Senior Program Officer

Special posting considerations:
The intention of this process is to establish a pool of partially and fully qualified candidates that may be used to staff similar term or indeterminate positions at NSERC and SSHRC. 

Who we are

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is Canada’s largest funder of science and engineering. A career at NSERC means supporting the visionaries, explorers and innovators who are searching for the scientific and technical breakthroughs that will advance knowledge, improve the lives of Canadians and transform the world for the better.

Visit our career page at NSERC to learn more about why you should join our agency. 

What you will do 

As a Senior Program Officer, your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering funding opportunities and managing associated program responsibilities
• Providing advice and guidance to the research community and partners (government, private sector, and not-for-profit) on programs and the peer review process
• Approving documentation and correspondence, and making recommendations regarding proposals
• Identifying issues related to the awarding and administration of programs or joint initiatives, and recommending policy and procedural changes
• Promoting programs to potential and existing clients, and participating in or leading consultations on program delivery expectations
• Participating in formal evaluations of existing programs

What you need to succeed

Education

• Degree with specialization in a field relevant to the position
• Graduate degree in a field relevant to the position - an asset
• Foreign Credential Validation against Canadian Standards

Experience

• Experience working in research grant program administration in a university, government, or similar setting
• Experience working with the research community, government, senior officials, and/or R&D stakeholder.
• Significant experience* in project and program planning and management.
• Experience working with partner agencies or industry 
• Experience developing and monitoring joint programs - an asset
• Experience analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting quantitative and qualitative information, both orally and in writing - an asset

* Significant experience, as defined for the purposes of this qualification, refers to the depth and breadth of knowledge acquired over a minimum of two years.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of research processes in universities, colleges, industry, or government
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of research and of knowledge transfer and commercialization
• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of granting agencies, federal departments, and third-party organizations in the research and innovation support ecosystem
• Knowledge of CIHR, NSERC, and/or SSHRC’s corporate systems and databases for application/award administration - an asset
• Knowledge of the College and Community Innovation program and/or applied research in the college sector - an asset

Competencies

• Achieve results
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Analytical, critical and creative thinking
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Demonstrating organizational skills (organizing and planning work)
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Client service and delivery oriented

Equity, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment to create a workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

We welcome all candidates, and encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit), veterans, persons with disabilities, Black and other racialized persons, persons of ethnic origins, diverse religions, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Accommodation

Let our team know if you require accommodation or support during the recruitment process by contacting us at recruiting@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

If you require additional information on the position, please contact us at recruiting@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.