Assistant Vice-President, Research Strategy and Services

McGill University is seeking an accomplished and collaborative leader to assume the role of Assistant Vice-President, Research Strategy and Services (AVP). Reporting to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the AVP is responsible for advancing McGill University's research enterprise through strategic leadership of research development, sponsored research services, and institutional research planning. As a member of the senior leadership team within the Research and Innovation portfolio, the AVP oversees a complex portfolio that supports researchers, research teams, Faculties, affiliated hospitals, and research institutes across the research funding lifecycle, while helping to strengthen the University's capacity for research excellence and impact.

The AVP leads the University's efforts to develop and advance major institutional research initiatives, including high-profile national and international funding competitions. Working closely with the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, academic leaders, affiliated hospitals, and external partners, the AVP strengthens McGill's research enterprise by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting institution-wide research priorities, and enhancing the University's capacity to secure and manage major research investments.

As a senior advisor and institutional representative, the AVP provides leadership on research strategy, policy, governance, infrastructure planning, and performance measurement, while representing the University with governments, funding agencies, foundations, industry partners, and peer institutions to advance McGill's research mission and global reputation.

This is an exciting time to join McGill University and contribute to advancing the University’s ambitious research agenda, including the implementation of McGill’s 2026 – 2031 Strategic Research Plan. Following a comprehensive review of research support services, the Research and Innovation portfolio is implementing a new integrated Research Ecosystem model that brings together pre-award and post-award functions to create a more coordinated, efficient, and researcher-centered service environment.

The AVP will lead this transformation, cultivating a culture of service excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring researchers receive timely, strategic, and solutions-oriented support.

The ideal candidate will possess a graduate degree and a demonstrated record of progressive senior leadership in research administration, research strategy, or research development within a large, complex organization, preferably in a university, research-intensive, or public-sector environment. They will bring deep knowledge of the Canadian research funding landscape, experience leading institutional research initiatives and partnerships, and a proven ability to navigate complexity while driving organizational effectiveness and service excellence.

Success in this role will require strategic leadership, exceptional relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and the ability to lead high-performing teams while aligning people, processes, and resources in support of the University’s ambitious research priorities. Bilingualism in English and French is required.

McGill University has partnered with the leadership advisory firm Odgers for this recruitment. This is an existing vacancy. The new AVP will assume the position in early 2027.

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Founded in 1821, McGill University has established a strong reputation for being a leader in higher education globally, distinguished by the excellence of its faculty, the dedication of its staff, the talent and quality of its students, the contributions…