Program Manager

University of Waterloo; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 74,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Waterloo is seeking a Program Manager to coordinate multiple research projects within the Brain and Body Lab, reporting to the Principal Investigator. The role requires leadership in developing external partnerships and managing diverse budgets exceeding CAD 1M.

The ideal candidate will guide data collection, oversee ethics approvals, and contribute to publications and knowledge mobilization products, while mentoring research staff and students.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Gerontology or a related field.
• 3+ years of research/project management experience in an academic setting.
• Experience supervising research staff and students.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods and multiple projects.
• Experience submitting ethics applications/ amendments.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate development, implementation, and reporting of multiple research projects.
• Lead relationships with external collaborators and knowledge users.
• Oversee budgets and submit progress reports to funders.
• Oversee data collection across sites and ethics approvals.
• Perform qualitative and quantitative analyses; prepare manuscripts.
• Recruit, train, and supervise research staff and students.
• Develop knowledge mobilization products and manage project communications.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Project coordination

Budget management

Data analysis

Team leadership

Qualtrics

R

Microsoft Excel

Website maintenance

Education

Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Gerontology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Access, Excel)

Qualtrics

R

Job description

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day. Learn more about our recruitment process.

Job Requisition ID: 2026-01827 Time Type: Full time Employee Group: Staff Job Category: Project and Program Management Employment Type: Permanent Department: Faculty of Health - Kinesiology and Health Sciences - Research, Middleton Hiring Range: $73,695.42 - $92,119.28 Posting Information: This posting is for an existing vacancy. Internal posting expires August 20th at 11:59 PM

Job Description

Primary Purpose

The Program Manager is accountable to the Principal Investigator and is responsible for coordination of all aspects of the development, implementation, and reporting of several research projects within the Brain and Body Lab. The Program Manager will take a substantial leadership role, collaborating with the Principal Investigator to develop and maintain relationships with external collaborators, partners and knowledge users and oversee management of research activities and budgets. The Project Manager will make substantive contributions to scientific papers, research proposals, and knowledge mobilization products.

Key Accountabilities

Partner Engagement

The Program Manager will collaborate with the principal investigator to initiate and develop relationships with external collaborators, partners, and knowledge users, including people with lived experience of dementia, health care professionals, and community leaders. The Program Manager will coordinate communications, meetings, and research activities with collaborators, partners, and knowledge users. The Program Manager will collaborate with the Principal Investigator to facilitate meetings including diverse collaborators, partners, and knowledge users, ensuring each member is respected and their perspectives valued. The Program Manager will develop networks and strategies to support recruitment across research projects.

Project Management

Supports Principal Investigator in all aspects of planning, day-to-day implementation, and maintenance of research projects. Oversees budget for multiple grants, in excess of one million dollars. Tracks and submits project expenses. Writes and submits progress reports to project funders to ensure the timely and efficient completion of project goals.

Research Administration

Has primary responsibility for overseeing data collection of several concurrent research studies conducted across multiple sites, including national projects. Prepares research ethics applications and obtains ethics approval for research projects from University of Waterloo and other institutions. Ensures ethics protocols remain current, submits amendments as needed.

Data Collection, Management, and Analysis

Conducts and oversees quantitative and qualitative data collection, including facilitation of interviews/focus groups. Coordinates and implements data cleaning protocols in collaboration with other staff and research students. Conducts both quantitative (descriptive and inferential statistical) and qualitative analyses, including thematic analysis.

Supervision and Mentorship

Recruits, trains, and delegates staff, research students, and research assistants to effectively meet research goals and objectives of multiple projects. Provides functional guidance and oversight of other program staff and research students to further the goals and objectives of the overall research program. Oversees day-to-day operations of the lab. Has primary responsibility for supervising research assistants, research students and casual staff.

Knowledge Translation and Communication

Leads the development of knowledge mobilization products for academic, government, and lay audiences. Works with internal and external collaborators, partners, and knowledge users to integrate their perspectives in all products. Ensure that project websites and social media accounts are kept up to date with relevant and accurate information. Leads and supports the development of scientific manuscripts for publication and prepares and delivers presentations at conferences and workshops. Attends regular team meetings, provides feedback, and updates during meetings when required.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Gerontology or a related field

Experience

• 3+ years and training in research and project management in an academic setting is required.
• Prior experience supervising research assistants and/or research students is required.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods; planning and implementation of multiple, simultaneous research projects is required.
• Experience in submitting research ethics applications and amendments is required.
• Ability to manage and clean large datasets is an asset.
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary research teams that include partners and knowledge users is required.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with people living with dementia and care partners is an asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to act as a first point of contact for partners and knowledge users, including those with cognitive impairment.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Access and Excel, is required.
• Proficiency with survey and statistical analysis software, including Qualtrics and R is considered an asset.
• Previous experience with website maintenance, content writing and social media management is required.
• Demonstrates the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team, while taking initiative and maintaining a proactive approach.
• Ability to think critically and analytically, drawing upon a sound basis of Kinesiology and/or Health Science education and experience, managing and adjusting to multiple competing priorities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills and capacity to maintain collaborative working relationships with numerous investigators, partners, and knowledge users is required.
• Initiative to acquire new skills and remain current with new developments as required.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations. The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada. The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources [e-mail] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

At the University of Waterloo, we think differently, we act with purpose, and we work together. We advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship, nationally and internationally, in an environment of free expression and enquiry. We are a leading global research-intensive university, renowned for entrepreneurship and innovation, providing co-op and work-integrated learning at scale with impact. Learn more about Waterloo

Internal candidates are reviewed first before external applicants are considered. Due to the volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.