Director, Research Strategic Initiatives (Security)

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Posting Reason:

Replacement of a regular position

Job Type:

Employee

Anticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments):

N/A

Job Family:

Research and Program Support

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Innovation, Partnerships & Entrepreneurship

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

N/A

Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/04/30

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/05/11

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

Non-Union Grade NM4

Salary Range:

$142,833.00 - $178,542.00

Position purpose:

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship (AVP-IPE), the Director will have the overall strategic and operational responsibility for the planning and development of institutional strategic research initiatives that have significant research security aspects including the controlled goods program as well as the Institutional Research Security plan. These initiatives also overlap with cybersecurity and cybersafety, research data management or artificial intelligence.

The Director is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing strategies to meet the research security objectives of the University relating to research and commercialization activities within the Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation (OVPRI).

The Director acts as the main champion for research security and safeguarding of research across uOttawa’s research and innovation enterprise by providing high-quality guidance and support to the OVPRI, administrative units, faculties and researchers in order to increase the awareness, understanding and requirements relating to research security as outlined in the Federal government’s Safeguarding your Research and other related guidelines from governmental agencies.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Responsible for the oversight and management of institutional research strategic initiatives led by the OVPRI that require ongoing assessment and monitoring of research security-related aspects.
• As a member of the AVP-IPE leadership team, provide advice and recommendations to the OVPRI executive on strategic research initiatives, projects, programs and policy to enhance research activities and ensure alignment within the portfolio; contribute to the OVPRI’s strategic areas of research.
• Engages members of the University community (staff, faculty, and administrative and academic leaders at all levels) and a range of external community contacts on OVPRI strategic initiatives, projects, programs and policy in order to encourage and facilitate greater collaboration among groups/centers/faculties/partners.

What you will bring:

• Master’s degree, preferably with a strong research background or equivalent experience. PhD would be considered an asset.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in in progressively senior positions leading strategic research initiatives and advancing research security within a research-intensive or post-secondary environment (or similar complex organization).
• Demonstrated knowledge of the research security landscape, its geo-political context relevant to research and innovation and an understanding of vulnerabilities to research and innovation security (including cybersecurity and intellectual property).
• Knowledge of the university and research environment and the ability to understand the processes that support the mobilization of research results into the private sector.
• Knowledge of granting and contracting practices, policies and guidelines of federal and provincial funding agencies and departments as well as granting foundations, in particular as they relate to safeguarding of research and research security.
• Ability to develop and nurture high-trust relationships with a broad range of stakeholders from the academic, public and private sectors.
• Strong track record of strategic and operational planning, including project management, performance and results measurement.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Experience in using computer systems and software, such as Windows, PowerPoint, word processors, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail, Internet.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically about complex issues, leading to thoughtful recommendations and action plans.
• Ability to work independently, manage overlapping deadline and shifting priorities while exercising excellent judgment at all times.
• Exercise tact, diplomacy and discretion when interacting with university administrators, researchers and external stakeholders of varying rank.
• Experience creating and making presentations in both official languages for various audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa: 

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.