Research Manager, Vital

Vital is a new pan-Canadian platform to enable access to hospital data for research and innovation, funded through federal, provincial and institutional investments totaling $210M—one of the largest such investments in Canadian history. Vital will create one of the world’s best ecosystems for health AI, clinical trials and health research. It will include near real-time health data from hospitals in provinces across Canada, beginning with 160 hospitals in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, covering 20 million Canadians. By including all types of hospitals (academic, community, rural) with broad geographic coverage within provinces, Vital will enhance equity and enable cutting-edge innovation across our healthcare system. Linkage of >200 million medical images, will create the world’s largest repository of linked clinical and imaging data to advance imaging-based health AI technologies, solidifying Canada’s leadership in one of the most promising areas of AI innovation.

The Vital team is currently recruiting a Manager, Research Program to help lead an expanded research & innovation portfolio. Working collaboratively with Vital’s leadership, a team of data scientists and research analysts, the Manager, Research Program will provide overall program and project coordination, developing and tracking project timelines and budgets, and supporting team growth and development. The incumbent will play an integral role liaising with various business support departments at Unity Health Toronto in driving operational excellence for Vital and its staff. The individual will further support data sharing and contractual agreements for project services, coordinate project team meetings and assist in knowledge translation efforts. This will be a challenging, rewarding, and fast-paced environment with interaction with clinicians, researchers, data scientists, IT leads and hospital leaders.

We are looking for a Manager, Research Program with considerable experience in managing a large research lab or department, and working collaboratively with interinstitutional stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess excellent relationship-building skills, initiative, and honed project management skills. Experience with electronic health data and a background in data science will be considered an asset.

Duties and Responsibilities

Managerial (50%)

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and milestones
• Provide project management guidance and support on multiple projects;
• Develop and maintain relevant project and management policies and procedures;
• Support data governance efforts and data privacy policies;
• Support funding application development and submissions;
• Provide supervisory support and guidance to the research staff, including updates on policies, guidelines and regulations;
• Provide oversight on operational processes, identify issues and recommend risk mitigation strategies;
• Develop forecasting and budgeting plans for research grants

Research (30%)

• Chair research group meetings as directed;
• Manage data access requests and approvals;
• Support and participate in research steering committees, governance committees as needed;
• Synthesize, interpret and present research-related information in written reports and manuscripts;
• Provide oversight in the coordination and maintenance of research contracts and data sharing agreements across participating hospitals and partnering institutions;
• Prepare study materials and regulatory documents;
• Initiate the development of research proposals and protocols
• Coordinate and maintain research ethics approvals for multiple studies

Administration (20%)

• Coordinate research grant processes;
• Manage project budget and oversee vendor and stakeholder payments;
• Engage and lead various operational activities with internal and external business teams, such as Human Resources, Finances, and Contracts

Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in relevant discipline;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in managing relevant projects;
• A project management designation or certification, e.g., PMP or equivalent is an asset;
• Familiarity with privacy legislation (such as PIPEDA, PHIPA) as it relates to the conduct of clinical research preferred;
• Excellent project management skills;
• Experience in financial management of projects and program budgets;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated flexibility and have the ability to adapt and manage changing priorities;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Familiarity with Ontario healthcare services and healthcare landscape is an asset;
• Detailed oriented and ability to multi-task;
• Proficient with MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity. 

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