The Senior Manager of Research Operations is responsible for the operational management of research initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture, soil health, and climate-resilient farming systems. This role ensures that research projects are designed, implemented, and evaluated effectively, supporting the organization’s mission to foster innovation, environmental stewardship, and evidence-based decision-making in agriculture.
Requirements
- A post-secondary degree in related fields (e.g. Agriculture, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Plant Science, Agri-environmental Studies, natural resource management, biology, agronomy) is required.
- A graduate degree in a related field is considered an asset.
- Professional credentials – Earned from professional associations that verify specialized knowledge in leadership competence.
- Memberships in professional organizations (Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), Professional Agrologist (PAg) Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), Nuffield Agriculture Canada, considered an asset.
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in program administration or delivery, with demonstrated leadership experience, preferably within the agriculture or environmental sectors.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing research operations, including project planning, data collection, analysis, reporting, and evaluation.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and operational guidance to researchers and technical staff.
- Experience working with agricultural best management practices related to soil health, water quality, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate adaptation preferred.
- Proven track record in research program development, from proposal design implementation and final reporting.
- Experience in budget management, including forecasting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting for grant- or contribution-funded research projects.
- Experience working with government agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners to deliver collaborative research initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) strategies, including converting research findings into plain-language materials, decision-support tools, and extension resources.
- Experience managing or contributing to grant writing, funding applications, and compliance with contribution agreements.
- Strong background in data governance, ensuring research integrity, data accuracy, and ethical handling of sensitive information.
- Experience implementing quality assurance systems, monitoring frameworks, and process improvements to enhance research efficiency and consistency.
- Familiarity with digital tools, databases, and visualization platforms used for research tracking, performance measurement, and stakeholder reporting.
- Demonstrated success in communicating technical results to non-technical audiences, including producers, funding agents, and the general public.
- Experience coordinating workshops, field days, and stakeholder engagement sessions to promote knowledge exchange and adoption of research findings.
- Experience managing projects with an emphasis on sustainability metrics, such as soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas reduction.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Equal opportunity employer
- Barrier-free work environment
- Accommodations available to applicants with disabilities
