Description The Manager, International Research Partnerships & Innovation provides strategic leadership to advance UCalgary's international research and innovation funding and partnership portfolio, with a focus on institutional partnerships, alliances of institutions, and major international funding programs beyond North America, including Horizon Europe. The role leads a team responsible for identifying and advancing global funding opportunities, brokering strategic research collaborations, and supporting the development of international research proposals and initiatives that strengthen UCalgary's global research impact, innovation, and reputation.
Working collaboratively across UCalgary International (UCI), the Research Services Office (RSO), Faculties, Institutes, Centres, and other campus partners, the Manager develops services, processes, and institutional approaches to strengthen international research engagement and funding success. The position reports jointly to the Senior Director, UCalgary International, and the Senior Director, Research Services, and operates in a complex, multicultural, and interdisciplinary environment requiring independent judgment, strong relationship management, and coordination across institutional, international, industry, and government stakeholders. The role ensures activities align with Ahead of Tomorrow and are delivered through effective, compliant, and client-focused processes.
This position will work under the general direction of the Senior Director, UCalgary International and the Senior Director, Research Services.
This unit is responsible for attracting new major international funding and expanding global partnerships that support the advancement of research, innovation, and commercialization, including strategic and operational insight. The manager will act as an interface between researchers, global granting agency representatives, industrial organizations, international government representatives, and UCI/RSO to develop critical international research collaborations, application strategies, project design and management that support innovation and commercialization.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Relationship Building and International Research Brokering
- Responsible for establishing a clear central point of contact for researchers and global partners wishing to engage in collaborative international research. This may involve brokering relationships, soliciting research priorities, and communicating expertise with global partners.
- Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with external organizations for the purposes of developing international research cooperation.
- Advises and leads matchmaking of international research partners 'including intelligence on regional priorities and approaches in various countries" at both the institutional and individual project levels, working with University leadership and individual faculty members.
- Establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships with constituents both internal and external to the University.
- Identifies and builds relationships with other units within UCI, RSO, and other service units on campus to coordinate activities and develop a community of practice.
- Undertakes effective outreach to global partners and other stakeholders to promote University of Calgary expertise and build research partnerships.
- Assesses incoming project opportunities for impact and global partnership potential.
- Ensures research community is kept informed of emerging opportunities in international research and communicates activity in this sphere.
- Establishes and maintains relationships with international funding agencies to gain expert knowledge and to develop productive relationships, communicate and coordinate these efforts with relevant academic and administrative teams.
Team Development and Leadership
- Recruits staff and develops an effective team for International Research Partnerships and Innovation.
- Performance management of unionized support staff.
- Supports the professional development of staff in building skills for International Research facilitators by seeking out internal and external opportunities for learning and networking.
- In conjunction with the Senior Directors of UCI and RSO, and relevant advisory groups, sets the direction for the team and plans future activity.
- Acts as a leader on campus to coordinate activity and establish relationships with relevant partners and stakeholders.
Reporting and Evaluation
- Responsible for tracking activity in the International Research sphere and developing appropriate methods for reporting on impact. This will include benchmarking activities and development of an evaluation framework to track and report on success of the team.
- Track international research activity on campus and develops an evaluation framework for tracking growth in this area.
- Collects, maintains, and supports analysis using appropriate performance metrics to monitor international research activities and impact of the University of Calgary International Research Partnerships & Innovation team.
- Completes all data reporting requirements on International Research Partnerships & Innovation activity for the University by gathering key research information and data.
- Analyzes and provides statistical and research impact information or briefing notes relating to International Research for the Directors and senior leadership.
- Keeps abreast of relevant policies and practices in other organizations (e.g. other universities, international networks, etc.) in order to make informed judgements about the application these policies and practices on campus.
Development of Resources
- Develops and maintains resources, in collaboration with other service units, that will improve the quality of international research and catalyze international research partnerships across the University. Resources may include, for example, templates for international research portfolios and evaluation frameworks for impact.
- Works with the International Research Facilitator(s) to plan appropriate outreach and training offerings.
- Works with the team to guide the development and preparation of materials relating to the University's International research activities.
Qualifications / Requirements:- Graduate degree with five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in research administration and/or international role, preferably in an academic environment (or a combination of related experience and training).
- Extensive knowledge of sponsored research administration, including work experience at a university, foundation or granting agency setting is required.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the University, its structure, governance, operations, plans, international activities, business, and major systems is required.
- Ability to work effectively with senior and executive leadership through various modes of communication and in a variety of settings, including meetings with external partners.
- Experience working with international funding agencies is considered an asset.
- Experience with innovation, commercialization, and the private sector is considered an asset.
- High degree of analytical accuracy, innovative thinking, and judgment is required.
- Strong interpersonal, mediation, diplomacy, and partnership-building skills is required.
- Keen appreciation and respect for international peoples and cultures. Strong cross-cultural competencies are required; a language in addition to English is an asset.
- A strong understanding of how to measure and effectively communicate global research impact to various audiences, including knowledge of indices and databases for impact metrics.
- Capacity to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with researchers, international partners, granting agencies, colleagues, and other stakeholders is required.
- Sound understanding of the University's mission, academic plan, strategic research plan, and Global Engagement Plan.
- Experience managing staff, preferably in a unionized environment, is required.
- Superior interpersonal skills, flexibility, tact, and perseverance.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills is required.
- Capacity to adjust work schedule to meet multiple demands and pressures, including meetings with international partners, and a demonstrated ability to provide a consistently high level of service.
Application Deadline: November 26, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the
Management Career Band, Level M2 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our
Management and Staff Careers website .
