Research Programs Manager

Dalhousie University; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 63,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Pension plan

Health and dental plans

Health spending account

Employee assistance program

Tuition assistance program

Job summary

Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, invites applications for a Research Programs Manager in the Faculty of Management. This role leads the administration and delivery of graduate research programs, supporting students from admission to graduation.

You will collaborate with program directors and university partners to oversee recruitment, admissions, curriculum management, instructor hiring and graduation processes, while ensuring a positive student experience.

Qualifications

• Research-focused graduate degree with 3–5 years in post-secondary administration.
• Experience in academic program management, policy administration, and graduate student advising.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for program assessment and improvement.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including faculty and students.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration and continuous improvement of graduate research programs, ensuring academic quality, compliance, and program effectiveness.
• Collaborate with program directors, faculty, and university partners to manage curriculum planning, course scheduling, program governance, and accreditation activities.
• Coordinate graduate recruitment, admissions, and enrollment processes, providing prospective students with program, funding, and research supervision guidance.
• Advise and support graduate students throughout their academic journey, including onboarding, progression monitoring, retention, academic planning, and degree completion.
• Coordinate key research program milestones, including comprehensive examinations, thesis proposals, thesis defenses, scholarship processes, and graduation requirements.
• Manage and deliver graduate research seminars and professional development initiatives that enhance student learning, research capacity, and cohort engagement.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Graduate degree (research-focused)

Job description

Salary $63,337 - $84,730 per annum, 35 hours per week

Classification

Classification ADM-05

Provisional Statement

This is a provisional classification. Formal regular review classification procedures may be initiated at any time by the incumbent or supervisor after the incumbent has worked a minimum of six months in the role.

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary

The Faculty of Management offers world-class management education that prepares students to lead and address complex challenges. Research Programs Manager leads the administration and delivery of graduate research programs, supporting students from admission to graduation. Collaborates with Program Directors and university partners to oversee recruitment, admissions, student advising, curriculum management, instructor hiring, and graduation processes while ensuring a positive student experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the administration, delivery, and continuous improvement of the Faculty’s graduate research programs, ensuring academic quality, compliance, and program effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Program Directors, faculty, and university partners to manage curriculum planning, course scheduling, program governance, and accreditation activities.
• Coordinate graduate recruitment, admissions, and enrollment processes, providing prospective students with program, funding, and research supervision guidance.
• Advise and support graduate students throughout their academic journey, including onboarding, progression monitoring, retention, academic planning, and degree completion.
• Coordinate key research program milestones, including comprehensive examinations, thesis proposals, thesis defenses, scholarship processes, and graduation requirements.
• Manage and deliver graduate research seminars and professional development initiatives that enhance student learning, research capacity, and cohort engagement.

Note

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Research-focused graduate degree plus a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience in post-secondary administration (or an equivalent combination of education and experience), with demonstrated knowledge of graduate research processes, including research ethics, scholarship applications, and student-supervisor relationships.
• Experience in academic program management, policy administration, curriculum coordination, and graduate student advising.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience supporting program assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, students, and university partners.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and influence outcomes in a complex environment.

Assets

• Experience supporting graduate student recruitment, admissions, and enrollment management.
• Knowledge of graduate studies policies, academic governance, and university administrative systems and processes.
• Experience developing and delivering workshops, presentations, seminars, or student engagement initiatives.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies, in particular:

• Respect & Inclusion
• Adaptability
• Knowledge & Thinking Skills
• Communication
• Service

Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.

Application Consideration

Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration. We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or People and Culture.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please review our Employment Equity information. If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

• Required Documents: Résumé / Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Optional Documents: Cover Letter