With annual research funding exceeding $220 million, and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada's most beautiful campuses.

Western Engineering's Research Office contributes to the identification, development and realization of the strategic research priorities of the Faculty, setting Faculty research policy and strategic direction, and provides a leadership role in setting academic direction. The Research Office provides regular updates on research successes at quarterly Faculty Council meetings and compiles statistical information and other data that will facilitate the promotion of research at Western Engineering.

The Research Officer supports the Associate Dean, Research in the administration of the research portfolio, and is responsible for enhancing the overall research success and productivity within the Faculty of Engineering.  The incumbent directly assists with increasing research funding, with an emphasis on tri-council funding, including industry-related funding and research contract income from technical transfer initiatives.  The incumbent will assist with identifying opportunities for funding, communicating relevant information to faculty members, and reviewing, editing and assisting with preparing grant applications.

The Research Officer will foster collaboration among researchers within Western, its local affiliates, and other national and international peer institutions, and will assist with coordinating their research efforts.  The incumbent assists with developing short and long-term strategic plans and with designing processes and implementing strategies to facilitate research. The Research Officer will provide expertise to ensure that proposals conform to Western's and funding agency policies, procedures and criteria, and will have a goal of positioning Western Engineering locally, nationally and internationally as a research-intensive Faculty.

Qualifications

Education:
-   Undergraduate Degree, preferably in an Engineering or Science related discipline

Experience:

-   5 years’ experience working in an academic research environment with faculty, researchers and external industry partners

-   Experience preparing and writing research proposals

-   Experience working in a Science-related Faculty (Engineering, Science, Medicine, etc.) with exposure to grant-funded multi-disciplinary research projects is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

-   In-depth knowledge of the best practices for reviewing and writing grant proposals and of Canadian peer-review granting systems, processes and procedures

-   Ability to research new avenues of funding from federal granting agencies, industry and other funding sources

-   Project management skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines

-   Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one's own unit

-   Knowledge of intellectual property management, including copyrights and patents

-   Familiarity with financial statements with the ability to ensure expenditures and resources are within allotments, and to make appropriate modifications when required

-   Attention to detail and proofreading abilities with an excellent command of the English language

-   Oral and written communication skills with an emphasis on proposal development and delivering presentations

-   Communication skills with an ability to complete detailed analytics and reports, translate information into easily understood terms, summarize information, and provide a rationale for action

-   Ability to understand researchers needs and expectations and provide excellent customer service to directly and indirectly satisfy expectations

-   A desire to grow and advance skills, which is demonstrated by attending conferences, workshops and other professional developmental opportunities to enhance performance

-   Professional manner, tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with associates and colleagues including senior management

-   Ability to work within a flexible schedule to accommodate the Faculty and University's events and activities

-   Ambitious with the ability to identify opportunities, develop action plans and set challenging goals in order to achieve desired outcomes

-   Ability to provide guidance, support and feedback in a way that is positively received

-   Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to complete spreadsheet design and database management and to develop grants, reports and presentations; Basic computer skills in website design programs and social media

-   Ability to evaluate issues, recognize potential problems and take action to proactively resolve issues

Interested applicants are asked to visit: www.workingatwestern.uwo.ca to apply online to job reference 11392, by midnight on October 29th, 2017.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. 

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.  If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.