Program Manager

Position: Program Manager Site: MaRS Centre, Toronto Department: Genome Informatics and Computational Biology Reports To: Director of Genome Informatics and Computational Biology Salary: Commensurate with level of experience Hours: 35 hours/week Status: Full-time, Permanent The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is seeking an experienced Program Manager to support the management of a broad range of research and operational activities within the Genome Informatics and Computational Biology Programs. Major responsibilities include coordinating with other internal and externally based OICR Programs, managing research deliverables and milestones, and assisting in the development of tactical and strategic plans.

The Program Manager is expected to take a leadership role in the identification of new program level efficiencies, community building activities, research opportunities and the development of new collaborative projects. Within the Genome Informatics and Computational Biology Programs, the Program Manager will interact mainly with the Directors, Principal Investigators, as well as scientific, engineering and administrative staff. This role will also interact frequently with the Head of Research Operations, other Program Managers at OICR and across the province, and OICR personnel in administrative functions such as finance, human resources, facilities, sponsored awards, grants and awards, procurement, and communications.

The MaRS Centre has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy in place that requires proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a medical exemption issued pursuant to the Government of Ontario guidelines. Accordingly, as a condition of employment, new employees who may be required to work on-site are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 subject to the duty to accommodate on the basis of protected grounds pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Fully vaccinated is defined as having received all of the required doses of a Health Canada approved vaccine and having received the final dose at least 14 days before your employment start date.

As described above, the requirement to be fully vaccinated is subject to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If the candidate is unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for a reason protected by the Code, requests for accommodation from the vaccine policy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

Main Responsibilities:

• Act as a central point of contact to the Program Directors and where appropriate program PIs, for all Program administrative aspects, research-oriented communications and reporting activities including program level budget oversight, operations planning, policies, key performance metrics, and fund development;
• Nurture, build, improve and maintain internal and external collaborative relationships with relevant teams, including patient partners, community programs, industry and not-for-profit partners and funding organizations;
• Make recommendations to the Program Directors and where appropriate program PIs regarding the development, planning and implementation of projects/activities that will support the goals and priorities of the Program; and
• Develop and manage Program level resources including budget and supporting materials for the Programs, and report on a regular basis to ensure accuracy and sustainability.

Oversee project management activities across the Programs

• Work with Program Directors (and their project managers where applicable) to develop realistic deliverables, milestones, performance indicators and timelines for Program level research projects;
• Plan, schedule and organize team meetings, keep clear minutes, capture assignment of action items and ensure follow-up for Program level research projects where applicable;
• Create and manage resources in accordance with budget allocations and project deliverables;
• Effectively manage Program resources in accordance with OICR’s policies and procedures;
• Facilitate data access and other data management requirements including ethics approvals and monitoring where applicable;
• Liaise regularly with Finance and Grants Administration regarding the status of current project initiatives and reporting requirements; and
• Lead project closeout activities, including lessons learned, budget analyses, reporting and evaluation of project performance/KPIs.

Strategic planning

• Work with the Program Directors to develop Program Objectives, ensuring strategic integration of the Programs into Adaptive Oncology and OICR;
• Track, manage and provide Program Directors with insight on future budget and resource needs, and plans for viable solutions;
• Liaise with Grants Administration to identify attractive and applicable grant opportunities and support application development and reporting as required by Programs; and
• Create and execute Program level risk mitigation plans, revise as appropriate and elevate status/priority to relevant stakeholders where required.

Support Operational Activities

• Coordinate and provide written reports and supporting material for Programs to Scientific Secretariat to meet funding requests, research reviews, and annual reporting requirements;
• Liaise with Program Managers across the province to facilitate: sharing of information, reuse of materials/ideas/approaches, cross-pollination and collaboration of synergistic ideas/tools/processes/projects;
• Liaise with Procurement and/or Legal Counsel to propose, evaluate, accept and execute on third party services/products/agreements where required;
• Liaise with OICR-based HR for the recruitment and/or management of Program personnel resources as required; and
• Liaise with the commercialization office when required to protect intellectual property.

Support Outreach, Communication and Consultation with stakeholders

• Lead internal and external outreach and community building activity coordination, developing new initiatives where necessary to support professional development and training; and
• Provide content for Communications, or OICR Strategic and government reports including Program achievements, progress, goals, and milestones of ongoing and future initiatives.