Position Overview

The Office of Research Services within the VP Research is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Project Analyst.

The Senior Project Analyst position reports to the Specialist, Research Facilitation. The incumbent manages multiple projects, often with overlapping deadlines and priorities. The individual is a senior resource within the research facilitation stream, and is relied upon to provide senior oversight and assistance with complex projects as required, both within facilitating research projects and within process development and improvement. The incumbent acts as a champion for the unit with units across campus, including operational members of key service units with which the group interacts. There is a high impact of error related to the scope of work, requiring tasks to be completed with a high degree of accuracy and accountability. The incumbent has frequent interactions with multiple stakeholders, including researchers, University administrators, research funding bodies, administrators at other institutions, and industrial partners.

The Senior Project Analyst provides key support for complex pre-award application processes and post-award reporting for research funding programs falling within the Institutional Programs Division. This position supports complex files and atypical workflow through the Institutional Programs Division, as well as provincial matching programs, and other ad hoc programs. 

Position Description

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

• Provides guidance and support for the development and submission of research funding applications falling within the incumbent's portfolio, with a focus on atypical, multi-institutional and complex projects. More typical project assistance may be required of the individual, as dictated by operational needs. Contributes to application processes for the development of funding proposals, including facilitating application development processes, ensuring compliance with funding agency application development guidelines, and reviews proposals for strategic content and accuracy of budgetary information, and ensuring compliance with University and funding agency guidelines (i.e. procurement, ethics, facilities development, etc.)
• Assists with developing and executing, in collaboration with the research team, project plans pertaining to major funding competitions, proactively identifying project risks, developing action item lists and project status reports.
• Develops and reviews post-award financial reports according to funding agency guidelines, as required by their project portfolio
• Contributes to processes that ensure the development and management of research funding applications follow a robust, proactive intake and review process (SUPPORT).
• Assists in actively identifying opportunities for new research funding platforms, as well as research funding opportunities, and linking the same together into comprehensive business cases
• Liaises with legal services when necessary to monitor contract development as related to competitions and help resolve outstanding issues from a program perspective.
• Leads the engagement with operational members of key service units, ensuring the IPD processes, function and needs are well understood. Builds relationships with service providers across campus.
• Liaises with University commercialization agents as required to facilitate the development of industrial partnerships related to funding programs.
• Acts as a key liaison between the Research Facilitation and Process Facilitation groups, working proactively to document existing processes, identify and recommend opportunities for improvement, and implement changes throughout the IPD team.
• Assists in developing submissions to the ELT Operations Group, as required for their portfolio
• Manages communication flow between agencies and researchers regarding specific research projects, proactively developing communications strategies and measuring the effectiveness and making changes in collaboration with the researchers
• Documents actions in relevant information management systems, and ensures project deadlines are met. Ensures applicable information management systems are kept accurate and up to date with pertinent information
• Proactively identifies risks related to the completion of research funding projects, and develops mitigating strategies.
• Acts as first point of contact for stakeholders requiring information relating to specific projects within funding competitions and is a key catalyst in ensuring inquiries are responded to in a timely manner
• Responsible for budgetary journal entries in relation to major institutional research funding programs reporting requirements, specifically as it relates to their portfolio. Provide support in auditing journal entries prior to approval
• Works with the Process Facilitation Officer to develop and deliver presentations across campus surrounding program offerings, opportunities for improvement at the institutional level, lessons learned, etc.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• University undergraduate degree required.
• Background in finance and project management an asset.
• A strong understanding of the Canadian research funding landscape is essential.
• Several years of experience in business case development and pre-award research facilitation experience is required.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, interpersonal and analytical skills are essential.
• Ability to set priorities, to act decisively and to exercise a high degree of initiative, diplomacy and judgment on a wide range of issues.
• Customer service attitude, with demonstrated problem-solving ability and a keen eye for detail are required.

Application Deadline:  July 7, 2022

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 part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

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. 

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.