Michael Smith Health Research BC

Michael Smith Health Research BC, funded by the Government of British Columbia, is BCs health research agency. We strengthen the provinces health research system by supporting the people, institutions and activities that generate and use research-based knowledge to promote, restore and maintain the health of British Columbians. Our ambition is to inspire and connect curious, creative and passionate minds to drive discovery and innovation in health research. And were driven by the belief that health-related decision making should be informed by high quality research produced in an equitable, diverse and inclusive research system.

We are a team of dedicated professionals who care deeply about each other and our work. We believe in embracing diversity as a strength and core value, creating spaces that are inclusive of all peoples, and are grounded in our ongoing commitment to reconciliation and respect for Indigenous self-determination. We value and support a diverse workforce, reflective of different backgrounds, skillsets, perspectives and life experiences.

Our benefits package includes a pension plan, generous dental and health insurance and a wellness allowance; our professional development policy supports learning and growth.

We have ahybrid work model.When you are in the office, our beautiful space offers views of False Creek, an outdoor patio (think summer BBQs!) and a fitness centre, and its walking distance to restaurants and other amenities. Our social committee, Team Good Times, organizes events throughout the year.

If you are looking for meaningful work in a supportive environment, and you are inspired by making a difference in BCs exceptional health research community, read on to learn more.

Position Summary:

Join our team as the Partnerships Specialist and play a key role in driving strategic partnerships for Health Research BC. Reporting to the Director of Partnerships, you will be responsible for identifying and negotiating partnerships with external organizations. In this role, you will establish and nurture relationships with funding partners, proactively seek new opportunities, and ensure compliance with partnership agreements. By managing the full cycle of funding-based partnerships, monitoring industry trends, and collaborating with internal teams, your insight and expertise will help implement the partnership plan, driving us closer to achieving our strategy and vision.

To excel in this role, you should have a minimum of five years of experience in relationship building or business development, along with strong interpersonal and operational skills. Your familiarity with the health research funding environment enables you to recommend and co-develop partnered funding offerings for health researchers. If you are a proactive strategic thinker, relationship-builder, and eager to drive impactful partnerships in the health research system, apply now to join our dynamic and collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supports the development and leads the implementation of partnerships that advance the organizations partnership plan.
• Pro-actively works with health research funders and interested parties such as not-for-profit, for-profit and health authority organizations, to identify and co-develop new funding-based partnerships. This may involve the co-development of partnered funding models and offerings for health researchers.
• Prepares agreements, award packages and other documents that support the lifecycle of a partnership.
• Monitors and administers partnered awards and partnerships. Liaises with partners and researchers to ensure that the terms of the partnership and/or partnered award are being fulfilled.
• Works with external partners to ensure proper recognition of Health Research BC and its impact on the health research environment.
• Monitors the health services, health research, life sciences and philanthropic environments for trends related to Health
• Research BCs partnership activities. Actively examines the life science landscape for emerging areas of interest and potential priority topics.
• Leads the development of feasibility studies, environmental scans and recommendations for new partnership opportunities.
• Utilizes the organizations technological platforms including the grant management system (GMS), customer relationship management (CRM) software and Power BI analytical tool to support partnership activities.
• Supports the partnerships team in other activities as requested by the director, partnerships.
• Works with internal teams to identify, develop and realize partnership opportunities.
• Compiles, analyzes and reports on partnership-related data to provide insights on operational and strategic performance. Collaborates with the evaluation and impact analysis team to evaluate partnership initiatives and support organizational-level data reporting activities.
• Works with the communications team to develop materials and tactical plans that promote the organizations partnerships and related activities.
• Collaborates with the research competitions team to support partnered awards administration and ongoing configurations in the GMS.
• Helps train, mentor and support colleagues as needed.
  

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in either health, business management/ administration, communications, interested-party relations and/or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Minimum five years professional experience related to business development, donor and/or partner relations, or health research administration/ funding.
• Experience with project management and familiarity with grant funding are assets.
• Strong interpersonal and soft skills. Possess the ability to create and sustain relationships centered on trust and mutual respect. Maintains confidentiality and deals with stressful, sensitive or difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Experience working in situations involving complex interested-party relations and/or politically sensitive issues. Maintains highest levels of professionalism, discretion and confidentiality.
• Proven negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing; understands the subtleties of communication and intended audience and understands the perspectives of team members and external stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure, multi-task, make appropriate decisions and exercise judgement without direct supervision in a dynamic, complex and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to identify priorities and deliver results on deadline without close supervision.
• Works and thinks independently with strong initiative and problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrates a high-level of attention to detail and accuracy, strong organizational skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Comprehensive computer literacy including demonstrated intermediate level skills with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe and Zoom.
• Experience using database applications and CRMs an asset.
• Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenous reconciliation; training and/or experience in equity, diversity and inclusion and/or Indigenous cultural safety an asset.

How to Apply

If this sounds like you and you would like to play a role in maximizing the impact of health research in BC, please submit your resume and cover letter online athealthresearchbc.ca/about/careers/. We thank everyone for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.