Special Projects Officer

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 93,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Toronto seeks a Special Projects Officer to manage and execute strategic projects advancing research and innovation. The role involves creating position papers, collaborating across departments, and supporting diversity initiatives. Candidates should hold a university degree and possess extensive project management experience. You will lead workshops, maintain confidentiality, and build relationships across the institution while promoting equity and inclusion in research practices.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive environment

Qualifications

• University degree required; postgraduate degree is an asset.
• Minimum four years of relevant experience in research administration.
• Experience in coordinating project management processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic projects supporting research and innovation.
• Conduct environmental scans and create position papers.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions on inclusivity.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Research skills

Diversity and inclusion awareness

Education

University degree

Postgraduate degree (Master’s or PhD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Job description

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Date Posted: 12/03/2025
Req ID: 46317
Faculty/Division: VP - Research
Department: Centre for Research & Innovation Support
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

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 possible so 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 and accountability services including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

Description

Reporting to the Director, Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS), the Special Projects Officer is responsible for the planning and execution of projects that support the University's strategic priorities in research and innovation. Working closely with the Associate Vice-President Research, others in the VPRI portfolio and colleagues across the University the incumbent provides exceptional project management to advance research impact, foster inclusive excellence and support mentorship activities and that foster a culture where institutional transformation is enabled.

The Special Projects Officer contributes to wide ranging environmental scans and literature reviews to develop position papers, briefing notes and other related materials to support leadership recommendations. The incumbent applies a highly professional project management approach to planning and executing strategic projects alongside cross-institutional teams. The incumbent enables strong and sustained relationships with important partners and leaders across the University and provides secretariat support for cross-institutional and strategic working groups and committees including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research & Innovation Committee. The Special Project Officer also enables effective transparency and accountability by preparing data and reports as required. The incumbent acts with professionalism and tact and understands the responsibility of accessing and working with confidential data. To that end, the Special Projects Officer will support University-wide efforts to determine best practices in the collection and use of sociodemographic and institutional data. Finally, the incumbent will work closely with team members at CRIS to showcase and facilitate programming and resources that advance our research and innovation values and align to our researcher development pedagogy.

The incumbent works in a complex environment that requires a high degree of sensitivity, responsiveness, and a need to maintain confidentiality. The incumbent will participate in the advancement of projects and undertake initiatives and daily activities within the portfolio that require knowledge and use of confidential information impacting staff in various employee groups.

The responsibilities of the Special Project Officer will continue to evolve, and the incumbent in the role must be flexible and able to respond to priorities that arise. The Special Project Officer must be able to work collaboratively in a challenging and dynamic work environment.

Essential Qualifications

Education

• University degree required. Post graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) an asset or equivalent combination of education and experience. Project management designation an asset.

Experience

• Minimum four (4) years’ of relevant research administrative or project management experience in the post- secondary sector or related setting in progressively senior positions. Deep knowledge of current research and innovation challenges and opportunities.


• Extensive experience within the wider post-secondary sector, knowledge of relevant post- secondary policies and procedures, and an understanding of university organizational structure, including its governance.


• Experience advancing strategic projects within a post-secondary environment or similar complex organization.


• Exceptional grasp and experience with curriculum development, pedagogical principles, adult learning principles and theories, mentorship approaches for faculty research, and instructional design including universal design for learning strategies and how these intersect with accessibility and EDI practices.


• Experience organizing and facilitating workshops and training sessions


• Demonstrated knowledge of diversity and inclusion principles, trends, research methods, statistical analysis and reporting.


• Extensive knowledge of EDI community considerations and a strong commitment to anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and justice.


• Experience in change management and strategic planning within complex organizations


• Demonstrated track record of taking initiative, leading large complex projects.


• Demonstrated experience in a project management capacity, including experience with all aspects of process development and execution.


• Demonstrated initiative in mobilizing projects through to completion.


• Expertise and ability to coordinate and support committees and working groups; Demonstrated capacity to mobilize project team(s).


• Experience in coordinating and facilitating meetings, including project meetings with stakeholders to facilitate approval processes.


• Experience designing and/or developing evaluation tools (i.e. surveys, interviews).


• Experienced working with administrative, research and sensitive data. Including experience to gather, synthesize, interpret, and review information.


• Experience in research, data collection and analysis, and report writing.


• Experience designing and delivering adult educational, leadership or professional development programs.


• Experience with event coordination, planning and management.


• A thorough understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives that drive institutional change and foster inclusive excellence


• In-depth knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, techniques, tools and best practices .


• Detailed knowledge of building complex project timelines with experience using Microsoft Project or other project management software and resources. Knowledge of project management tools and resources.


• Strong ability and commitment to remain current with emerging and prevailing trends and issues in equity, diversity and inclusion in research and innovation. Demonstrated proactive learning to stay informed of trends, and to anticipate and proactively respond to changes.


• Demonstrated ability to identify process gaps or areas for improvement and implement changes for maximum efficiency.


• Highly developed skills in oral and written communication, including effective presentation skills.


• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative, discretion, and tact.


• Interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy required.


• Ability to adjust to changing priorities, problem solver orientation.


• High degree of political acuity and judgment.


• Ability to build collaborative, long-term relationships internally and externally.


• Proven ability to deal with sensitive matters that require professional judgement and confidentiality.


• Superior organizational skills in planning, project management and task coordination.


• Ability to interpret and apply a broad range of institutional policies and procedures.


• Ability to work under pressure and with deadline constraints while balancing competing priorities.


• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative, discretion, and tact.


• Ability to collaborate with faculty members and senior university officers in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building.


• Proficiency with information technologies (e.g., advanced skills in Microsoft Office; webpage/ content management system maintenance, email, internet and scheduling software); ability to set up templates and macros in Word and Excel, set up Excel spreadsheets and graphics, and prepare sophisticated PowerPoint presentations); familiarity with statistical software and analysis platforms.


• Familiarity with University governance, higher education sector, and public sector administration is an asset.


• Familiarity with performance measurement and program evaluation is an asset.

Other

• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility with stakeholders including senior leaders and their direct reports.


• A high level of professionalism, independence of action, tact, and the ability to communicate complex information effectively, both in writing and orally, to a wide range of academic and non- academic audiences is essential.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality, with a focus on privacy matters and related policies.


• Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential issues.


• Excellent understanding of the post-secondary education sector and intersection with the broader community.

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 seehttp://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 [e-mail] .

Closing Date

12/12/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea:PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Term This is a TERM role ending April 2027.
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:PM 3 -- Hiring Zone: $93,592 - $109,190 -- Broadband Salary Range: $93,592 - $155,985
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial