Reporting to the Director, Research and Innovation, the Research Lead will join the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT). The incumbent will be responsible for managing and providing technical expertise and support for specific applied research projects and industry engagement opportunities within their domain of expertise. The incumbent will ensure the efficient and effective execution of assigned research projects in compliance with SIRT, Sheridan and funder policies. The incumbent manages projects from start to finish, which includes exploring collaborative opportunities with partners, drafting proposals, managing resource allocation, executing the work and supporting close-out and dissemination activities. In this way the incumbent will act at the Principal Investigator (PI) for specified research projects within their field of expertise. In their capacity as PI they will also be involved in the recruitment, supervision and mentorship of students and staff involved in these projects (and this will include supporting participating staff with whom they do not have a direct reporting relationship).
SIRT is an applied research centre that focuses on the intersection point of traditional film, TV, media and gaming technologies and tools and explores the way that those can be enhanced, updated, augmented and generalized to other sectors. The specific funding envelope that is driving the hire of this Research Lead is focused on appropriate and effective AI adoption in the creative industries. The incumbent's portfolio will initially be focused exclusively on this funding envelope, but as time goes on, they will have the opportunity to expand the breadth of their work (within their area of expertise), and the intent is that they will be responsible for continuing to bring in additional project funds to support their ongoing work.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Providing research leadership and contributing subject matter expertise, guiding and supporting research projects, including the ability to adapt and pivot when necessary.
- Playing a vital role in executing and overseeing research projects in collaboration with industry partners within your specific area of expertise.
- Serving as the Principal Investigator for designated research projects in your area of expertise.
- Project management, overseeing the full-cycle of the applied research process, ensuring projects are conducted ethically, effectively, and efficiently.
- Leading and participating in project management activities, such as defining project scope, resource requirements, milestones, and measurable deliverables.
- Responsibly handling agreements, documentation, and financial data related to the projects.
- Analysing financial data/information on a regular basis to make financial budgeting decisions for the projects, which relate to hiring and/or purchasing.
- Serving as a manager and mentor for students and staff engaged in research projects. Assuming the responsibility of offering technical guidance to students as a subject matter expert and overseeing the hiring and supervision of students and staff for the project as the principal investigator.
- Activities to maintain technical knowledge in a field of expertise, such as monitoring external trends and practices.
- Other duties/activities will be performed as required.
About You
You have the skills and knowledge to work with an increasingly diverse student and staff population as well as a proven commitment to anti-oppression, equity, and inclusion.
You enjoy research and being a member of a team that creates innovative solutions using leading technologies in collaboration with faculty, students and external partners.
You enjoy balancing many different tasks and can prioritize multiple projects while staying organized and maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
You bring excellent negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to resolve conflicts using skill, tact, and diplomacy.
The successful candidate will also possess the following qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Film, Interactive Media, Gaming, Arts, Applied Computing, Computer Science or a related field of study (or demonstrated equivalent education)
- 7 years experience with research project leadership/management or demonstrated equivalent expertise
- A proven ability to apply Generative AI technologies across multidisciplinary workflows, including creative development, virtual production, immersive media, technical experimentation, and production pipeline design (e.g., ComfyUI-based image/video workflows, local deployment of open-source AI models, LoRA training and validation, custom node/tool integration, prompt engineering, etc.; equivalencies with education and experience may be considered).
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge of specific research and analysis techniques and tools (either qualitative or quantitative).
- Proven ability to lead small research teams and communicate complex technical concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
- Strong programming skills in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript, with experience in ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and software dev stacks (React, React Native, Node.js).
- Knowledge of acquiring, preprocessing, and managing diverse datasets (images, video, text, sensor data) for computer vision and generative tasks.
- Comfortable managing multiple research projects simultaneously, setting priorities, and delivering high-quality results.
- Research proposal preparation
- Prior involvement as PI or co-PI in funded research projects, academic publications, or open-source contributions.
- Familiarity with project management principles and tools and proven experience in grant writing and proposal development.
- Experience in preparing technical documentation (Journal paper, conference paper, grant proposal)
- Project Management training or ethics training (TCPS2 certification) would be an asset
- Ability to travel between Toronto (Pinewood Studios) and Oakville (Trafalgar Campus) as needed.
Who We Are
Every member of the Sheridan community is passionate about the transformational role we play in people’s lives. Our strategic plan, Sheridan 2027: Forging the Future (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/sheridan2027), charts a path towards a new ground-breaking model of higher education that reshapes post-secondary education and better prepares students for the future. We are committed to demonstrably advancing equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Diversity is our strength and fuels our commitment to excellence. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.
For more information, visit: Why Work at Sheridan
Other Details
Faculty/Department: Research - SIRT
Primary Work/Campus Location: Pinewood/Trafalgar (may be assigned activities at any Sheridan campus)
Work Categorization: Hybrid Position | On-site at least 3 days/week
Reference #: J0426-1070
Employee Group: Administrative
Type of Vacancy: This is a new position
Payband: NM
Salary Range: $99,544 - $124,429
Application Deadline: June 7, 2026
First Nations peoples have lived on this part of Turtle Island for millennia, stewarding the land, the water and all that contributes to life in this region. Today, the culture and presence of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples enrich the lands and people of this territory. Over two centuries ago, the Mississauga people welcomed settlers to this territory, providing sustenance and engaging in trade and commerce. Between 1781 to 1820, eight treaties were signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who opened their territory to settlement.
Today, Sheridan campuses are located on Treaty 14, also known as the Head of the Lake Purchase of 1806 and Treaty 22 and 23 of 1820.Treaty history is foundational, and it is our collective responsibility to honour the land, as we honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be learning, working and thriving on this land, and we commit to learn the truth and be active in the process of reconciliation.
Sheridan values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. Sheridan regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. Sheridan seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Sheridan will provide job applicants with accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To request accommodation, please contact Human Resources.
You may be asked to provide copies of your educational credentials at the time of interview. Upon hire, we require official confirmation of educational credentials and Canadian equivalency assessments, if applicable.
