Research Partnerships Facilitator

Position Details

The Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for a Research Partnerships Facilitator position with a start date no later than May 1, 2026.

ORIS is a central support to the research community at the University of Lethbridge and this position plays a pivotal role in facilitating and developing strategic partnerships with organizations within the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

Reporting to the Director of Research and Innovation Services, the Research Partnerships Facilitator will cultivate strategic partnerships, foster innovation, and provide internal contract and agreement reviews. The successful candidate will work closely with researchers, key campus units, industry stakeholders, and government bodies to facilitate collaborative projects, identify funding opportunities, and support entrepreneurial ventures, thereby maximizing the impact of research outcomes that benefit the university and the broader community.

The coordinator is an integral part of the research facilitation team, helping to ensure the continued growth and development of research and scholarly activity at the University of Lethbridge with a focus on external partners.

A strong candidate will bring experience and skills in the following areas:

1. Strategic Partnership Development:

Develop and implement strategies for increasing collaborative research across faculties and attracting new research partners in all disciplines and sectors (public, private, and not-for-profit) – recognizing opportunities to leverage existing collaborations across campus with external partners.

Serve as a bridge connecting the university with outside partners, including supporting negotiations and overseeing contracts and partnership agreements.

Foster relationships with key stakeholders and facilitate ongoing communication to ensure alignment of objectives and effective collaboration.

2. Funding and Grant Opportunities:

Identify funding opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and industry partners, and assist researchers in developing successful applications to support their research and commercialization.

Guide, educate, and support researchers around policies, reporting, and other required compliance activities related to their funded work with partners.

Monitor and report on funding opportunities, keeping the Office of Research and Innovation Services informed of emerging trends and opportunities.

3. Collaboration and Communication:

Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers, other units within the university, industry partners, and other stakeholders.

Organize and facilitate workshops, seminars, and networking events to promote partnership development.

Connect researchers with resources related to intellectual property development, sponsored research agreements, and commercial activities.

Track, report, and communicate research partnership activity, outcomes, impacts, and success stories to internal and external stakeholders through various channels.

Engage, coach, and support researchers by removing barriers and assisting with the development and implementation of knowledge mobilization and knowledge/technology transfer plans, including associated resources and processes.

This is an in-person position on the Lethbridge campus. Flexibility for occasional remote work will be considered. The successful candidate must be willing to relocate to Lethbridge. There is an expectation of occasional travel and working occasional non-standard hours, for instance, to support or attend special events and during grant application submission periods. The University offers a competitive compensation package with a full range of benefits.

Comprehensive information about the institution is available on our website at

Please note a strong internal candidate will be applying for this position.

The University of Lethbridge is undertaking a job classification and compensation review for Administrative Professional Officer (APO) positions. As such, the salary range currently assigned for this position may be adjusted as a result of this project. Position Qualifications

Master’s degree in business, science, engineering, or a related field, and three (3) years of experience building collaborative research teams and writing/reviewing grant/contract proposals. The candidate must be familiar with the university’s research environment, policies, and procedures, as well as the Canadian research funding landscape.

Strong understanding of partnership development strategies, intellectual property management, innovation processes, legal issues, and risk and academic requirements in contract research.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong relationships across varied disciplines.

Proven experience in partnership development and/or project management, with experience managing and coordinating a high volume of diverse…