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This posting is for an existing vacancy.

2 year term

The internal posting deadline for this position is November 19th, 2026, at 11:59PM

This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Research Development Officer supports the research enterprise in the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), primarily by facilitating grant and award applications and student scholarship proposals. Under the direction of the IQC, the incumbent supports priority initiatives with technical writing expertise and guidance to enhance the probability of success, particularly with respect to grants, awards and scholarships. The incumbent also facilitates research development opportunities and serves as a key liaison for IQC with the Office of Research for grants and awards, as well as with each IQC partner Faculty—Science, Engineering and Mathematics.

The Research Development Officer will be required to work collaboratively with individuals from a wide range of academic and administrative units, both within the University and outside of it, and to participate on research-relevant IQC, Faculty and university committees.

Key Accountabilities

Faculty Research Development

• Work with the IQC leadership (IQC Director’s Office and senior faculty to develop long-term strategic plans for research within the IQC;

• Facilitate cross-departmental links, interdisciplinary research, and collaboration in the context of strategic priorities.

• Work with the Director’s Office and senior faculty to develop formal and informal mentoring strategies in IQC to enhance research success for faculty facing a variety of challenges;

• Serve as liaison and point person for information related to funded research grants, award recipient lists and other research-related information. In conjunction with the IQC and Partner Faculties’ (Science, Math and Engineering) Communication teams, facilitate communication of this information for research promotion, awards celebration and other strategic purposes on behalf of IQC.

• Promote a lively and collegial internal research culture by providing, as appropriate, multiple opportunities (forums, events, seminars and workshops) for researchers to meet informally and develop shared interests and initiatives.

• Maintain familiarity with trends in higher education and research funding through regular perusal of publications such as University Affairs, the CAUT Bulletin, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Education Matters; maintain familiarity with research trends, initiatives, and goals within the University through regular perusal of UW’s Strategic Plan and Strategic Research Plan as well as Office of Research reports and brochures.

• Organize and manage select IQC-wide research events specifically related to faculty and HQP grants and awards such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and special lectures, as required.

• Participate, as appropriate, in research-relevant IQC, partner faculty and university-wide committees; including the Research Advisory Committees, and Waterloo Awards Committee.

• Liaise with Equity Office and Office of Research Equity manager to ensure materials and training are available for faculty to support their research and recruiting efforts to facilitate grant application success.

Research Grants, Awards, and Scholarships Facilitation

• Work with IQC Faculty the Associate Dean, Research, to increase the number of applications and the success rate of IQC grant applications for faculty competing in Tri-Agency and other competitions (domestic and international).

• Provide direct support to IQC researchers applying for internal or external research grants by providing pre-submission consulting and guidance and project management support with applications underway, including substantive feedback on content and presentation, and, where required, editorial assistance.

• Provide indirect support for IQC researchers applying for internal or external research grants by distributing timely information and help sheets (e.g., grant deadlines, FAQs, grant writing tips, internal peer reviewer lists, proposal templates.) and occasional mass-emailing.

• Engage directly in the writing of grant proposals for select grant applications (e.g., CRCs, CFIs, and larger collaborative or institutional grants).

• Liaise with Office of Research grant officers and financial managers to ensure appropriate grant and project management processes such that quality grant applications are delivered in a timely fashion and university requirements are met.

• Provide grant-writing seminars for faculty and graduate students, as required;

• Participate in professional development opportunities (e.g., conferences, grant-writing workshops) to ensure up-to-date knowledge and professional skills.

• Work with IQC Faculty Associate Dean of Research, IQC HQP Research Fellows and Waterloo Awards Committee to identify suitable candidates for national and international research awards and prizes (e.g., Royal Society, Killam). The incumbent will also work with the IQC seven partner Departmental Awards Committees to identify suitable candidates for subject-specific awards and awards for junior faculty.

• Provide support to IQC partner chairs/directors and nominators in the development of competitive academic award and prize nominations;

• Work with the Office of Research, Partner Faculties, Graduate Studies to provide workshops, seminars and information packages for major competitive scholarships to increase student success. Review scholarship applications and provide strategic feedback.

• Supports government and university-initiated evaluations of IQC as well as support of completion of the annual reports related to the government agreements and other reports to university committees and partnering institutions

• Other duties as assigned

Research Data

• Develop and maintain a reference database of researcher areas of expertise and research to enable the identification of potential research collaborations, grants eligibility, and IQC research strengths;

• Provide research-related content for the Research section of the IQC website and for communications to external/internal audiences, as needed.[SS1.1]

• Identification of potential research collaborations, recruiting, etc. Examples include (but are not

limited to): areas of research strength and concentrated expertise in IQC, participation in interdisciplinary and/or community engaged research collaboration, research outputs and impacts, and sources of research funding.

• Provide support to IQC Leadership, in the management and tracking of IQC Research Funding commitments and Office of Research paperwork (e.g., internal nominations for awards, research grant cover sheets, etc.)[SS2.1]

• Develop and maintain database of grants and awards for IQC faculty members in partnership with IQC Research Financial Coordinators and Senior Manager, Evaluation and Accountability.

• Build and maintain a repository of information on research activities within IQC, to be

used to support strategic planning and decision-making, research reporting and promotion.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent post-graduate experience. Technical writing training or education an asset.

Experience

• 3+ years relevant experience in a university research or research administration environment

• Experience with preparation of individual and multi-author research proposals for government funding agencies is strongly preferred

• Demonstrated ability to review and edit grant proposals and budgets for science or related disciplines

• Knowledge of tri-agency programs and policies

• Familiarity with other major research funding programs, both federal and provincial

• Must be able to compile and integrate relevant information (both qualitative and statistical) from a broad range of sources to strengthen proposals and reports

• Have the ability to write short copy (web-based text), long copy (research proposals and reports), and research presentation material (power point) for broad audiences (technical reviewers and lay audiences)

• Strong project- and time-management, attention-to-detail, and problem-solving skills

• Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to integrate and synthesize complex data and ideas

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability and confidence to communicate effectively with researchers from a variety of disciplines, with staff and senior administrators, and with sponsors

• Ability to work with confidential information

• Ability to work independently, and the capacity to work effectively and efficiently in a complex, fast-paced, and changing environment with numerous deadlines and priorities

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.