Research Manager, Research and Innovation in Surgery

Company : IWK Health 

Req ID: 219530 
Department/Program: Surg / Optha Res, Research Services 
Location: Halifax   
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) for 12 months x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: May 2026
Union Status: Research, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $37.77 - $46.7448 /hour
Closing Date: April 22, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

The Research Manager will be responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of innovative research in IWK department of surgery. This position facilitates and promotes an environment that values and enhances innovation, collaboration, and teamwork both within the Research Team, IWK, and across external stakeholders. The main responsibilities of this position will be to identify priorities to enhance research initiatives, support IWK department of surgery member key projects and collaborate with stakeholders. The research manager will have a leadership role within the IWK department of surgery’s affiliated research centre [IWK Research and Innovation in Surgery (IRIS) – established in 2024]. The Research Manager will be accountable for managing research recruitment and enrolment and maintaining communication with program stakeholders throughout the tenure of the research studies; developing and leading training with research employees and trainees; and overseeing and participating in program delivery, and data collection and analysis to ensure adherence to the project protocols.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Administration
•    Scheduling program meetings, preparing agendas, and taking and distributing minutes with the assistance of the research administrative assistant
•    Initiating ethical review applications, renewals, and amendments
•    Develop and monitor research project budgets and assist with the negotiation of terms of agreement and budgets with PI’s and research collaborators. 
•    Complete performance reviews and facilitate individual goal setting and development sessions for staff.
•    Provide administrative oversight for research grant proposal including preparing, composing, editing, and proofing related documents. Ensure submissions are completed and accurate.
Management 
•    Overseeing the research administrative assistant to ensure roles and responsibilities are achieved
•    Liaising with the associate chief of research and members of the surgery research committee
•    Preparing and presenting progress reports to Principal Investigator(s)
•    Participating in quarterly research committee meetings
•    Collaborate with PI(s) to source future funds and assist in writing grant applications. 
•    Monitor expenditures and highlight reports for PIs on fiscal performance as it relates to resource utilization and expenditure patterns. 
•    Assist with the training and management of all levels of personnel and trainees (fellows, residents, graduate, and undergraduate students) within the parameters of the research program as necessary.
•    Assist with the recruitment, hiring process, and onboarding of research staff 
•    Prepare timesheets and exception payment forms for research staff with the assistance of the research administrative assistant.
Research 
•    Overseeing data extraction and database management and presenting evaluation information
•    Reporting study updates to key stakeholders
•    Participating in knowledge translation 
•    Conducting quantitative data analysis
•    Supporting grant writing, including editing project proposals, and drafting budgets

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours weekly

Your Qualifications

•    A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in a Health or related discipline.
•    Knowledge of medical, clinical and research terminology an asset.
•    Organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload and work under time pressures to meet deadlines.
•    Ability to provide guidance and direction to others regarding the interpretation and application of organizational clinical trial agreement policies and procedures.
•    Experience with coordination of team research projects, and educational training, or demonstrated background associated with clinical research projects, is necessary.
•    Demonstrated ability to work both independently, collaboratively to resolve issues, and to be flexible to meet and adapt to changes in organizational priorities.
•    Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
•    Ability to multi-task and maintain an organized and effective personal work environment.
•    Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.
•    Academic library index/database and internet-based research skills.
•    Experience with research ethics applications and REB requirements.
•    Experience with grant writing is an asset.
•    Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodology 
•    Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve
•    Knowledge of IWK institutional research policies and procedures is an asset
•    Ability to exercise confidentiality, tact, and discretion.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An  offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.