Senior Executive Officer, VPRI

York University; Canada; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university is seeking a Senior Executive Officer to oversee research administration and provide strategic leadership. The role requires significant experience in financial and human resources management, along with strong skills in policy design and compliance. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing the university's research initiatives and ensuring operational excellence across the division.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, finance, public administration or equivalent.
• Minimum of five years of senior administrative experience in an academic environment.
• Demonstrated success in managing financial and human resources.

Responsibilities

• Assist and advise the Vice-President Research & Innovation.
• Oversee research administration workforce and governance frameworks.
• Manage budgets, facilities, and human resources within the division.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Compliance and risk management

Effective communication

Stakeholder influence

Change management

Education

Master's degree in business or related field

CPA or equivalent credentials

Job description

Purpose

The Division of Research & Innovation provides leadership in promoting the growth and development of the York University research enterprise and enables the transformation of York to a world renowned comprehensive and research-intensive leader in the PSE sector in Canada. The Division provides efficient research services to faculty and provides oversight to ensure University compliance in all aspects of the research enterprise at the pre-award stage, and to work collaboratively with internal and external research service providers to ensure similar compliance in the post award arena. Within that mandate, the Senior Executive Officer is responsible for assisting and advising the Vice-President Research & Innovation broadly across the mandate of the division of VPRI. This includes, but is not limited to participation in policy development, strategic planning, research and analysis, setting of divisional goals and objectives, management and oversight of budgets, facilities, and human resources matters. In addition, the Senior Executive Officer will monitor all activities that fall under the jurisdiction of the Vice-President Research & Innovation and will also be responsible for managing and supporting various special initiatives. The Senior Executive Officer ensures that the overall divisional communication and liaison is maintained and that divisional objectives are achieved. The SEO is responsible for overseeing the management and organization of staff, financial resources and facilities within the division. The incumbent also oversees, troubleshoots and advises the VP on divisional resources issues. The Senior Executive Officer (SEO) role reports to the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI), and provide institution-wide leadership in research administration, operational management, and strategic initiatives. The SEO oversees the research administration workforce, governance frameworks, and risk management controls that support York's research mission, including the highly regulated operation of the Vivarium from the research administration perspective. The SEO also manages facility management, operational improvements, and strategic investment planning, advising the VPRI on priorities and resource allocation. The SEO is responsible for the Division's budgets, including the OVPRI operating budget, and for human resources planning and management across the portfolio. The SEO also oversees research IT operations and advises the VPRI and Associate VPRI on IT, risk management, audits, and compliance. The role is also accountable for space planning on both a short- and long-term basis. Under the leadership of the VPRI and in partnership with the Associate VPRI, the SEO stewards the financial aspects of major external investments (CFREF programs VISTA and Connected Minds) particularly related to institutional matching funds, resource planning, compliance and reporting. The role ensures integrated planning and operational excellence from the HR perspective across Organized Research Units (ORUs), Innovation York, YSpace, the Office of Research Services (ORS), and Office of Research Ethics (ORE). The role leads the integration of financial aspects of the pre– and post–grant services, modernization of research administration and research data systems to enhance service quality, compliance, and efficiency. Externally, the SEO represents York at national and international research administration fora, strengthening York's global profile and partnerships. Decisions and recommendations of this role directly affect institutional operational efficiencies, compliance, and reporting and reputation with regard to research and innovation.

Education

Master's degree in business, finance, public administration or related field (or equivalent combination of education at undergraduate level and senior experience).

Relevant professional designations an asset , CPA. project / change management credentials).

Experience

Minimum of five years of senior administrative experience in a university, post-secondary or public institutional environment including experience in managing financial, human and physical resources.

Senior leadership experience in research administration in a large, complex institution an asset. experience managing human and financial resources in unionized environments.

Demonstrated success supporting large programs (, CFREF / CFI / Tri-Agency), lead integration of pre / post award services and modernizing research administration systems an asset.

Skills

Tri-Agency / CFI / Genome frameworks; Institutional Agreement; RCR and financial administration requirements; export controls / research security; animal care and high risk research administration an asset.

Research data governance, analytics and systems (eRA, finance, CLM) and process improvement methods an asset.

Strategic leadership; stakeholder influence; fiscal stewardship; policy design; risk and compliance; organizational design; labour-relations; complex negotiations; vivarium / facility oversight; vendor / system selection; program and change management; effective written / oral communication.