Executive Director, Research and Partnerships

CIFAR Executive Director, Research and Partnerships | Direction générale, Recherche et Partenariats

To fill this position, CIFAR has partnered with leadership advisory firm Odgers, and the search is being led by Joanne McMullin. Applications are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online at  For more information, please contact Sarah Shaikh of Odgers at  We thank all those who express an interest, however only those chosen for further development will be contacted.

CIFAR is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers and CIFAR throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Odgers is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our DEI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.

• Exceptional people leadership, PhD background, significant leadership credibility in research administration.

• Passionate about CIFAR’s mission, collaborative, organized, and strategic.

• Lead effective research programs, integrating diverse topics into a cohesive agenda tackling existing and emerging issues.

• Build research evaluation and impact frameworks, translate complex research into valuable insights for diverse partner groups.

• Champion a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, spearheading high-performing research teams across disciplines.

• Lead and deliver on CIFAR’s research portfolio, identifying new research endeavours.

• Expand CIFAR’s global presence through strategic international partnerships.

• Foster a culture of cohesion and collaboration, champion a talented and motivated team of research directors and support staff.

• Coach and mentor, build effective tools enabling the team to implement, monitor, evaluate and report on research and international collaboration activities.

CIFAR is a global catalyst for the world’s brightest and boldest thinkers, backing ideas that challenge convention and expand what’s possible. Founded in Canada and connected to the world, CIFAR brings together brilliant researchers across disciplines, geographies and career stages to explore the questions that reshape how we understand the world – and how we shape its futures.