Top Benefits
About the role
DIRECTOR, RESEARCH (1 Year Contract)
This is a hybrid position based out of the CIFAR office located in the MaRs Discovery building. Staff are required to be in the office three days a week, ensuring a balance of in-person collaboration and flexibility.
About CIFAR:
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together.
For more information please visit our website .
Purpose of the Position:
Reporting to the Executive Director, Research & Partnerships, the Director, Research leads the development and management of CIFAR's research programs, departmental operations, and cross-institute initiatives. This role provides intellectual stewardship of the research portfolio, guiding strategic research initiatives in collaboration with department heads. The Director also serves on CIFAR's leadership team and may manage staff within the Research Department. This is a one-year contract position.
Responsibilities:
Research Program Management:
- Provide guidance and oversight to CIFAR's research programs, initiatives, and related activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with program directors, advisory committees, and program members.
- Support the development and implementation of impact strategies, public engagement activities, and external partnerships.
- Promote EDI principles and ensure research teams track progress and report transparently.
- Oversee program assessments, including 5-year reviews, collaborative funding, and appointments of new members and advisors.
- Manage research budgets in collaboration with Finance and Research leadership, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Collaborate with Advancement on donor cultivation, proposal development, and stewardship efforts.
- Steward additional research initiatives, such as workshops and special projects.
- Facilitate workshops, strategic discussions, and stakeholder engagement to identify new opportunities.
Qualifications:
Education/Experience required:
- Ph.D. degree, preferably in natural/physical sciences.
- 7–10 years of work experience post-Ph.D., inside or outside of academia, with experience collaborating within multidisciplinary academic teams and organizing academic events, conferences, or workshops.
- Experience in foresight is considered a strong asset.
Core Professional/Technical Knowledge & Skills required for the position:
- Strong project management and planning abilities.
- Experience in evaluating initiatives to promote research excellence.
- Experience managing or supporting research projects and grants
- In-depth knowledge of research principles and best practices.
- Understanding of CIFAR’s mandate and strategic objectives.
- Familiarity with the global research landscape and key institutions.
- Proficiency in financial, HR, and administrative processes to support organizational capacity.
- Technological proficiency with office systems and tools.
Apply:
Qualified applicants are invited to apply by August 5, 2025, at 11:59pm EST. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization. Our leadership, staff and volunteers strive to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and, in turn, an environment that will give our diverse global community of researchers the support to successfully address the most important questions facing science and humanity. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome, regardless of age, education, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, and other attributes is vital to achieving our mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of our society who face systemic barriers and biases, including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minority/racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, members of marginalized gender identity communities, and persons with disabilities. Applicants may confidentially self-identify at the time of application.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES
- CIFAR is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email hrteam@cifar.ca and include the term ‘Accessibility’ in the Subject Line, or call 416-971-4251. Please provide your name, preferred contact method, and a detailed description of the nature of any accommodation that you may require. Please include any materials or processes that may be used to ensure your equal participation.
CIFAR frequently communicates in both official languages and our preference is to hire employees who are fluent in both English and French where possible. Other languages are also considered an asset. For a French version of the job posting, please visit www.cifar.ca .
CIFAR is supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec as well as international partner organizations, individuals, foundations, and corporations.
About CIFAR
CIFAR is a Canadian-based global research organization that convenes extraordinary minds to address the most important questions facing science and humanity.
By supporting long-term interdisciplinary collaboration, CIFAR provides researchers with an unparalleled environment of trust, transparency and knowledge sharing. Our time-tested model inspires new directions of inquiry, accelerates discovery and yields breakthroughs across borders and academic disciplines. Through knowledge mobilization, we are catalysts for change in industry, government and society. CIFAR's community of fellows includes 20 Nobel laureates and more than 400 researchers from 20 countries. In 2017, the Government of Canada appointed CIFAR to develop and lead the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the world's first national AI strategy.
CIFAR is generously supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.
Top Benefits
About the role
DIRECTOR, RESEARCH (1 Year Contract)
This is a hybrid position based out of the CIFAR office located in the MaRs Discovery building. Staff are required to be in the office three days a week, ensuring a balance of in-person collaboration and flexibility.
About CIFAR:
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together.
For more information please visit our website .
Purpose of the Position:
Reporting to the Executive Director, Research & Partnerships, the Director, Research leads the development and management of CIFAR's research programs, departmental operations, and cross-institute initiatives. This role provides intellectual stewardship of the research portfolio, guiding strategic research initiatives in collaboration with department heads. The Director also serves on CIFAR's leadership team and may manage staff within the Research Department. This is a one-year contract position.
Responsibilities:
Research Program Management:
- Provide guidance and oversight to CIFAR's research programs, initiatives, and related activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with program directors, advisory committees, and program members.
- Support the development and implementation of impact strategies, public engagement activities, and external partnerships.
- Promote EDI principles and ensure research teams track progress and report transparently.
- Oversee program assessments, including 5-year reviews, collaborative funding, and appointments of new members and advisors.
- Manage research budgets in collaboration with Finance and Research leadership, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Collaborate with Advancement on donor cultivation, proposal development, and stewardship efforts.
- Steward additional research initiatives, such as workshops and special projects.
- Facilitate workshops, strategic discussions, and stakeholder engagement to identify new opportunities.
Qualifications:
Education/Experience required:
- Ph.D. degree, preferably in natural/physical sciences.
- 7–10 years of work experience post-Ph.D., inside or outside of academia, with experience collaborating within multidisciplinary academic teams and organizing academic events, conferences, or workshops.
- Experience in foresight is considered a strong asset.
Core Professional/Technical Knowledge & Skills required for the position:
- Strong project management and planning abilities.
- Experience in evaluating initiatives to promote research excellence.
- Experience managing or supporting research projects and grants
- In-depth knowledge of research principles and best practices.
- Understanding of CIFAR’s mandate and strategic objectives.
- Familiarity with the global research landscape and key institutions.
- Proficiency in financial, HR, and administrative processes to support organizational capacity.
- Technological proficiency with office systems and tools.
Apply:
Qualified applicants are invited to apply by August 5, 2025, at 11:59pm EST. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization. Our leadership, staff and volunteers strive to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and, in turn, an environment that will give our diverse global community of researchers the support to successfully address the most important questions facing science and humanity. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome, regardless of age, education, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, and other attributes is vital to achieving our mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of our society who face systemic barriers and biases, including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minority/racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, members of marginalized gender identity communities, and persons with disabilities. Applicants may confidentially self-identify at the time of application.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES
- CIFAR is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email hrteam@cifar.ca and include the term ‘Accessibility’ in the Subject Line, or call 416-971-4251. Please provide your name, preferred contact method, and a detailed description of the nature of any accommodation that you may require. Please include any materials or processes that may be used to ensure your equal participation.
CIFAR frequently communicates in both official languages and our preference is to hire employees who are fluent in both English and French where possible. Other languages are also considered an asset. For a French version of the job posting, please visit www.cifar.ca .
CIFAR is supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec as well as international partner organizations, individuals, foundations, and corporations.
About CIFAR
CIFAR is a Canadian-based global research organization that convenes extraordinary minds to address the most important questions facing science and humanity.
By supporting long-term interdisciplinary collaboration, CIFAR provides researchers with an unparalleled environment of trust, transparency and knowledge sharing. Our time-tested model inspires new directions of inquiry, accelerates discovery and yields breakthroughs across borders and academic disciplines. Through knowledge mobilization, we are catalysts for change in industry, government and society. CIFAR's community of fellows includes 20 Nobel laureates and more than 400 researchers from 20 countries. In 2017, the Government of Canada appointed CIFAR to develop and lead the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the world's first national AI strategy.
CIFAR is generously supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.