Research Project Manager

Waterloo International; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 62,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Waterloo is seeking a Research Project Manager to support SAF researchers and the Behavioural Laboratory. You will coordinate data collection, manage studies, and help develop research infrastructure across CARE.

Responsibilities include coordinating reports, handling budgets, and mentoring staff and students. This role emphasizes rigorous data management, ethics, and stakeholder communication in a collaborative university environment.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Additional qualifications in data management or digital knowledge mobilization are an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing projects in an academic setting preferred.
• Experience coordinating research activities in an academic environment.
• Experience with design of research processes and data collection and management.

Responsibilities

• Supports SAF researchers to coordinate, plan, and manage research studies involving the SAF Behavioural Laboratory.
• Develops data collection protocols, tools, and instruments; troubleshoots for projects in the laboratory.
• Oversees participant recruitment, data collection and data management with QA procedures.
• Create research ethics applications and obtain UW Research Ethics approval for the Behavioural Laboratory.
• Contributes to improvement of research infrastructure within CARE, including budgets and archival databases.
• Assist with grant proposal writing.
• Coordinate writing of reports, media releases, and dissemination to professional bodies.
• Prepare reports for investigators and external stakeholders.
• Provide data outputs for knowledge translation and exchange activities.
• Communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Research administration

Data management

Communication skills

Budgeting

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Data management knowledge mobilization asset

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: 2026-01785 Time Type: Full time Employee Group: Staff Job Category: Project and Program Management Employment Type: Temporary Department: Faculty of Arts - School of Accounting and Finance - Administration Hiring Range: $61,954.88 - $77,443.60 Posting Information: This posting is for an existing vacancy. The internal posting deadline for this position is August 20, 2026 at 11:59PM This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity. Term 2 years

Primary Purpose

The Research Project Manager will work with the Deputy Director for Scholarship; the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) Centre for Accounting Research and Education (CARE) Leadership Committee; and the Behavioural Lab Director, to support and enhance the research activities of the SAF. Key responsibilities include working with SAF faculty to compile data to support the development of high profile research reports, coordinating and standardizing activities and processes across the research centres within CARE, and managing the SAF Behavioural Laboratory.

Key Accountabilities

Research Administration

• Supports SAF researchers and collaborators to coordinate, plan, and manage research studies involving the SAF Behavioural Laboratory.
• Participates in the development of data collection protocols, tools, and instruments, including problem solving and troubleshooting for projects run in the Behavioural Laboratory.
• Implements research protocols developed by researchers; oversees participant recruitment, data collection and data management, including development and oversight of quality assurance procedures for data collection.
• Creates research ethics applications and obtains UW Research Ethics approval for the Behavioural Laboratory, in consultation with SAF researchers; assists with other research administration tasks.
• Contributes to the improvement of research infrastructure in SAF, including the Behavioural Laboratory and licensed archival databases.
• Assists with grant proposal writing.

Knowledge Translation and Communication

• Coordinates the writing of reports, media releases, and other efforts to disseminate research results to the accounting and finance profession, including professional bodies such as the Canadian Academic Accounting Association, CPA Ontario, CPA Canada, and the Ontario Securities Commission.
• Prepares reports for investigators, staff, external stakeholders, including funders.
• Provides data outputs and creates reports for knowledge translation and exchange activities with external stakeholders.
• Communicates clearly with both internal and external stakeholders in both one-on-one and group settings.
• Coordinates and supports the research conferences hosted by research centres within CARE.

Project Management and Coordination

• Coordinates the research activities and resources of the Behavioural Laboratory and the research centres within CARE.
• Manages competing priorities, limited resources, and overlapping timelines and escalates issues to appropriate stakeholders when warranted.
• Oversees and assigns tasks to co‑op students, graduate students and casual staff regarding the activities of the Behavioural Laboratory and the research centres within CARE.
• Manages the budget and initiates financial transactions related to Behavioural Laboratory and CARE activities.

Training, Compliance and Student Mentorship

• Advises researchers, staff and graduate students regarding data management protocols and the use of the Behavioural Laboratory to maintain high research standards and ensure quality and integrity of data collected.
• Trains graduate students on the rules governing the use of the Behavioural Laboratory and data collection processes.
• Monitors students regularly throughout the data collection cycle to ensure proper collection methods are followed.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Additional qualifications in data management or digital knowledge mobilization are an asset.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing projects in an academic setting supporting a wide variety of stakeholders is preferred.
• Experience providing functional leadership, project leadership, or coordinating research activities in an academic environment.
• Experience with the design of research processes and data collection and management particularly related to behavioural research studies.
• Experience writing and sharing content through multiple channels to support knowledge dissemination activities across a broad range of academic, industry, policy setting and professional association stakeholders.
• Specific experience with academic event planning and execution.
• Financial administration and budgeting experience an asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of research administration processes, research ethics, behavioural research methods, and data management practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with researchers and members of the academic associations and professional bodies, with the ability to convey information to those with limited technical knowledge or context.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues, recommend practical solutions, and support continuous improvement of research processes and operations.
• Financial administration skills, including monitoring budgets, processing financial transactions, and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.
• Self-managing and self-motivated to initiate and complete unstructured tasks assigned and develop the necessary skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, students, researchers, and external partners to support successful research initiatives.
• Ability to coordinate complex research projects involving multiple stakeholders while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; ability to take initiative and be proactive.

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.