The Opportunity

Groundbreaking research rarely happens in isolation. It is built on strong partnerships, shared trust, and the agreements that turn ambitious ideas into collaborative discoveries. Could you be the catalyst that helps make it all happen?

As the Research Contracts and Agreements Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in advancing research and innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University by helping transform collaborations into meaningful research partnerships. Working with academia, industry, government, and community, you'll help create the foundation that enables researchers to focus on discovery while ensuring the agreements that support their work are thoughtful, compliant, and built for success.

In this highly collaborative role, you'll lead the development, negotiation, administration, and oversight of research agreements that support the university's scholarly, research, and creative activities. Partnering closely with faculty members, researchers, industry leaders, funding agencies, legal counsel, and internal stakeholders, you'll help bring diverse organizations together around a shared vision while balancing opportunity with sound risk management.

Beyond negotiating agreements, you'll serve as a trusted advisor, providing guidance on research contracts, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies. Your expertise will help researchers confidently navigate complex partnerships while ensuring compliance and protecting the university's interests. You'll also play an important role in shaping the future of research administration by contributing to process improvements, strengthening contract management practices, and enhancing the systems and tools that support collaboration across the research ecosystem.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys connecting people, solving complex challenges, and building partnerships that help transform innovative ideas into research with real-world impact.

Leadership Competencies

Leaders at TMU are required to demonstrate the following Leadership Competencies:

• Acts with Integrity: Demonstrates behaviors aligned with high ethical standards and personal integrity and acts in accordance with TMU values.
• Builds Relationships of Trust & Collaboration: Actively builds a culture of trust and fosters meaningful relationships.
• Leads Inclusively: Creates an inclusive environment where everyone is respected, recognized, empowered to achieve their potential, and valued for their differences.
• Demonstrates Organizational Acumen: Understands and respectfully navigates complex internal and external environments using sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact.
• Drives Vision & Results: Creates and implements a vision grounded in sound decision-making to achieve desired outcomes.

To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications:

• Completion of a post-secondary degree in law, business, public administration or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience with contract and agreement management.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements, preferably within a university, research institution, or innovation-driven organization.
• Experience managing staff.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property principles, including ownership, inventorship, licensing, and commercialization pathways.
• Strong familiarity with Canadian research funding frameworks and compliance requirements (e.g., Tri-Agency, Mitacs).
• Equivalent experience or a combination of equivalent experience and education may be accepted in place of education.

Additional Information (MAC)
Position Number(s) 20005713 Reports To Assistant Vice President, Research Partnerships & Commercialization Department Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (OVPRI) Employee Group MAC Vacancy Type Term - this is a current vacancy Work Location Hybrid Start Date ASAP End Date 2 years from start date Hours of Work 36.25 Grade C42 Salary Scale $70,448 - $112,535 Hiring Salary Range $70,448 - $91,492 TA Specialist Claudiu Posting Date August 12, 2026 Application Close Date August 24, 2026

• Equivalent experience or a combination of equivalent experience and education may be accepted in place of education.
• As part of the selection process, candidates may be required to complete an occupational assessment.
• Applications will only be accepted online through Toronto Metropolitan University's career site.
• We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process, please submit your request through the AskHR webform . All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.