Job Description

Strategic Program Manager

Primary Purpose: Working under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the successful candidate will provide overall project management of multiple large-scale international research projects and research teams.

Nature of Work: The Strategic Program Manager will work closely with the Principal Investigator to ensure effective budget management, coordination of scientific reports, and the development of suitable strategies for project implementation. They will develop, monitor, and revise project budgets, and make recommendations to the Principal Investigator where necessary. They will work with various institutions to ensure proper financial reporting to funding organizations. The work requires significant understanding of the academic and research environments, as well as the University\'s systems to build and support research collaborations and adhere to the rules of the University of Saskatchewan and funding agencies. The incumbent will facilitate communication and support co-operation/synergies among research team members and collaborators, coordinate project meetings, as well as serve as a liaison among the project team, project oversight committees, and funding agencies and/or stakeholders of the project.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

• Manage the projects in the research program, giving detailed attention to program strategy, project delegation, and program implementation, ensuring that these adhere to the rules of USask and the funding agency.
• Suggest suitable strategies and objectives to the program\'s Leadership.
• Document and track actions dictated by Leadership.
• Formulate, organize and monitor inter-connected projects.
• Coordinate, schedule and organize group interactions for cross-project activities.
• Develop and maintain status reports on awarded projects, subprojects and funds.
• Create budgets and/or revise already established budgets.
• Develop financial planning and monitoring for the program.
• Manage budget and funding channels for maximum productivity.
• Balance resources across projects, especially when projects compete for resources in terms of people and dollars.
• Oversee project funds to ensure agency and university compliance.
• Compile quarterly and annual budget summaries that meet reporting requirements.
• Analyze, evaluate, and overcome program risks, and produce program reports as needed.
• Work with other program managers to identify risks and opportunities across multiple projects and programs within the Institution.
• Develop and control deadlines, budgets and activities.
• Apply change, risk and resource management, ensuring alignment to priorities and shifting as priorities change.
• Support the PI of the project in various project tasks.

Education: Applicants should have a University degree or post-secondary education, preferably in the field of Finance. Research project management experience will be considered an asset.

Experience: A minimum of three years of experience working in a research environment in a university research setting; experience with large-scale international research programs.

Skills: Excellent written and verbal academic skills; ability to take initiative and be self-directed; effective interpersonal and communication skills; effective project management and organizational skills; strong critical and analytical ability; ability to exercise sound judgement, tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality; ability to effectively manage competing interests, priorities, and deadlines with minimal supervision and within a variety of integrated team environments; flexibility to work in an environment with frequent and on-going interruptions while maintaining strong attention to detail; strong accounting skills and financial administration; experience with University systems and Service Units; thorough knowledge of University of Saskatchewan or other University policies and procedures; ability to work both independently and as part of a team; ability to compile, draft and maintain correspondence, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, and meeting minutes.

Please note that there is a strong internal candidate for this position.

Department: Geography and Planning
Status: Term 4 years (end date: July 31, 2027) with the possibility of extension
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: Mon-Fri: 8:00am-4:30pm
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $64,107.00 - 100,169.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 5/18/2023
Closing Date: 5/24/2023 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 Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where \'Yes\' is indicated below. Further information is available at:

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver\'s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable

Please review the University of Saskatchewan\'s for faculty, staff and students in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 M\xc3\xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and M\xc3\xa9tis 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