Program Manager, Act

Career Level
Minimum 10 years of management experience with exposure to clinical trials and project management
Job DescriptionShould the successful applicant be a Unifor Unit 1 bargaining unit member, who meets the eligibility conditions of Article 19.02 of the Unifor Unit 1 Collective Agreement, then the Limited Term Assignment will be defined as a Career Growth Opportunity in accordance with Article 19 of the Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Collective Agreement.
Unit DescriptionThe Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Consortium is a CIHR funded program through the Pan-Canadian Clinical Trials Consortium Grant competition. The specific objectives of the Consortium are to:
Strengthen and Expand Canada’s Clinical Trial Ecosystem and Infrastructure
Improve Clinical Trial Efficiency and Regulatory Processes
Promote Equity, Inclusion, and Patient-Centered Participation in Clinical Trials, and Research Impact
Advance Novel Trial Designs, Innovation, and Pandemic Preparedness
The ACT Consortium is coordinated within the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), which is a joint institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences and is comprised of about 300 employees working directly with over 60 clinician researchers. PHRI conducts clinical research internationally in 102 countries and is a world leader in large, global health and population and health outcomes research.
Job SummaryThe Population Health Research Institute is seeking a Program Manager (PM) who will be responsible for the successful administration and management of the ACT Consortium. They will be responsible for ensuring consortium objectives are achieved;
will monitor timelines and deliverables;
develop consortium policies, plans, manuals, and charters;
plan and manage annual meetings;
seek external and industry sponsorship;
and forge and maintain relationships with stakeholders across Canada and globally.
The PM is accountable to the Senior Scientist and PHRI Head of Operations for those functions and is responsive to Consortium researchers, committees and working groups. The PM provides direct leadership of the program’s McMaster/PHRI staff and provides support and functional guidance to the program team members.
AccountabilitiesIn a collaborative team environment, which embraces the values of integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity, the Program Manager will serve as a leader and is accountable for the following:
Operational Leadership:
Establish long and short-term program development and planning with program scientific lead including performance metrics
Provide leadership for good program governance, alignment, quality assurance, management, integration, tracking, finances, infrastructure, planning, and improvement
Prepares reports of ACT Consortium achievements and strengths and fit for a given strategic initiative or funding/collaboration opportunity
Advises external collaborators regarding project planning
Oversees all aspects of planning, coordinating, and implementing large national research symposia (typically 1 per year, 300 participants)
Ensures that Consortium activities are conducted in accordance with the ACT committees’ and working groups’ terms of references and projects are conducted in accordance with PHRI SOPs and policies, as well as with international regulatory/privacy requirements, funding agency policies, and all project agreements/contracts with external vendors, partners, and collaborators
Identifies opportunities for program/process evaluations and quality improvements
Leads the contract negotiations including the development of scopes of work
Monitors and reports on the scopes of work to ensure accuracy and completion of activities as described in contractual and grant commitments
Monitors and controls timelines to ensure completion of program activities on schedule
Partnerships, Networking and Corporate Relationships:
Develops collaborations with researchers in other departments (interdisciplinary), other universities (inter-institutional) or government organizations and industry (inter-sectoral), and international partners
Develops partnerships with research user groups (e.G. community organizations, industry, Policy makers, managers) to help shape program initiative directions
Responsible for assisting and advising potential external collaborators as well as PHRI Leaders and investigators, regarding building new collaborations and entering into formal agreements
Writes large-scale multi-institutional, multi-sector international funding applications (networks and institutes) requiring program justification and proposals, budget and resource justifications, timelines, and deliverables, as well as governance plans, business plans, collaboration plans, training and mentorship plans, patient engagement plans and knowledge translation/dissemination plans
Develops, implements, and controls program budgets. This includes both industry funding and grants
Explores new funding opportunities and partnerships and coordination of local, national, and international grant submissions
Staff Management
Directs and manages PHRI/McMaster Consortium staff including monitoring and managing workloads and liaise with McMaster Human Resources on matters requiring performance/attendance management or investigations
Provides guidance and support to program team in developing solutions to challenges
Assesses staffing requirements and prepare job postings, conduct interviews, and hire qualified staff
Approves all changes in status of existing employees, the revision of position descriptions, and the evaluation of existing and new positions
Ensure internal equity for remuneration of staff
Ensures Health and Safety protocols are followed and required training is completed and remains up to date
Governance
Leads national and international group meetings and planning sessions for governance collaboration
Prepares and presents program results at these meetings
Contributes to development of program plans and other proposals
Writes and develops – in collaboration with senior scientists – grant applications and summaries
Qualifications
Minimum of 10 years of management experience with exposure to clinical trials and project management
International/ndustry collaboration and sponsorship
Writing grant applications or scientific publications
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to develop and nurture relationships with a diverse array of partners including researchers, administrators, trainees, staff and senior-level stakeholders
Proven leader with demonstrated experience achieving positive results leading teams and performing a range of human resources functions including hiring, training and mentoring, workforce planning and day-to-day operational work activities
Strong skills in strategic planning and implementation, operational planning, budgeting and optimization of resources, developing and implementing business plans, implementing processes and completing projects within expected timelines and budgets
Pay Transparency StatementThe posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.
Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.
Employment Equity StatementMcMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.
The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.
As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:
McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.
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