Scientific Director, Clinical Translation

About OICR

OICR is Ontario’s cancer research institute. We bring together people from across the province and around the world to improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer. We take on the biggest challenges in cancer research and deliver real-world solutions to find cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. We are committed to helping people living with cancer, as well as future generations, live longer and healthier lives.

Launched in December 2005, OICR is an independent institute funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Job Details

Position:  Scientific Director, Clinical Translation

Location:  MaRS Centre, Toronto

Department:  Clinical Translation

Reports To:  Acting Scientific Director (OICR) and Head, Adaptive Oncology 

Salary:  Commensurate with level of experience, includes a defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP)

Hours:  10.5 hours/week (0.3FTE)

Job Type:  Hybrid

Status:  Part-time, Permanent

Position Summary

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is seeking a Scientific Director, Clinical Translation (Scientific Director CT) to provide strategic leadership and oversight for the development and delivery of activities and initiatives to advance cancer research studies through early and late clinical validation.  Reporting to the Acting Scientific Director (OICR) and Head, Adaptive Oncology, the Scientific Director CT will liaise internally with the directors of other OICR themes, including Implementation Science, Therapeutic Innovation, and Adaptive Oncology, and externally with clinicians, healthcare agencies and patient advisors, to develop strategic initiatives that accelerate the development and adoption of new diagnostics, treatments and cancer healthcare practices. The Scientific Director CT will work with the Acting Scientific Director (OICR) and Head, Adaptive Oncology and the Director, Clinical Translation (Director CT) to provide advice and guidance on OICR’s long-range clinical translation strategy. 

Position Responsibilities

• Provides clinical and scientific oversight to Clinical Translation (CT), supporting its goal of advancing OICR and provincial cancer discoveries through clinical validation, positioning them for downstream health system implementation.

• Monitors the cancer clinical and the scientific landscape to identify new opportunities for OICR, that supports its mission to advance early cancer identification and interception, identifying potential impacts and suggesting adaptations to strategies and plans accordingly.

• Identifies opportunities for OICR to partner with external stakeholders, developing and managing relationships with key opinion leaders, facilitating meaningful discussions, and providing advocacy support in order to forge strong alliances in pursuit of shared missions to improve cancer research translation.

• Maintains an awareness of OICR programs and initiatives, identifies and vets Clinical Translation opportunities to collaborate, providing advice and guidance for readiness for validation in clinical trials, identifying and supporting linkages with necessary external stakeholders.

• Advises OICR-supported investigators on the design and development of clinical trials, collaborating with hospitals/healthcare institutions to ensure expedited study start up and patient recruitment.

• As a member of the Window of Opportunity (WOO) Network Steering Committee, helps review and prioritize window of opportunity trial concept submissions.

• Working under the framework established by the WOO Network Executive Committee, helps cultivate relationships with pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, research organizations, and other potential research partners.

• Collaborates with the Executive Team, President, Scientific Director (OICR) and the Director CT to develop and implement short and long-term organizational goals and strategies, providing input on strategies and avenues to pursue key priorities, and the development of governance/implementation strategies and initiatives and supporting tactical plans.

• Facilitates and provides advice to the Director CT to develop and execute short and long-term Clinical Translation strategies and plans, suggesting opportunities to shape and strengthen study delivery, and ensuring implementations are in alignment with overall organizational strategic direction and business priorities.

• Evaluates changing clinical priorities, trends, emerging issues and regulatory requirements, analyzing the potential impacts on OICR and Clinical Translation’s strategic plans.

• Monitors the quality of projects reviewed and undertaken, ensuring projects and partnerships are thoroughly vetted and align with OICR research priorities and strategic plans.

• Works with Director CT to formalize and oversee CT’s governance structure, including a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and a Clinical Trials Steering Committee.

• Facilitates the work of the Director CT to identify opportunities to streamline and enhance project delivery processes and optimize deliverable achievement, monitoring quality, relevance and impact of activities and results, and leading change initiatives to address issues and improve processes and services provided.

• Develops and manages strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Ontario government ministries, Ontario Health, and healthcare and academic institutions and agencies, to provide advice and guidance, identify opportunities for enhanced partnerships, manage differing interests and expectations, build consensus and influence outcomes.

• Maintains relationships with scientific/medical community representatives provincially, nationally and globally to keep abreast of new initiatives, best practices and trends, and share in the exchange of information relevant to CT activities and projects. Helps build national and international collaborations for OICR supported clinical trials when appropriate and impactful.

• When called upon by the Scientific Director (OICR), meets with the OICR Executive Team and Board of Directors, providing advice and input on critical issue resolution and strategic/risk planning activities, presenting reports, providing recommendations for consideration and approval and identifying opportunities to leverage resources, collaborating on projects and initiatives and influencing outcomes.

• Manages relationships with cross-province partnership project scientists, mentoring team members, monitoring performance and project progress, resolving issues and managing expectations.

• Facilitates the work of Director CT in department staff planning activities, determining ideal department structure, staff complement and required skill mix and professional competencies to ensure quality services are provided and organizational strategies and initiatives are effectively implemented.

• Where appropriate, provides clinical advice, guidance and mentorship to internal and external OICR supported investigators.

• Facilitates the work of the Director CT in overseeing the management of department operations, monitoring budget adherence, identifying variances, providing input and tacit approval for the presentation of administrative and capital budgets to the OICR Executive within assigned limits, and the delivery of financial projections, reports and submissions.

• Oversees the management of assigned department operational, administrative and capital budgets, monitoring budget adherence, identifying variances, resolving issues, authorizing expenditures within assigned limits and ensuring the timely preparation and delivery of all required financial projections, reports and submissions.

• Other duties as may reasonably be assigned from time to time

Qualifications

• MD or MD/PhD in an oncology related field and/or an active Clinician-Scientist, practicing MD in oncology

• Experience as a clinician in the oncology field and in performing applicable clinical trial/health systems research

• Progressive research administration leadership experience at a senior/executive level

• Experience in serving on or co-leading translational research or clinical trial and oncology clinical management committees locally, nationally or internationally

• Strong leadership, management, interpersonal, coaching, conflict resolution and negotiation skills

• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills

• Strong understanding of clinical environment, medical procedures/terminology and health system processes and practices

• Ability to influence and persuade individuals at all levels within and outside the organization

• Ability to develop and manage stakeholder relationships, building consensus among a broad number of players with competing interests

For more information about OICR, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

POSTED DATE:         October 30, 2024
CLOSING DATE:        Until Filled

OICR is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we support an inclusive culture for all. We welcome all applicants, and encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to furthering a diversity of ideas within our community. OICR is committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience. Providing an accessible workplace and recruitment process is important to us, as described in our Accessibility Plan (https://oicr.on.ca/accessibility/).  Should you require accommodation during any stage in the recruitment process, please complete the form at the bottom of page https://oicr.on.ca/careers/. Information received related to accommodation will be handled confidentially.  

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The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research thanks all applicants. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.