Company Description UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Job Description Union: Non-Union

Number of Vacancies: 1

Site: 700 University Ave, Toronto

Department: CIHR Institute of Cancer Research at UHN

Reports to: ICR Scientific Director & Assistant Director

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shifts: Monday - Friday

Status: Permanent Full-Time

Closing Date: September 5, 2025 Position Summary As part of the ICR team, the Operations and Initiatives Lead will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Institute under the general direction of the ICR Scientific Director (SD) and Assistant Director (AD). The Operations and Initiatives Lead will also support the SD and AD in international partnerships and collaborations. The Operations and Initiatives Lead is expected to demonstrate highly developed problem-solving and leadership skills, discretion, discernment, and confidentiality.

The position is located at the ICR office at UHN. Occasional travel outside of Toronto for multi-day periods and flexible work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends will be necessary.

Key Responsibilities (Job functions include but are not limited to): Operations Management

• Demonstrate significant independent judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills to manage the day-to-day operations of the Institute, including finance, procurement, and physical resources, in alignment with UHN and CIHR policies and procedures, and in consultation with the ICR SD and AD.
• Assess operational needs and provide strategic recommendations to enhance financial and administrative efficiency. Identify and implement improvements to procedures and practices that support the evolving goals of the Institute in consultation with the SD and AD.
• Monitor and manage the ICR Institute Support Grant (ISG) and event budgets in consultation with the SD and AD, ensuring accurate tracking and alignment with financial plans.
• Serve as an Institute subject matter expert on UHN, CIHR, and Government of Canada financial and administrative policies. Establish and maintain procedures that ensure compliance, reflect good business practices, and meet internal/external audit and control requirements.
• Prepare and present quarterly financial projections, event budgets, and year-end financial reports for submission to UHN and CIHR under the guidance of the SD and AD.
• Oversee all purchasing, payment, and reimbursement processes, including managing RFPs, vendor account setup, invoice processing, and p-card reconciliation. Ensure all expenditures presented for approval are compliant with institutional policies.
• Maintain accurate records of financial transactions, contracts, and deliverables to support UHN and CIHR reporting.
• Provide regular updates on operational and event budgets, and act as a financial liaison by responding to inquiries from stakeholders, UHN/CIHR financial compliance officers, and external monitoring bodies.
• Foster and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders involved in ICR activities and events.
• Support the development and execution of contracts with suppliers, consultants, and service providers, as well as inter-institute agreements with other CIHR Institutes, under the direction of the SD and AD.
• Monitor the performance of external service providers to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of projects and events.
• Support the functional supervision and training of assigned staff as required, under the general direction of the SD and AD.

International Partnerships

• Coordinate and monitor correspondence, documentation, and deliverables related to ICR’s international partnerships, providing ongoing support to the SD and AD.
• Contribute to strategic planning by assessing opportunities and providing recommendations on international partnership initiatives.
• Support the development of briefing notes, chart entries, presentations, budgets, and other materials to advance and maintain international collaborations.
• Stay informed of relevant CIHR, national, and international policies, regulations, and trends in cancer research; advise the SD and AD on emerging opportunities for global engagement.
• Facilitate effective communication between ICR and international researchers, healthcare leaders, senior policy makers, and research funding agencies.

General Accountabilities

• Provide administrative and coordination support to ICR staff, including scheduling meetings, preparing materials (e.g., agendas, minutes, scientific reports), and completing general clerical duties as needed.
• Maintain and update ICR’s content management systems (e.g., SharePoint) to ensure accessible and organized documentation.
• Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans to support Institute initiatives and respond to Ministerial or CIHR requests.
• Support the SD and AD in writing concept papers, business cases, briefing notes, slide decks, and other strategic documents aligned with ICR priorities.
• Prepare compelling reference letters and award nominations to promote and recognize research excellence and leadership within the cancer research community.
• Contribute to Institute communications by drafting or providing data and content for newsletters, presentations, and social media platforms.
• Stay current on emerging research, policy, and trends by attending workshops, conferences, and scientific meetings (occasional travel may be required).
• Support ICR-led event planning and logistics for workshops, meetings, conferences, and other related activities.
• Responsible for staying abreast of relevant CIHR, federal, provincial, and tri-council policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Facilitate complex correspondence with researchers, healthcare/academic leaders, government officials, policy makers, and research funding organizations across Canada and internationally.
• Represent ICR at internal and external meetings, events, and conferences as required, providing updates and promoting the Institute's initiatives.
• Contribute/participate in the implementation of special projects that support the strategic directions of the Institute in collaboration with ICR and CIHR staff.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Health Sciences, or a related discipline, combined with extensive project management experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Minimum of 4-5 years of experience in a similar position required. Experience working in government, academic, and/or research environments is a strong asset.
• Extensive experience managing budgets and overseeing financial processes is required.
• Ability to work in a hybrid model with a minimum of 4 days per week on-site at the downtown Toronto office.
• Ability to travel outside of Toronto for multi-day periods and to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support/attend events and meetings.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms), Adobe Acrobat, and a demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and tools.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with strong commitment to accuracy, nuance, and sensitivity in all outputs.
• Outstanding project and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, concise correspondence and communicate with professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders, senior leadership, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a high-functioning team.
• Highly developed problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning abilities; self-motivated and proactive.
• Knowledge of the Canadian cancer research landscape and key stakeholders is considered an asset.

Additional Information Why Join UHN? In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.