Diplomatic
• Possess a positive attitude
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Closing Date: 11/20/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 17 -- $114,151 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $145,980. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Divisional HR Office Email: [e-mail]

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.

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 see http://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 contact [e-mail] .

The University of Toronto has implemented a process to substantiate Indigenous Membership/Citizenship/Enrolment for candidates who identify as Indigenous. For more information about this process, please refer to the Indigenous Substantiation Website .