Job Description

Senior Research EDI Strategist, Research Acceleration & Strategic InitiativesResearch Acceleration & Strategic Initiatives (RASI) supports the university research community in the incubation, development and submission of research grants, infrastructure projects and initiatives. A key goal of the office is to provide researchers and the university with services and programs that afford a competitive edge when applying for external research funding.Primary Purpose: Reporting to the Associate Director, and participating as a senior member of the team, the Senior Research EDI Strategist will design, develop and deliver specialized equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives to the USask research community to enhance successful funding outcomes across the Canadian funding landscape. In particular, the incumbent will play a key role in maximizing EDI opportunities for the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program as well as position themselves as an expert in the progression of best practices in EDI in research practice and design to support large, multi-disciplinary research applications. They will also be responsible for leading the establishment and delivery of EDI educational activities for the USask research community.Nature of Work: This position contributes to the creation and oversight of services that support researchers and research clusters. The position plays a critical role in developing and implementing overarching research EDI goals for RASI. The position is expected to mentor staff and will need to be aware of the resources of the unit and make recommendations to the Director and Associate Director for temporary redeployment as needed to ensure success of current projects.The Senior Research EDI Strategist cultivates and maintains excellent relationships with researchers, research groups, members of the university and college professional administrative and leadership teams and other units in the Office of the Vice-President Research. They may be asked to represent the university in a variety of venues at conferences, workshops, roundtables, committees, and other events.The work is highly challenging and requires innovation and problem solving on a daily basis. Tight deadlines and high volumes of work can be expected to occur at certain times. The work is unstructured and complex, and the incumbent will be expected to negotiate boundaries, mediate complex issues and navigate conflict to ensure successful outcomes for the university.The impact of error is extremely high; economic consequence to the university is significant and this position would have primary responsibility for ensuring that research proposals are coordinated so that strict and inflexible deadlines are met. Extended and non-standard hours may occasionally be required and the incumbent will be expected to possess effective stress management tactics to maintain an enthusiastic and optimistic outlook for him/herself and the team.This position exercises independent decision-making; establishes and maintains the level of professional relationships that support exceptional collaboration and problem solving; and builds working relationships with various stakeholders within and external to the university.Accountabilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of USask's CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan
• Benchmark, monitor and report on USask progress towards meeting CRC EDI targets and the achievement of action plan goals and course correct if necessary
• Cultivate relationships and collaborate with other units across campus to deliver progressive, proactive EDI training, specifically in support of the CRC program (e.g. USask CRC EDI Champions training)
• Proactively identify strategies to embed and apply principles of DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) to enhance existing procedures for CRC recruitment, strengthen CRC nominations, and develop and maintain leading-edge best practices for EDI in research practice sections of grant applications
• Engage in comprehensive reviews and take an inventory of existing policies, processes, systems and decision-making frameworks
• Establish and maintain a diverse network of external stakeholders to maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving trends for EDI in research design and practice, including with research grant agencies and colleagues from other institutions
• Act as a resource for EDI in research design and practice across the university community by building awareness through outreach (e.g. website, etc.), delivery of education activities (e.g. seminars, workshops, etc.) and provision of resources (templates, guides, etc.)
• Provide specialized technical writing and editing to support success of large-scale, institutional, multi-disciplinary projects
• Lead stakeholders in EDI in research practice and design planning sessions as well as edits and drafts key sections of proposals to optimize the university's success in large-scale research program, infrastructure, and personnel funding opportunities
• Establish and maintain communities of practice for those who share a common concern, interest or passion for EDI in research design and practice for knowledge-sharing and learning
• Develop and maintain a current and expert knowledge of EDI in research and design within the Canadian and international research funding environments
• Ensure that researchers are aware of RASI service offerings through effective and timely communication strategies; ensure outreach and engagement of key stakeholders; ensure strategic messages and goals are met.

QualificationsEducation: A graduate degree, supplemented by at least five years' experience working in an administrative research environment in an institutional (government, agency, university) setting. A broad knowledge of the national research funding environment, especially Federal Tri-Agency and Canadian Foundation for Innovation.Experience: At least five years' direct and proven experience in the development and implementation of EDI strategies for EDI in research practice and design, preferably in a university setting.Skills: The candidate must be a strong tactical thinker, able to facilitate dialogue, build consensus and develop synergies with a broad range of constituencies in order to achieve common goals. In order to stay current with the broad and dynamic national EDI in research practice and design requirements, the incumbent will need to demonstrate resourcefulness and self-reliance to independently discover and synthesize relevant information from a variety of sources.In addition, the successful candidate must have: demonstrated strong scholarly writing skills and excellent communications skills; proven interpersonal skills coupled with the ability to work both within a team and independently; strong organizational and leadership skills; effective time management skills; consistent resourcefulness and self-direction; ability to work independently and prioritize work effectively in accordance with the goals and objectives of the OVPR and the university; flexibility to respond to fluctuating workload demands while maintaining productivity and quality; and the capability to maintain composure and focus when working to deadlines.Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Danielle Ellis at 306-966-7978.Department: Research Acceleration & Strategic Initiatives
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $85,555.00 - 142,503.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 3
Posted Date: 12/13/2024
Closing Date: 1/23/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace GuidelinesThe successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Mxc3xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Mxc3xa9tis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.

University of Saskatchewan