Job Description

Date Posted: 10/12/2022
Req ID: 27821
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Dept of Chemistry
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) is leading a revolutionary scientific discovery shift that accelerates technology development and commercialization. The Consortium will leverage the power of artificial intelligence, robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput quantum chemistry to create self-driving laboratories, also called "Materials Acceleration Platforms. These autonomous laboratories will rapidly design high-performance materials and molecules, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. The Consortium is a coalition of entrepreneurs, technology companies and elite researchers from top universities.

The Executive Director is responsible for the strategic, operational and programmatic leadership of the AC. As the senior executive of the initiative, the incumbent has a pivotal leadership role in shaping the growth and direction of the AC to achieve its global ambitions. An especially critical responsibility is developing and executing on an expanded strategic plan and fundraising strategy to ensure the sustainability of the AC. This will require the incumbent to work with AC staff to build key external partnerships at the level of institutional Vice Presidents of Research and counterparts in the not-for- profit and private sectors. The incumbent also provides advice to the Scientific Director, and collaborates with Faculty leadership, professors and senior staff in the academic divisions, and relevant U of T vice-presidential portfolios.

Reporting to the Scientific Director, the Executive Director role requires expertise in several key areas:

• Executive-level strategic leadership experience supporting innovation in a scientific field, such as artificial intelligence.
• Business development and stakeholder management in a complex environment. This includes the ability to negotiate partnerships and influence key decision makers at the senior executive level within corporations, government and other key organizations that are part of the advanced research and innovation landscape within Toronto, Canada and globally.
• A deep understanding of advanced research, technology development, knowledge translation and commercialization and, established relationships with the key decision makers in the ecosystem locally, national and internationally.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development and operationalizing of the AC infrastructure.
• Overseeing the development and launching of the AC programming.

• Overseeing the development and execution of scientific, commercialization and clinical translation strategies and programs.
• Overseeing the development and management of strategic partnerships across institutional, governmental, sectoral and geographic borders. This involves identifying, cultivating, and soliciting corporations, philanthropic organizations, government agencies and other organizations with an interest partnering with AC and in making grants and gifts to support the initiative.
• Oversight of strategic communications plan.
• Supporting faculty engagement
• Establishment of clear short and long -term performance objectives and metrics for success.
• Preparation of key documents including internal and external progress/impact and financial reports.
• Managing AC governance.
• Developing and allocating budgets.
• Hiring and managing staff as well as contractors and executive advisors.

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

PhD in a scientific field or an acceptable combination of education and experience. Project management, business, and/or financial management certificate or an acceptable combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

A minimum of ten years experience working within an academic setting with related experience in strategy development and implementation of academic and research programs. Executive-level strategic leadership experience supporting innovation in a scientific field, such as artificial intelligence. Experience in a senior administrative role managing complex relationships, preferably in a university environment or other large organizations, is also desirable. Proven success in executing large-scale, strategic research partnerships in the multi-million dollar range. Demonstrated experience in identifying and cultivating funded research partnerships with academic and corporate organizations engaged in advanced research. Industry experience in areas such as stakeholder relations, business development, marketing, strategic planning, or management consulting is considered an asset. Knowledge and experience in organizational governance. Demonstrated experience in financial, human resources and communications management.

SKILLS:

Proven ability assessing opportunities in a variety of science and technical disciplines; excellent research, analytical, negotiation, partnership development, project management, organizational and interpersonal skills; excellent oral and written communication skills; creative problem solving and decision making; mentorship abilities. Computer competency with knowledge of spreadsheet, database, and word processing applications.

OTHER:

Ability to work at the highest strategic levels, to gain and maintain the respect of senior administration and also to take strategy and move it through to tactics and action. Ability to deal with senior University Officers and external stakeholders in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building. Ability to be comfortable, credible and persuasive within academic, government or business environments; ability to initiate, build and nurture academic and research partnerships. Demonstrated effective leadership, motivational and planning abilities. Excellent political acuity, tact, judgment and discretion. Ability to interpret and evaluate policy and procedural requirements. Must be highly self- motivated and sustain a high degree of initiative. Must be a talented and fluent writer, able to concisely summarize information and provide a rationale for action. Must be able to identify and understand emerging issues as well as set and manage priorities.

Closing Date: 10/21/2022, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 6 -- Hiring Zone: $116,938 - $136,427 -- Broadband Salary Range: $116,938 - $194,897
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact .