Job Description

The Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) at Unity Health Toronto is recruiting a Funding & Awards Specialist (12 month maternity replacement position). This role is within the Grants & Awards portfolio, and reports to the Director of Funding Strategy and Stewardship. The role encompasses overall responsibility for the development, implementation and management of assigned projects, including (but not limited to) funding applications and award nominations to various organizations (e.g. government agencies, not-for-profits, industry and foundations). The Specialist works closely with other members of the Grants & Awards team to increase global grant funding competitiveness (eg. NIH, Gates Foundation, US Foundation, EU), institutional success rates, and overall research revenue. The Funding & Awards Specialist should have previous experience writing and reviewing funding proposals, preferably within an academic/research setting. Any experience or background relevant to the areas in which Unity Health has established global leadership (e.g. critical care, global health, inner city health, fibrosis, cardiovascular science, neuroscience, data science/AI in health) would be considered an asset. The Specialist will also support fundraising activities related to Unity Health\xe2\x80\x99s hospital foundations, including (but not limited to) managing internal funding opportunities, helping scientists prepare materials for non-scientific audiences, and working with high profile donors dedicated to supporting research at Unity Health. The Specialist may also be responsible for special projects assigned by the VPRI Office. These projects will involve working with researchers across the four pillars of our Research Strategic Plan, their staff/students, other hospital departments (e.g. research administration, research facilities, planning, etc.) as well as representatives from other organizations (e.g. other academic institution partners, not-for-profit organizations). The Office of the VPRI actively promotes an environment of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion, and is looking for a like-minded individual to support this core value of the research institute.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Grants and Awards

• Assist researchers with proactively seeking funding opportunities, writing, reviewing, and constructive editing of grant applications and related budgets
• Contribute to the content of funding proposals, as required (study design, protocol development, technical and non-technical writing, etc.)
• Manage the overall development and submission of strategic funding applications (e.g. NIH, EU, Gates Foundation and other international funding agencies, Industry grants, national/local Foundations, CFI, Federal Tri-Council Agencies, Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Canada Research Chairs, etc.)
• Oversee administrative requirements for grant/award submissions (e.g. institutional support letters, letters of nomination)
• Conduct stakeholder outreach and communication efforts related to projects
• Prepare and deliver information sessions/workshops related to funding opportunities and liaise with funding agencies on behalf of Unity Health and researchers
• Build relationships with other organizations (e.g. academic, not-for-profit, etc.) and identify collaborative funding opportunities
• Develop and coordinate award nomination packages on behalf of Unity Health Research Leadership

Foundation Liaison

• Liaise with the St. Michael\xe2\x80\x99s Hospital and St. Joseph\xe2\x80\x99s Health Care Foundations to support their fundraising efforts for research
• Develop and manage internal funding opportunities supported by the Foundations
• Build relationships with key donors to research through attending Foundation events
• Support the Foundation events team to showcase research to potential and past donors
• Collect annual reports from term and endowed Chairholders and liaise with Foundation staff to support all donor engagement, recognition, and stewardship efforts

Special Projects

• Manage special projects as assigned (includes developing project plans, assembling and managing project teams, conducting primary and secondary research, chairing project team meetings, developing/reviewing/editing proposals, submitting final deliverables)
• Interface with Research Leadership, research administration, and corporate support groups to develop and implement projects
• Develop reports for internal and external audiences (Hospital Committees, Boards, funding agencies, partners, etc.)

Qualifications:

• Master\xe2\x80\x99s degree in health/life sciences or demonstrable equivalent combination of specialized education and experience (PhD strongly preferred)
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in writing, editing and reviewing grants and funding applications (preferably in the health care/ life sciences sector)
• Comprehensive understanding of grant application processes, development of project proposals and budgets, and project management
• Experience with the NIH, other international funding agencies, and Canadian funding agencies is a strong asset
• Experience working and communicating with scientists, high level executives and/or philanthropic donors
• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple priorities and time sensitive projects
• Demonstrated level of independence in leading and delivering projects on time
• Excellent English written communication skills, with an emphasis on both scientific/technical and plain language writing skills as required for grant applications and/or outreach materials
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, customer service and oral presentation skills
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

As a condition of employment, all external hires will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or documentation unless a valid accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code exists. Please note, if you are extended an offer of employment, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination in Ontario QR Code format. All internal candidates must be in compliance with Unity Health Toronto\xe2\x80\x99s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Please note: If you do not have a Canada/Ontario QR Code, please get one, as QR codes from other countries will not be accepted and can delay your start date.

Unity Health Toronto