Senior Manager, Research Programs & Operations
The People People, on behalf of our client, a not-for-profit agricultural organization and leader in research delivery, is recruiting for a Senior Manager, Research Programs & Operations.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager, Research Programs & Operations is a people, program and operations leader responsible for ensuring our portfolio of research programs is effectively planned, resourced, executed and delivered.
This role provides day-to-day leadership to the Research team and operational oversight across multiple concurrent, externally funded research programs. The Senior Manager establishes the systems, processes and accountability needed to ensure projects remain on track, staff have clear direction, budgets are effectively managed, risks are identified and addressed, and contractual and reporting commitments are met.
The incumbent will oversee research planning, project management, data integrity, stakeholder coordination, and reporting functions. They will also ensure compliance with funding agreements, scientific standards, and ethical research practices while supporting partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry collaborators.
Working closely with the Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer and our technical staff and partners, the Senior Manager translates organizational and funding commitments into clear operational plans and ensures the team has the structure, resources and support required to deliver high-quality results.
Key Responsibilities & Duties:
People Leadership & Team Management
- Provide direct leadership, coaching, mentorship and performance management to Research department staff.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, priorities and performance expectations and hold team members accountable for results.
- Conduct regular one-on-one and team meetings to monitor workload, priorities, challenges and progress.
- Build a collaborative, accountable and solutions-oriented team culture.
- Identify capacity, resource and skill gaps and work with the Director to address them.
- Lead or support recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members.
- Develop staff capabilities and succession plans to strengthen the department's long-term capacity.
- Lead the team effectively through periods of change, competing priorities and evolving program requirements.
Research Portfolio & Program Operations
- Provide operational oversight for our portfolio of research programs and projects.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of each program's objectives, contractual commitments, deliverables, activities, timelines, reporting requirements and budget.
- Establish appropriate project plans, workplans, dashboards and other management tools to provide visibility into program performance.
- Regularly review program status with staff, identify barriers or emerging issues, assign actions and ensure follow-through.
- Coordinate priorities and resources across programs to ensure organizational commitments can be achieved.
- Ensure staff understand their responsibilities, deadlines and expected outcomes.
- Escalate significant issues, risks and decisions to the Director in a timely manner.
- Adapt the level of direct involvement based on program complexity, risk and the capabilities of the staff leading individual projects.
Research Program Leadership
- Lead the design, coordination, and delivery of applied research projects that address sustainability priorities such as soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
- Assist the Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer with the development of annual and multi-year plans to identify research opportunities that align with organizational strategies and sectoral goals.
- Manage the research operations portfolio, including budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation.
- Ensure the integration of research outcomes into organizational programming, communications, and policy engagement.
- Provide scientific leadership in project development, methodology design, and outcome measurement.
Financial Management
- Oversee budgets across the Research portfolio in collaboration with the Director and Finance team.
- Lead annual and project-level forecasting and regularly update forecasts based on program activity.
- Ensure each program has an effective budget tracking system that provides timely visibility into commitments, expenditures and remaining funds.
- Establish processes for staff to maintain accurate financial information as expenditures and commitments occur.
- Reconcile program tracking information against financial actuals on a regular basis.
- Identify potential variances, underspending, overspending or other financial risks early and develop appropriate corrective actions.
- Ensure expenditures comply with contribution agreements, approved budgets and organizational policies.
Operational Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Develop, implement and continuously improve systems, processes, procedures, templates and Standard Operating Procedures that support consistent and efficient research operations.
- Establish practical department-wide approaches to project management, documentation, budget management, reporting, data management and quality assurance.
- Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improvements that reduce risk, duplication and administrative burden.
- Ensure appropriate documentation and knowledge-management practices are in place so critical program knowledge is retained by the organization.
- Identify opportunities to use digital tools and technology to improve program visibility, collaboration and efficiency.
Risk, Compliance & Quality Management
- Establish and maintain a proactive approach to operational risk management across the Research portfolio.
- Identify financial, contractual, staffing, scheduling, stakeholder, data and delivery risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Ensure compliance with funding agreements, contractual commitments, organizational policies and applicable research requirements.
- Establish appropriate quality-control and review processes for key program deliverables.
- Ensure emerging risks and significant issues are communicated to the Director with recommended actions.
Funding Agreements, Deliverables & Reporting
- Maintain oversight of contribution agreements, contracts and other funding commitments.
- Ensure program teams understand funding requirements and incorporate them into project plans and day-to-day activities.
- Maintain visibility of all key deliverables, milestones and reporting deadlines.
- Coordinate the preparation and review of reports and other required submissions.
- Support funding proposals and program development by providing operational plans, staffing assumptions, budgets, timelines and risk considerations.
Stakeholder & Partner Management
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with funders, government agencies, academic institutions, research organizations, producers, industry partners and other collaborators.
- Ensure stakeholder commitments and expectations are understood and appropriately incorporated into project plans.
- Support staff in managing complex stakeholder relationships and resolving issues.
- Represent the organization professionally in meetings, working groups, workshops and industry events.
- Work collaboratively across organizations departments to support effective program delivery and knowledge translation.
Research Quality & Data Oversight
- Ensure appropriate technical and scientific expertise is engaged in research design, implementation, analysis and interpretation.
- Establish processes and accountability to support research integrity, data quality, documentation and reproducibility.
- Oversee appropriate data governance, quality assurance and confidentiality practices.
- Work with technical staff, researchers and external experts to ensure research activities meet appropriate standards.
Qualifications & Skills:
Education:
- Post-secondary education in project/program management, business administration, public administration, organizational leadership, agriculture, environmental science, natural resources, research administration or another relevant discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and significant relevant management experience will also be considered.
- A graduate degree, project/program management credential, leadership credential or relevant professional designation is considered an asset.
Years of Experience:
- Candidates should bring at least five years of progressively responsible experience in program, project or operational management, including meaningful experience leading people and teams.
Specific Experience:
- We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated success in several of the following areas:
- Directly managing, coaching and developing professional staff.
- Managing a portfolio of multiple concurrent projects or programs.
- Translating agreements, strategies or organizational commitments into operational workplans and staff priorities.
- Managing complex budgets, forecasting expenditures and monitoring financial performance.
- Establishing project management systems, dashboards, processes, SOPs and operational controls.
- Managing programs funded through grants, contribution agreements or other externally funded arrangements.
- Managing contractual obligations, deliverables, reporting deadlines and compliance requirements.
- Identifying operational risks and implementing practical mitigation strategies.
- Leading teams through organizational change, staffing transitions or periods of significant workload.
- Managing relationships with government, funders, external partners and other stakeholders.
- Working successfully with technical or subject-matter experts without necessarily being the technical expert themselves.
- Improving organizational systems, workflows and processes.
- Experience in agriculture, applied research, environmental programming, science, government-funded programming or a related technical environment is an asset.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of program and project management principles and practices, including planning, scheduling, resource allocation, performance monitoring and reporting.
- Knowledge of people management and leadership practices, including performance management, coaching, staff development, team building, succession planning and change management.
- Knowledge of financial management principles, including budgeting, forecasting, expenditure monitoring and financial reporting.
- Knowledge of risk management, internal controls and compliance practices within complex, multi-project environments.
- Knowledge of grant, contribution agreement and/or externally funded program management, including contractual obligations, eligible expenditures, deliverables and reporting requirements.
- Knowledge of operational management and continuous improvement principles, including process development, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), workflow improvement and quality assurance.
- General knowledge of applied research operations, including the research project lifecycle, data management, research integrity, quality assurance and reporting.
- General understanding of stakeholder and partnership management in multi-partner programs involving government, academic, industry and/or community organizations.
- Knowledge of Ontario agriculture, agri-environmental programming, sustainable agriculture practices and the agricultural research environment is considered an asset.
Skills:
- Strong people leadership and management skills, with the ability to establish expectations, provide direction, coach employees, address performance issues and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong program, project and portfolio management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects with different timelines, budgets, deliverables, stakeholders and levels of complexity.
- Strong financial management skills, including budget development, forecasting, expenditure tracking, variance analysis and financial oversight.
- Strong operational management skills, with the ability to establish effective systems, processes, procedures, workflows and controls.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, including the ability to translate strategic objectives, funding agreements and program commitments into actionable workplans, priorities and accountabilities.
- Strong risk-management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate issues, assess their significance, develop mitigation strategies and ensure appropriate follow-through.
- Strong performance-monitoring skills, with the ability to establish meaningful measures, dashboards and reporting mechanisms to assess program progress and organizational commitments.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex program, financial and technical information clearly to staff, senior leadership, funders, partners and other stakeholders.
- Strong relationship-management and stakeholder-engagement skills, including the ability to navigate differing priorities and maintain productive partnerships.
- Strong facilitation, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to assess information, identify trends or concerns and support sound decision-making.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project, financial and information-management tools, with the ability to learn and implement new digital systems as required.
Abilities:
- Ability to lead, motivate and develop a multidisciplinary team, including employees with specialized technical knowledge outside the Senior Manager's own area of expertise.
- Ability to lead through change, ambiguity and periods of transition, providing stability, clarity and direction while maintaining program delivery.
- Ability to quickly learn and understand unfamiliar programs and technical subject matter to the level necessary to effectively manage staff, projects, risks, budgets, stakeholders and organizational commitments.
- Ability to maintain a portfolio-level view while recognizing when a project or issue requires deeper involvement and hands-on management.
- Ability to establish clear priorities and accountability across multiple programs and ensure commitments are followed through to completion.
- Ability to balance competing priorities, deadlines and resource demands in a dynamic, multi-project environment.
- Ability to identify emerging operational, financial, contractual, staffing and stakeholder risks and take proactive action to address them.
- Ability to make sound, timely decisions using available information and judgment, and to recognize when issues require escalation.
- Ability to work effectively with technical and subject-matter experts without needing to personally be the technical expert, asking appropriate questions and ensuring the necessary expertise and quality controls are in place.
- Ability to translate complex agreements, requirements and organizational objectives into clear expectations, workplans and actions for staff.
- Ability to build trust and establish effective working relationships across departments and with external partners, funders and stakeholders.
- Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and design and implement practical solutions that strengthen efficiency, consistency, accountability and organizational capacity.
- Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, integrity and sound judgment when handling sensitive organizational, employee, financial and research information.
- Ability to represent organization with credibility, professionalism and confidence with funders, partners, government representatives and other stakeholders.
Working Conditions / Physical Demands:
- Hybrid work model combining remote and in-office work three days per week, with the position based in Guelph, ON.
- Home office settings require a dependable, high-speed internet connection to ensure effective participation in virtual meetings and online collaboration.
- May require occasional work outside of standard business hours (e.g., early mornings, evenings, or weekends) to attend meetings, events, or respond to organizational needs.
- Requires regular use of a computer; prolonged sitting, typing, and screen time required.
- May involve occasional lifting of light materials (e.g., files, laptop – up to 10 lbs).
- Must be adaptable to a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and time-sensitive deadlines.
- Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s licence and have access to reliable transportation for occasional travel to meetings, stakeholder events, and organizational sites.
- Must maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive or organizational information.
We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT (AODA IN ONTARIO)
The Employer is committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the provincial guidelines for accessibility (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario Only). As such, the Employer will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the recruitment process.
HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENT
The Employer strives to ensure that its employment practices are free from direct and indirect discrimination and is committed to upholding the human rights of those participating in the hiring process. In pursuit of this commitment, the Employer will not condone or tolerate any acts of discrimination or harassment under any of the grounds protected under human rights legislation. This commitment extends to the hiring process and throughout the course of employment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00-$95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Application question(s):
- Please confirm you hold and maintain a valid driver’s licence and have access to reliable transportation for occasional travel to meetings, stakeholder events, and organizational sites.
- Are you legally eligible to work in Canada?
- Please outline your experience supervising staff, providing day-to-day guidance, training, and performance feedback.
- This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in our Guelph office. Are you able to meet this requirement?
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)
Experience:
- Program management: 5 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Guelph, ON
