Director, Research Operations

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 211698 
Department/Program: Research Operations, Research Services 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: November 2025
Union Status: Management, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $58.092 - $77.1872 /hour
Closing Date: November 04, 2025 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

IWK Health is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Director, Research & Innovation Advancement. Reporting directly to the Vice President, Research & Innovation, the Director is responsible for the overall operations and strategic direction of research and innovation administration across the organization. This role plays a critical part in advancing IWK Health’s research and innovation enterprise, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, and strengthening alliances with IWK partners. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of research at one of Canada’s most respected health institutions, working alongside passionate professionals in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities:

•    Leads a high-performing team of research administration professionals responsible for the review, administration, and compliance of research conducted at the IWK including research grants and contracts, financial, human resources, and facilities oversight. The Research & Innovation Advancement team is also responsible for the management of IWK Research Core Facilities and support to the IWK Research Ethics Board.
•    Promote a culture of integrity and safety in all research activity to ensure IWK Research and Innovation meets the highest ethical and regulatory requirements.
•    Advise and support the Vice President in executive-level initiatives and long-range planning related to the Health Centre’s strategic research priorities.
•    Develop and implement short and long-term strategies to maximize research potential, including financial planning, government relations, and stakeholder engagement.
•    Lead the development and finalization of the institutional research budget.
•    Foster interoperability and collaboration with health, academic, and government partners, promoting harmonized policies and procedures across sectors.
•    Represent IWK Health and the Vice President in local and national research initiatives, committees, and associations. 
•    Work closely with key partners such as Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health.
•    Provide leadership for research information management and reporting activities.
•    Serve as an active member on senior Health Centre committees.

Hours of Work

7.5 hrs, 5 days per week

Your Qualifications

•    Senior Management experience with a collaborative and adaptable leadership style and critical thinking skills is required to lead, motivate, and mentor the Research & Innovation Advancement team members along with researchers and to provide advice and counsel to senior management of the Health Centre. 
•    Experience in research-based environment, in a health care, academic or government setting will be considered an asset.
•    Strong understanding of research such as funding, compliance, and ethics.
•    Demonstrated ability to lead and implement strategic planning and manage complex budgets. 
•    Proven conflict resolution skills.
•    A high degree of analytical accuracy, innovative thinking, judgment and the ability to evaluate and communicate complex information with superior oral and written communication skills is required.
•    Ability to build partnerships to secure the cooperation of stakeholders and to promote the Health Centre as a progressive research facility is critical. 
•    Training and / or experience in applying psychological safety and professional workplace practices.
•    Minimum Masters Level Degree in a relevant field (e.g., health sciences, public administration, business, or research management).
•    A minimum 8-10 years of experience working in complex environments is required. Equivalent experience and/or alternative education may be considered.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.