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Job Requisition ID:

2025-00939

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Group:

Staff

Job Category:

Advancement and Alumni Engagement

Employment Type:

Temporary

Department:

Faculty of Mathematics - Dean of Mathematics Office - Research and Innovation

Hiring Range:

$78,214.70 - $97,768.38

Posting Information:

Term: 2 years

This role is being offered as an internal secondment or an external contract.

Internal deadline to apply is December 4, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Research Project Officer will provide support and act as a delegate for Principal Investigators (PIs) in the project management and post-award administration of their sponsored research projects, which includes, but not limited to, several complex multi-institutional and multi-partner projects, within the Faculty of Math. Reporting the Research Partnerships Manager, the incumbent is directly responsible for a variety of research and administrative activities, project management, communication, and other post-award requirements for PIs of specific projects. The primary function of the position is to act as a project and administrative manager to PIs, whose projects are awarded and include faculty-supported project management activities. The incumbent will optimize project outcomes and contribute to the overall success of sponsored research projects, supported by the Faculty of Math.

Key Accountabilities

Post-Award Project Strategy & Execution

• Maintain expertise in relevant award programs such as NSERC, CFI, and ORF.

• Lead post-award project management, ensuring alignment with agency requirements, university policies, and project-specific agreements.

• Collaborate with the Math Innovation research partnerships team and PIs to fulfill project accountabilities.

• Focus on technical and reporting requirements, organizational aspects, and develop a critical path for timely objective achievement.

• Work with PIs and the Research Partnerships Officer to develop accurate project budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure compliance.

• Provide guidance to researchers and PIs during the grant application process on post-award project management aspects, as relevant.

• Assist PIs in executing projects in line with post-award reporting and administration, as per project specifications.

• Collaborate with the Research Partnerships Manager, and liaise with granting agencies, industry, Office of Research, and departmental stakeholders.

• Execute post-award project synthesis and integration, as directed by the Associate Director.

• Act on behalf of PIs for sensitive project management matters and respond to non-routine inquiries, escalating complex issues as needed.

• Act as a delegate for PIs and research teams in project-specific faculty-supported project management, including paperwork preparation and presentation assistance.

• Facilitate information exchange among research team members, administrative personnel, and granting agencies.

• Directly support PIs in organizing and executing project-specific workshops, symposiums, meetings, and conferences at local, national, or international levels.

• Assist Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) with paperwork, presentations, and material acquisition.

Post-Award Project Monitoring, Reporting, and Analysis

• Provide dedicated support to PIs in tracking, reporting, and understanding post-award requirements, including data analysis and tailored reporting.

• Manage project-specific files, ensuring timely submission of required reports and documentation to relevant stakeholders and funding agencies.

• Collaborate with department and faculty Financial Officer(s) and Coordinator(s) as a delegate for the PI, addressing project-specific research activities and supporting timely resolutions of discrepancies.

• Under the guidance of the Associate Director Research Partnerships, monitor post-award project activities, including resource allocation and activity tracking for projects receiving support through Math Innovation.

• Track project schedules and deadlines to facilitate the accomplishment of project objectives.

• Manage subaward relationships if applicable, including reviewing subaward agreements, monitoring subrecipient activities, and ensuring compliance with project goals.

• Identify and mitigate risks associated with post-award projects to ensure successful outcomes and compliance.

Post-Award Project Feedback and Training

• Implement and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for post-award project management processes, integrating feedback and best practices to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

• Develop and conduct training sessions for PIs and research teams, focusing on post-award project management best practices, grant agency requirements, and university policies.

• Provide resources and guidance to assist PIs and researchers in comprehending internal and external reports and requirements, facilitating their understanding and compliance.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM or business administration field required, Masters preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 4 years of project/program management and reporting experience, preferably in a research environment, demonstrating proficiency in coordinating and overseeing complex projects with a proven ability to plan, execute, and evaluate projects to achieve desired outcomes.

• Demonstrated track record of managing large collaborative projects, preferably involving academic-industry and/or government partnerships, showcasing strong leadership and teamwork skills.

• Comprehensive understanding of the grant process and major funding agencies, enabling informed decision-making, advising, and support for faculty members in managing their funding portfolios.

• Proficient in utilizing digital tools relevant to communication, reporting, and analysis, including MailChimp, WordPress, Airtable, PowerBI, etc., to streamline processes and enhance project efficiency.

• Skilled in collecting, collating, synthesizing, analyzing, and presenting data for reporting purposes or to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders across various settings and group sizes.

• Strong collaborative abilities, demonstrated through successful teamwork and partnership development to achieve common goals.

• Experience hosting or facilitating training modules, workshops, or events is considered an asset.

• Proven capability to manage multiple assignments concurrently, while maintaining high standards and meeting tight deadlines.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to thrive both independently and collaboratively within a dynamic environment characterized by shifting timelines and priorities, demonstrating adaptability and resilience.

• Proven capacity to think creatively and proactively, displaying initiative to identify and address challenges effectively.

• Demonstrated aptitude for critical and analytical thinking, enabling the evaluation of complex issues and the development of strategic solutions.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating professionalism and confidence.

• Expertise in copy editing, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining high editorial standards.

• Strong research skills, encompassing the ability to gather, analyze, and integrate diverse information from various sources, both qualitative and statistical, to enhance the quality of proposals and reports.

• Effective time management, project management, and problem-solving abilities, ensuring efficient execution of tasks and resolution of issues.

• Prompt and efficient handling of unsolicited requests and inquiries, demonstrating excellent triage and response capabilities.

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity, maintaining confidentiality protocols at all times.

• Advanced proficiency in SharePoint and Microsoft Office Suite applications, facilitating efficient workflow management and document processing.

• In-depth knowledge of funding programs and application requirements across government, non-profit, and private sectors, including NSERC, Mitacs, OCI, and other federal or provincial funding initiatives, enabling informed decision-making and support for proposal development and submission

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 at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.