Director, Campus Alberta Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine

Position Overview

Campus Alberta Neurosciences in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Director, Campus Alberta Neuroscience. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN) is the epicentre of transformative innovations and efforts relating to brain health and the neuroscience community across Alberta and Canada. A collaboration among the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridge, CAN is actively involved in catapulting research and initiatives from the academic community into the realm of commercialization and innovation. The vision of the Campus Alberta Neuroscience's program is to create a hub for an Alberta neuroscience community by facilitating more in-depth interactions between the Alberta neuroscience community, industries, community partners, government and beyond.

This position reports to the Chair of the Campus Alberta Neuroscience Advisory Committee, and will be responsible for overseeing and updating the CAN strategic and business plan, and implementing key projects in each of the themes, including computational neuroscience, pain, opioid and cannabis, healthy brain and dementia, MS, and imaging. This requires working closely with a multitude of high-level stakeholders in academic health research, affiliated government bodies and the community to realize the vision of CAN.

This position requires independence, high energy and self-motivation to work on several projects simultaneously and involves significant travel throughout Alberta, and potentially Canada and internationally. 

Opportunity is available Provincially and not limited to those residing in the Calgary area. 

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Business Development:
  • Accountable to and reporting to the Chair of the Campus Alberta Neuroscience advisory committee.
  • Responsible for ensuring that the accountabilities and responsibilities of CAN are met with an oversight and management structure that is efficient and represents and protects the interests of participants, sponsors and stakeholders
  • Responsible for the creation and management of a diverse team that may be stationed across all institutions (i.e. satellite offices)
  • Fiscally responsible for an annual operating revenue of up to $5 M through fundraising initiatives, leveraging strategies, government grants, and all other potential funding opportunities.
  • Responsible for the development and updating of the initiative's strategic plan to align the capabilities, needs and shared objectives of neuroscience research and education, healthcare providers and the community across Alberta and will involve developing a business case for the CAN moving forward, including plans for operational and financial sustainability.
  • Responsible for fostering and maintaining excellent relationships with the neuroscience communities at the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, and other stakeholder groups such AHS and Alberta Innovates
• Management:
  • Support and lead the operations team required to fully implement CANs objectives
  • Responsible for a diverse team of program and project managers, coordinators, finance and funding personnel, and administration
  • Successfully develop and implement plans for realizing business objectives with full managerial discretion over direct reports
  • Budget owner and will have full authority for managing an operational budget of $5 M
  • Fiscally accountable to the executive strategy committee
  • Required to submit in a timely manner an annual accountability reports to all funders. The report will also require an outline of activities of the CAN program
  • Manages the creation job profiles, hiring, and onboarding of Institute staff
  • Performs and engages staff in annual performance reviews
  • When required, performs disciplinary, including terminations, actions
  • Oversees the complete range of human resource management for Institute operational staff
• Project Management:
  • Lead the CAN program in the production of tangible results by guiding the implementation of infrastructure that is required to support neuroscientist development, knowledge creation and knowledge application; and by establishing new theme areas, and delivering on all of the current themes
  • Ensure full oversight is maintained on the proper disposition and use of funds that support CAN
  • Protect the CAN program from business risks

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Masters degree in a related field or higher level degree
• Significant previous managerial experience (10-15 years) in a senior level role; knowledge and skills in leading teams, organizational management, strategic planning and fiscal responsibility
• A sound understanding of University, Health Services and Government structure and operations
• Demonstrated executive leadership skills and management experience
• Experience in public relations and project management
• Significant previous experience in and strong understanding of Alberta's academic health research environment and stakeholders
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Must possess excellent writing skills
• Familiarity with neurosciences, mental health, and healthy brain and dementia would be an asset

Application Deadline:  February 16, 2023

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level 2 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) Positions are currently under review as part of the Alberta Labour Relations Board exclusion review process. Visit the HR website for more information.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.