Job ID

73782

Job Title

Associate Director, Research Grants

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Location

HSC- Central Campus

Open Date

01/20/2026

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

02/02/2026

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

Health Research Services

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Band M

Salary Range

$101466.00 - $152200.00 (annual)

Job Code

104870

Hiring Range

$101466.00 - $133048.00

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Backfilling as Existing

Contract Duration

14.1 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Education Level

Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field (e.g., Research Administration, Business, Public Administration, Health Sciences, or related field) preferred.

Career Level

8-10 Years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, grants management, or funding agency relations

Anticipated Start Date

As Soon As Possible

Job Description

Department, Unit or Project Description:

McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences is a leader in health research and innovation, providing a dynamic and collaborative environment for researchers and professionals. This Associate Director, Research Grants Management position is a high-impact leadership role requiring a strong strategic mindset, expertise in research funding and metrics, and exceptional leadership capabilities to support and advance McMaster’s health research enterprise.
FHS Health Research Services provides leadership, counsel and fundamental services to the health research community. These efforts help ensure the eligibility of McMaster’s research community as a whole to obtain health research funding from the Federal and Provincial governments and other funding agencies and sponsors by ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations and policies particularly in terms of human and animal research ethics, biohazard and environmental regulations. The end result is a maximal share of available project and program funding for McMaster’s health researchers.

Job Summary:

The Associate Director, Research Grants Management is responsible for administering and overseeing a wide range of complex granting programs with a high volume of work, fluctuating peaks, and strategic reporting requirements. This position operates within a high-stakes environment driven by multiple and simultaneous deadlines, continuous change, and shifting priorities. As a key leader within the Health Research Services Management team, the Associate Director, Research Grants Management reports to the Director, Health Research Services and plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy of research funding and metrics data while preparing scheduled and ad-hoc performance metrics reports. This includes overseeing routine and ad-hoc reporting, exception reporting, developing and implementing standard operating procedures, and serving as the point of contact for inquiries relating to Faculty research data and metrics.

The Associate Director, Research Grants Management ensures efficient, effective, and customer-focused administrative research support services for McMaster’s health research community. These services are essential for enabling researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) and the University to obtain and operationalize high-quality, competitive grants and contracts from health research funding sources. In this context, the Associate Director, Research Grants Management protects the University and the researchers by ensuring research applications and awards comply with the research policies of the University and its funding sponsors.

The Associate Director plays a strategic leadership role to lead and oversee pre-award and post-award assistance with internal and external research grant applications to Federal Granting Agencies, other government departments/agencies, the non-profit sector, and other funding bodies. Additionally, the Associate Director, Research Grants Management is responsible for monitoring and ensuring data integrity in research funding records and performance metrics and providing analytical support for strategic decision-making.

This role is accountable for leading a high-performance grants team, delivering client-oriented services that align with the University's research goals. The Associate Director, Research Grants Management proactively identifies funding opportunities, communicates these opportunities to the campus community, coordinates and delivers strategic funding workshops, and oversees compliance with University and agency policies and procedures, including the Tri-Council Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions.

As a key liaison with faculty members, administrative staff, and various research-related units at the University, necessitating strong leadership, strategic thinking, and expert communication skills. The Associate Director, Research Grants Management ensures that research funding processes and data management protocols are optimized for transparency, efficiency, and accuracy, contributing to institutional success in securing research funding and accurately reporting research outcomes.

Accountable for the overall design, management, and delivery of research grants services, consistent, high-quality service delivery. Directly responsible for providing expert-level support services to individual researchers and department Chairs, ensuring compliance with funders’ policies for funding opportunities, application processes, internal/external research policies, and administrative financial management. Proactively develop, standardize, and implement efficient processes across functional areas to minimize bureaucracy and maximize researchers’ time for conducting research. Serve as a key liaison with the Central University Research Office, contributing to research policy development and managing annual internal and external reporting on the impact of research funding and related data management. Advise faculty members on strategic research funding opportunities through tailored communications (e.g., funding calls, website updates, targeted sessions). Lead education and training initiatives to guide researchers on timelines, compliance, and submission procedures for grant applications. Oversee and manage resources for expert review of grant applications, ensuring compliance with University, agency, and regulatory requirements. Interpret and implement University and sponsor policies, procedures, and guidelines while providing strategic guidance to faculty. Represent the Faculty in liaising with external funding agencies and internal University research administration units, ensuring streamlined collaboration. Develop and maintain strategic oversight of award administration, guiding projects from initial proposal development to the operational phase in partnership with Research Finance. Oversee research data entry and maintenance in the Mosaic database, ensuring accuracy and compliance with University and sponsor policies.

Research Data Integrity, Performance Metrics & Reporting:
Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and consistency of research funding and performance metrics data for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Lead the preparation and oversight of scheduled and ad-hoc performance reports, including routine funding reports, exception reporting, and faculty research performance analyses.
Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for research data collection, reporting, and quality control.
Serve as the primary point of contact for inquiries relating to Faculty research funding data, ensuring timely and informed responses to internal and external stakeholders.
Collaborate with ROADS and MILO to analyze and report on McMaster’s performance in research funding competitions, benchmarking against other institutions.

Outreach, Communication, and Collaboration:
Develop and implement strategic short- and long-term plans for the grants unit to align with Faculty and institutional research priorities. Monitor major policy changes in the external funding environment, assess their impact on McMaster researchers, and lead initiatives to manage these changes effectively. Oversee the effective and efficient operation of the Grants Unit, managing workflow, prioritizing initiatives, and ensuring team readiness for multiple deadlines. Stay informed on emerging funding opportunities and communicate critical updates to the research community through effective channels. Lead workshops and training on proposal writing, research policies, and specific funding programs to improve research competitiveness. Maintain and develop content for the Grants and Awards website and other communication platforms to ensure researchers have access to up-to-date resources. Identify and implement continuous process improvements in research grant administration, contributing to institutional efficiency and effectiveness. Provide input into strategic planning for the external grants portfolio and contribute to Faculty-wide planning exercises as needed. Lead effective communication and training initiatives to ensure researchers, funders, and stakeholders are well-informed about research policies, compliance expectations, and funding strategies.

Leadership and Resource Management:
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing grants administration team, ensuring staff are well-trained and supported in delivering research services.
Oversee all aspects of human resource planning, including hiring, training, performance evaluation, and professional development for the grants team.
Assign, delegate, and coordinate workload effectively, ensuring team resources are optimized for peak performance.
Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning, motivating staff to maintain high standards of service and expertise.

Knowledge/Skills:
Extensive knowledge of funding agencies, research funding policies, compliance regulations, and performance reporting.
Proven experience in managing and analyzing research metrics, data integrity, and performance reporting.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement operational procedures, streamline administrative processes, and optimize workflow efficiencies.
Strong leadership, team management, and strategic planning skills.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.

Superior, demonstrated verbal, written and interpersonal skills and organizational skills Ability to think critically and analytically. Aptitude for determining research administrative trends and developments. Diplomacy skills and a collegial approach. Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team. Solid knowledge of University policies relating to research is required, along with understanding of federal and provincial policies governing the administration of grants at educational institutions. High level of flexibility and ability to adapt to changing workloads and priorities required. Ability to provide accurate information professionally, courteously and in a timely manner, respecting appropriate confidentialities, is required. Must be a fast learner, able to work independently with appropriate instruction and minimal supervision. Good knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) is required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong time management, organizational and interpersonal skills are required. Sound decision-making capabilities required. Ability to organize and lead effective workshops and information sessions would be considered a strong asset.

Pay Transparency Statement

The 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.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster 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:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Vaccination Mandate - FHS

This position is located in a host hospital or other healthcare site that has an active vaccination mandate in place. Successful applicants will need to comply with these and any other health and safety measures necessary as part of their appointment.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

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.