Reporting to the Manager of Research Services, the Intermediate Specialist supports researchers in grants and awards applications and the development of research contracts. The incumbent will collate and provide required information for research reports and award files. They will review files prior to submission for compliance and quality. They will also provide research ethics advice and write various letters and documents to support submissions and research activities.

In this job, your responsibilities will include:

• Research Contract Support: Provides researchers with advice and professional support in the pre-award management of research contracts and agreements. Reviews documentation and budgets to ensure compliance with University policies and other regulations. Analyses problems with grants and contracts on a case-by-case basis, recommends an action plan to rectify problems and works directly with researchers to implement the action plan.

• Liaison and Guidance for Research Contracts: Acts as the liaison between granting councils and grant funding organizations, research facilitators and administrators, and researchers. Communicates funding opportunities and program requirements (including deadlines) to the research community by monitoring funding agency announcements and websites. Ensures that all parties possess the information they need to efficiently and effectively conclude the approval process. 

• Internal Grant and Award Support: Works with partners to coordinate competitions. Assists in the development of the Terms of Reference for internal award "competition". Coordinates the review of applications. Coordinates post-award notifications.

• External Grant and Award Support: Reviews grant applications and award nominations prior to submission to the agencies, verifying that these are complete, accurate, and meet compliance regulations, including financials, ethics and other certificates, and that all requirements of the granting agency are met. Advises applicants for missing and/or incorrect information and suggests changes to be made. Ensures timely acquisition of signatures and accurate submission of grant applications within deadline. Provides expert advice and problem-solving support on the use of electronic grant submission systems.

• Grant, Prize and Award Writing Support: Drafts nomination and support letters for internal and external grant applications. Liaises with external referees to create competitive award applications. 

• Data Entry: Enters data (or oversees data entry by students) related to internal and external grant applications, contracts and funding decisions, professor awards and other research activities to ensure data integrity in the Research Office databases. 

• Bibliometric and Database Analyses: Conducts bibliometric and database-driven analyses required for professor-level award applications as well as institutional-level accreditation, research, strategic plan, and other reports to highlight research excellence. 

• Ethics Support and Compliance: Advises researchers on preparing ethics approval submissions to ensure requirements are met and applications are complete. Coordinates with the Office of Research Ethics and Integrity to address any issues as needed.

• Research Communications: Develops and disseminates various communications relating to research funding and award opportunities and successes. May develop and deliver workshops and information sessions on research grant development topics to inform the research community of best practices, changes in processes, and regulations relating to grant funding and awards programs and regulations.

What you will bring:

• A Bachelor’s degree with a strong research component from a recognized university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree is an asset.

• At least 3 years of experience in research administration and/or grant writing.

• Demonstrated ability to work with word processing, spreadsheets, relational databases, web, email and presentation software.

• Ability to apply marketing knowledge in the research sector.

• Experience in implementing communications strategies.

• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills.

• Attention to detail. 

• Bilingualism, French and English.

• Project management certification is an asset.