Sr. Manager Research Operations (SRI) - Physical Sciences - Regular Full-time 2025-15197

The Senior Manager, Research and Operations will be reporting to Dr. Nir Lipsman, Director for the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation (HCN). They will play a pivotal role in overseeing HCN’s operational and research activities, providing strategic direction and ensuring successful implementation. The candidate will be instrumental in supporting HCN’s long-term vision, sustainable growth and impact. This role also includes oversight of HCN’s portfolio of investigator-initiated and multi-centre sponsored clinical trials, ensuring compliance with research ethics and regulatory standards. The Senior Manager will lead cross-functional teams, oversee key initiatives and align operational objectives with HCN’s strategic mission.

About Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation (HCN), at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI)

• Established in 2018, the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation (HCN) advances innovative Neuromodulation technologies to influence brain circuitry in a wide range of brain conditions. HCN is now among the world’s first to offer a complete range of direct-to-target therapeutic strategies, in one state-of-the-art facility.
• Focused Ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive, image guided surgical modality that can be used to lesion deep brain targets or open the blood brain barrier in brain disorders, to potentially deliver therapeutics
• Clinical research trials in Phase I/IV are ongoing for oncology, neurodegenerative and psychiatric and movement disorder applications. In addition, HCN offers commercially available treatment for movement disorders and are world leaders in FUS applications.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary responsibilities will include, but not limited to, the following:

Operations Oversight and Talent Development

• Oversee HCN’s day-to-day operations to ensure the efficient functioning of all areas, including research, administrative and support activities.
• Direct ongoing project management, ensuring milestones are met, risk management is maintained, outcomes are assessed and programs comply with institutional guidelines.
• Manage operational planning and optimize workflows to support well-organized program delivery and enhance team performance.
• Lead the creation and implementation of standardized guidelines, tools, dashboards and documentation to ensure consistency, efficiency and compliance across HCN activities.
• Collaborate with HCN’s Director on workforce planning, staffing forecasts and effective resource allocation.
• To help build strong teams, support the full employee lifecycle including recruitment, role design, onboarding training and performance planning, while providing ongoing oversight of staffing and team needs.

Research Management 

• Provide oversight to HCN’s research infrastructure and portfolio, including investigator-initiated and multi-centre sponsored clinical trials, ensuring excellence in operational, regulatory conduct and adherence to best practices in research management.
• Lead multiple complex clinical trials simultaneously, ensuring protocol compliance, timely milestones and smooth operational workflows.
• Oversee development of clinical trial protocols, legal and service agreements and manage multi-million dollar budgets, aligning financial planning with program objectives.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, SOPs, research procedures and regulatory documentation to maintain scientific integrity and quality.
• Act as the primary liaison among investigators, study teams, legal, funding agencies and stakeholders to facilitate communication, agreements and resource allocation.
• Support institutional initiatives, including participation in the President’s Task Force to enhance research operations and efficiency.
• Support data quality and compliance activities, including reporting, preparation for site monitoring visits and audits, as well as oversight of submissions to Research Ethics Boards and regulatory bodies.
• Contribute to funding proposal development, patient recruitment strategies and knowledge translation activities.
• Provide supervision, training and guidance to research staff, fostering collaboration and ensuring effective project execution.
• Maintain and update of clinical trial activities and metrics across HCN platforms and write progress reports for agencies, program director, internal communications or for other reporting needs, as needed.

Strategic Planning, Development and Centre Growth

• Support the strategic planning and development processes for HCN in collaboration with the Director and stakeholders (including senior leaders and operational teams) identifying emerging trends, challenges and opportunities for growth and impact.
• Assist in driving the design, execution and scaling of new programs, initiatives and partnerships.
• Lead the establishment, management and oversight of the institution’s Global Research Program, ensuring delivery of objectives and alignment with the centre’s mission and international partnerships.
• Support the development of strategic plans and operational frameworks to advance long-term goals, sustainability and global reach.

Governance and Committees

• Serve as a liaison for governance, advisory and executive committees, ensuring strategic coordination, follow-through and reporting.

Outreach and Education

• Assist in the continued development and strategic expansion of HCN’s outreach and educational programming (ex. The Next Neuroscientist)
• Help to foster partnerships with academic institutions, community organizations and stakeholders to increase public engagement.
• Collaborate with investigators and leadership to develop educational content, workshops and public-facing initiatives that promote awareness.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive leadership culture across the HCN by building strong relationships with internal teams, institutional stakeholders and external partners.
• Act as a reliable resource on operational risks, performance, growth and centre strategy.
• Represent HCN at institutional and external events as needed to increase visibility, build partnerships and provide leadership.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, Health Sciences preferred.
• A minimum 8-10 years’ of progressively senior experience in academic, research, or healthcare settings, with demonstrated leadership operations in clinical trial management, strategy and program development.
• Regulated health professional an asset.
• Oncology experience required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-impact initiatives, navigate institutional governance and deliver results in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement and team-building skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current policies, guidelines (ICH-GCP), standards and applicable regulations.
• Familiarity with, Health Canada and Regulatory applications as well as Research Ethics Board submissions.
• Strong interpersonal, time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading programs and teams.

In addition, you will be expected to:

• Work within the larger context of Hospital and Research Institute rules and regulations, policies, procedures, practices, safety procedures and current legislation, in particular the Human Rights Code regarding discrimination and harassment.
• Ensure the confidentiality of patient, employee and Hospital information at all times.
• Work cooperatively and constructively with the other members of staff.
• Perform the above functions in a manner, which reflects Sunnybrook Health Sciences Hospital & Sunnybrook Research Institute philosophy and mission of service, while promoting and maintaining good public relations with patients, visitors and staff.

Sunnybrook Research Institute is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your cover letter.

Sunnybrook Research Institute is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity within its community and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: visible minorities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Please be advised that in order to be eligible for employment at Sunnybrook, all new hires must have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series); AND have received the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days ago. Medical exemptions or any other kind of requested exemption based upon the Hospital’s obligations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis.