Senior Program Officer

The Senior Program Officer - Research and Lab Operations, Quantum Sensing for Subatomic Physics (QSSP), reporting to the QSSP PI, provides high-level administrative, operational, financial, and program-management support for a major research program in physics. The role supports the PI’s research activities and program-building efforts, including national and international collaborations, trainees, visitors, proposals and reporting, events, travel, financial tracking, lab and program operations, and external partnerships.

The incumbent serves as a central administrative point of contact for Prof. Leach and the QSSP research program, working across Queen’s and with external collaborators and partner organizations to help ensure that priorities, logistics, reporting requirements, documentation, and administrative processes are managed effectively.

The new QSSP program focuses on developing new concepts and techniques rooted in quantum sensing and manipulation to address fundamental questions in subatomic physics, including neutrino physics, weak interactions, and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. The program spans superconducting sensors, levitated optomechanics, and quantum optics and includes partners across Queen’s, the McDonald Institute, with national and international major research facilities, universities, laboratories, and industry partners.

By advancing the measurement tools used to study neutrinos, weak interactions, and rare nuclear processes, the program contributes to Canada’s leadership in fundamental science while also developing technologies, training, and partnerships with broader impact across quantum sensing, nuclear science, and precision measurement.

• Provide senior administrative and operational expertise to guide the PI and the QSSP program, including strategic design, project schedules and milestone delivery, and organizing meetings, travel, program correspondence, and priorities.
• Leads the development and implementation of QSSP policies and procedures, drawing on a strong understanding of governance, Tri-Council, provincial, and national research frameworks.
• Prepare and coordinate program materials, including reports, briefing notes, correspondence, presentations, proposal materials, strategic planning documents, and documentation for funders, institutional partners, committees, and other stakeholders.
• Manages daily operations, including administrative and logistical functions, and recommends improvements for operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identifies and responds to opportunities aligned with QSSP objectives, including emerging grant opportunities (e.g., NFRF, CFI, IDEaS).
• Manage the administrative and logistical needs of QSSP research activities and collaborations, including recurring collaboration meetings, shared communication and documentation channels, student trainees, postdoctoral fellows, visitors, workshops, site visits, and external partner engagement.
• Maintain internal tracking systems for program commitments, reporting deadlines, expenditures, and required documentation to support timely decision-making and institutional reporting.
• Engages, manages, and monitors external consultants involved in funding proposals and report development.
• Organizes program-related events such as conferences, workshops, and seminars.
• Provides administrative support to academic components of the program and builds partnerships to support trainee placements.
• Manage outward-facing program activities and requests, including website content, public-facing materials, and the triage of government, institutional, media, and partner inquiries in collaboration with appropriate Queen’s and McDonald Institute offices.
• Builds and maintains relationships with local, national, and international industry and academic partners involved in the QSSP program.
• Oversees the development of Memoranda of Understanding and related agreements in collaboration with Queen’s Research Contracts Unit.
• Collaborates with Queen’s communications teams to promote and disseminate QSSP and affiliated research news.
• Communicates day-to-day priorities and…