Job Description

Description

The

Research Services Team

in the

Office of VP Research

invites applications for a

Specialist

. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.


This position reports to the Manager, Knowledge to Impact, and is responsible for building capacity and supporting Knowledge to Impact activities on and off campus.


The Knowledge to Impact unit is centred around the notion of research impact i.e., making a difference in the communities we serve. Tied to the foundational commitments of University of Calgarys Ahead of Tomorrow vision, the Knowledge to Impact team supports collaborative efforts to maximize and recognize positive impacts of research for the benefit of our local, national and international communities. The unit supports several aspects of the pathway to research impact, from community-engaged research partnership development, knowledge mobilization planning, open science practices, through to best practices for the assessment of the quality and impact of research. Team members are specialists in various areas who collaborate closely to deliver on the Knowledge to Impact teams overall objectives.


Open science is a movement to make the process and outputs of scholarly research across all disciplines broadly accessible to all levels of society. Core principles include transparent, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable practices such as publishing open research, campaigning for open access, encouraging scholars to share data and code, broader dissemination of research results, broader engagement of citizens in the scholarly enterprise and dialogue with diverse knowledge systems - generally making it easier to conduct, publish, access and communicate scholarly knowledge.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

(job functions include but are not limited to):

Strategic Planning and Program Development

Develop goals, objectives, strategies, actions, metrics, and timeline for an institutional open science initiative that is comprehensive, coherent, collaborative, and aligned with other relevant institutional strategies. Monitor and evaluate the progress, outcomes, and impact of the Open Science strategy using qualitative and quantitative methods. Report on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the open science initiative to senior leadership, funders, partners, and other invested parties in consultation with the Knowledge to Impact Manager.

Change Management and Risk Mitigation

Develop up-to-date awareness of current practices, policies, initiatives, gaps, opportunities, challenges and trends related to open science at the University of Calgary and beyond. Leverage change management principles, methods and tools to develop a formal change management plan that supports adoption of open science. Coordinate the implementation of the open science initiative across campus units, departments, and Faculties. Identify potential resistance, barriers or unintended consequences related to the open science initiative, and prepare risk mitigation tactics.

Engagement and Relationship-Building

Establish and maintain positive, trust-based, and effective relationships with internal and external (local, provincial, national, international) parties. Engage with these internal and external parties to solicit input, feedback, ideas, suggestions, best practices, lessons learned, and expectations for open science at the University of Calgary. Professionally represent the University of Calgary in relevant networks, communities, and events related to open science. Advocate for open science at local, national, and international levels.

Communication, Training and Capacity Building

Contribute to ongoing efforts to reinforce a culture of openness, transparency, accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion in scholarly research at the University of Calgary. Support communication efforts for the open science initiative, for internal and external audiences, using appropriate channels, formats, and terminology. Provide guidance, support, training, and resources to faculty members, researchers, students, and staff on various aspects of open science. Support training efforts for the open science initiative by providing input, documenting requirements, and assisting with the design and delivery of training programs.

Qualifications / Requirements:

A post-secondary graduate degree in a relevant domain and a minimum of 3 years of related experience in the research to impact ecosystem, or commensurate experience. Experience should include working in an academic or research environment, with an emphasis on relationship building and research facilitation. Strong subject matter expertise in developing and implementing strategies for open science or related fields (e.g., open access, open data) is preferred. Knowledge of and experience in applying change management principles, methodologies and tools is required. Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal are required. Ability to develop and lead effective workshops and events. Sound understanding of the University's mission, academic plan, and strategic research plan. Superior interpersonal skills, flexibility, tact and perseverance. Capacity to adjust the work schedule to meet multiple demands and pressures, and a demonstrated ability to provide a consistently high level of service. Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization is required. Proficiency or ability to quickly become proficient with standard office software with University business systems (e.g. Microsoft Office, SharePoint). Familiarity with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle is preferred.

Application Deadline:

November 28, 2025

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.


This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the

Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.


For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our

Management and Staff Careers website

.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.


The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p 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.


The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

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 Institutional Commitments (

oic@ucalgary.ca

) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (

hrhire@ucalgary.ca

).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

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