(11 Month Mat Leave coverage – potential for Secondment or P/T opportunity)
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) brings together top researchers from Canada and across the globe to create new knowledge that will change the world. Today, our global research networks are working on some of the most interesting and pressing questions of our time.
Given CIFAR’s dynamic nature, individual employees must be flexible and responsive to the shifting priorities and challenges at any given time. Within this context, outlined below is the core purpose of this role and examples of the major responsibilities.
Position Profile:
At CIFAR, knowledge outreach (i.e. knowledge translation, knowledge mobilization) connects the knowledge and ideas of CIFAR’s research programs with those that are best able to act on this knowledge while also ensuring that the perspectives of those individuals inform our broad research directions. The Senior Advisor, Knowledge Outreach has twofold responsibilities: draw on his/her experience in an academic and/or knowledge user environment to bring new insights and perspectives into the Institute’s long-term knowledge outreach strategy and be responsible for key aspects of the Institute’s knowledge outreach plan by providing leadership, advice and support to CIFAR’s program directors in the development, and evaluation of their program’s knowledge outreach plans and associated activities.
Reporting to the VP, Communications & Knowledge Outreach and working as part of a departmental management group with the Director, Marketing & Communications, the successful candidate will have a solid foundation in knowledge translation/mobilization, ideally from a knowledge user perspective, and bring a mix of leadership, strategic planning, project management and relationship management experience and skills. The Institute is open to considering a secondment from another research institution or organization as well as potentially structuring the role to function as a part-time (3 days/week) requirement.
Responsibilities:
- Supports the Vice-President, Communications & Knowledge Outreach in the development and implementation of CIFAR’s overall intellectual leadership, specifically around the institute’s strategy on knowledge outreach
- Provides leadership direction and support to CIFAR program directors in the development and delivery of comprehensive Knowledge Outreach plans including the designing, planning and execution of targeted knowledge outreach experiences (e.g. face-to-face, web-based, print, video, etc.)
- Builds strong and collaborative working relationships with program directors and members as well as potential/new knowledge outreach partners in order to broaden reach and impact
- Perform other duties as assigned or required
Qualifications:
Education/Experience required:
- A masters or doctoral degree in the humanities, social, biological, health, natural or physical sciences
- Strong experience in knowledge translation/mobilization (5+ years sector experience), with a solid foundation in the theories and practices of effective knowledge outreach including implementation and assessment methodologies. Experience in knowledge outreach specifically driven from a “knowledge user” perspective (i.e. community/government/industry-based organization) is desired
- Experience in engagement with senior academic researchers is an asset
Knowledge and skills:
- Strong leadership and strategic planning skills in order to guide the development of the institute’s knowledge outreach strategy and program-specific knowledge outreach plans as well as lead cross departmental teams in the execution of related activities
- Strong project management skills for the purpose of leading, designing, developing and promoting various projects/initiatives related to knowledge outreach and ensuring successful completion on time and budget
- Knowledge of or direct experience working with CIFAR stakeholders such as universities, government, industry and community-based organizations. Experience building new and effective relationships with such stakeholders is an asset
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing for both internal and external communications
Position reports to: Vice-President, Communications and Knowledge Outreach
Location: Toronto
Travel: Occasional travel will be required (average 5-7 times per year of 1-2 days each).
Term of position: 11 month maternity leave coverage, unless otherwise specified (expected start date: January 26, 2015)
Contact: Please send resume and cover letter in confidence to [email protected] quoting job title in the subject line. The deadline for the posting is November 30, 2014.