Senior Director Research

​Req ID: 180897
Company: Nova Scotia Health
Location: Centre for Clinical Research, Halifax
Department: Research & Innovation
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Status: Management/Non Union Position
Posting Closing Date: 30-May-24

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators and creative thinkers today.

Nova Scotia Health employs professionals in all corners of our beautiful province. We believe there's a place here for everyone to call home, from vibrant cities with exuberant nightlife to quaint towns with picturesque trails. The work-life balance that comes with an Nova Scotia Health role means you'll have the time to explore, discover, and participate in that coveted Atlantic lifestyle. Visit us today and check out www.novascotia.com to see why more people from across the globe are moving here.
 

About the Opportunity

The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) provides sustainable safe and high quality health services that are accessible, people-centred, promote health and wellness and optimize the health of all Nova Scotians. This is accomplished across four geographic management zones which are responsible for the operation of acute care health centres and the provision of a variety of inpatient, outpatient services including academic, tertiary, quaternary care and community based programs and services including continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) champions advances in therapy, multi-disciplinary approaches to patient care, teaching and innovative health research taking place on the frontlines of patient care. Research and Innovation Services advanced technologies and well developed telehealth networks enable researchers to include patients in remote areas. In any given year, we are engaged in more than 1400 research projects, with 17,500 participants. This translates into about $44.5 million in annual research revenues with 599 dedicated research personnel.

Reporting to the Vice President of Research and Innovation, the Senior Director (Research) is an effective strategist and planner, responsible for the strategic development and growth of Research and Clinical Trials ecosystem in Nova Scotia including the strategic development of Atlantic, national and international partnerships. The Senior Director will also lead and support the strategic operations and capacity building of research and clinical trials working with relevant leads in the Research and Innovation portfolio including the advancement of mandates for equitable access to research services through citizen and provider facing provincial platforms, research and ethics programs, projects and operations, and building and leveraging strong stakeholder relations to enable the achievement of desired outcomes.

The Senior Director (Research) ensures continuous improvement to advance a vision of excellence within the provision of Research and Innovation Services, and is responsible for the strategic development, maintenance and monitoring of quality programs, and compliance with relevant legislation, standards and accreditation requirements. The Senior Director (Research) facilitates and champions a research environment that aligns with the current and proposed future state of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and works closely across education institutions, government and other partners in Atlantic, national and international networks on planning our current and future research priorities towards our vision for “Research is Care”, and contribute towards attracting and retaining the best clinical trialists and scientists to Nova Scotia to join research and clinical trials workforce.

Job Accountabilities

Strategic Oversight for Planning and Systems Performance

• Lead the development and implementation of a strategic plan and priorities for the expansion and enhancement of research and clinical trials in NSH and its academic partners
• Implement and manage a structure of the research enterprise that optimizes the use of resources to support areas of research priority
• Ensure that research planning is coordinated with the academic partners of NSH
• Pursue major opportunities and supervise major initiatives that will enhance Innovation and Learning at NSH, working with research groups to develop institutional-level, multi-disciplinary grant applications (multi-million-dollar projects)
• Manage post-award contracting and project management; oversee complex financial arrangements that support multi-course major initiatives
• Institute processes to resource, manage, and operate major installments of equipment and facilities to support clinical research
• Liaise with external agencies, government, institutions, research teams and collaborators
• Provide information and advice to researchers and the VP on the national and local research agencies and initiatives

Strategic Support for Commercialization and Industry Liaison

• Support the commercialization and technology transfer activities of NSH
• Cultivate institutional, government and industry partnerships that lead to financial synergies and/or investment in research and innovation at NSH
• Liaise with Legal Services and other leaders to ensure processes, procedures, policies and legal agreements meet organizational requirements and objectives
• Work with Business Development and other departments to pursue opportunities for generating revenues, in particular to support research

Strategic Leadership for Stakeholder Relations and Development in Research and Clinical Trials

• Work with academic partners to support a communications strategy that advances our national presence with NSH as the largest hospital-based research centre in Atlantic Canada for the regional academic health network and our mandates for the clinical trials priorities and Atlantic Clinical Trials Network
• Work with the VP's office to support government relations with respect to research and innovation in the context of the broader government relations in NSH
• Manage relations with philanthropic organizations such as the Hospital Foundations and Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, with respect to research and innovation
• Facilitate research and innovation collaboration between NSH and other health science institutions
• Maintain relations with government bodies and industry stakeholders and partners

Visible Leadership, Partnerships and Relationships

• Develop and oversee business planning for Research Development and Planning, including pursuit of external resources to support the Department, including the development of a financial sustainability plan
• Interact with internal departments to capture synergies, particularly with clinical services
• Ensure strategic research directions are within the context of the strategic directions of NSH and Our Promise
• Mentor research group members, project managers and team members
• Provide support and advice for the VP in the context of his/her executive responsibilities

Strategic Oversight for Talent Development and Engagement

• Assist research and innovation groups to develop short, medium and long term strategies and business plans for development and securing resources
• Facilitate partnerships between research groups and other academic institutions and partners
• Provide match-making services between research groups and potential partners and sponsors
• Develop and implement partnerships between research groups and clinical units to further expand research at NSH
• Facilitate and develop research activities within Clinical services units

Qualifications

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (i.e. health sciences related field) with a strong research foundation
• PhD in a relevant discipline is an asset
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in research administration combined with a minimum of 7 years’ experience in management and supervision of personnel in a large, complex organization

Experience & Abilities

• As strategic leader within a complex organization, enabling change and leading large, transformational projects
• Engaging, mentoring and empowering teams and stakeholders in a collaborative, participative manner to respond to the mission, vision, goals and objectives an organization
• In leading in a unionized context
• In collaboration, negotiation and persuasion
• In high level of impulse control and emotional intelligence
• With analytical, organizational and decision-making skills with a high level of attention to detail
• In understanding of principles of project management and demonstrated ability to create and lead complex work teams
• Working with diversity of staff and stakeholders, with knowledge of cultural competence, diversity and social inclusion
• Working closely and effectively with a diverse group of administrators; strong interpersonal and leadership skills; proven ability to effect and influence change through t collaborative and inclusive style
• Anticipating needs, respond accordingly, provides guidance and support
• Analyzing and interpreting statistical data, and monitor quality and performance indicators and benchmarks related to the workforce
• In financial planning and management

Knowledge

• The health sciences research enterprises in a university setting, particularly in relation to hospital-based research, and knowledge of the national research environment
• Research funding agencies and programs, in particular agencies with major research funding programs such as the Atlantic Innovation fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation and Genome Canada
• Local, regional, and national commercialization and economic development agencies
• Critical analysis and evidence-based practices to inform strategy and organizational planning
• Health care organizations and the health sector

Compensation and Incentives

$67.93 - $84.91 hourly or $132,455 - $165,569 annually

Successful candidates may be eligible for our benefits package which includes health, dental, travel, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage as well as a defined benefit pension plan. 

Location, Hours of Work & Your Application

• Permanent, full-time position; 75 hours biweekly
• Main office will be located at the Centre for Clinical Research in Halifax, NS
• Hybrid work available. Successful incumbent will be required to be on site as needed

 
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will be screened on the above qualifications. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how they meet the knowledge and competencies in their cover letter and resume. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.  Applicants will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or missing information.

Once You've Applied

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Some opportunities may be eligible for our Employee Referral Program.  If a Nova Scotia Health employee refers a candidate who is not working for the organization and the candidate is hired, the employee who made the referral may be eligible to earn up to $1000.  For more details and instructions, please visit please visit Recruitment - Incentives 

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.

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