Manager, Academic Engagement

Employment Status:

Time Type:

BUILDING A WORLD CLASS TEAM STARTS WITH YOU

At the heart of CSA Group is a vision: making the world a better, safer, more sustainable place. It's been part of our mission for nearly one hundred years: from the first engineering standard for railway bridges developed in 1919, to more than 3,500 standards, codes & related products today.

Headquartered in Canada, with a global footprint of more than 30 labs and offices across Europe, Asia and North America, CSA Group tests, inspects and certifies a wide range of products - from every day househould items to leading edge technology-to meet exacting requirements for safety, performance and environmental impact.

Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We're looking for people like you to help make it happen.

Job Summary:

Primary Function

The Manager, Academic Engagement will be responsible for growing and strengthening academic engagement (post-secondary) within the CSA Research and Education programs. Playing a vital role in developing strategic partnerships with research facilities, academic institutions, and faculty members, they will grow the academic teaching and research network, the integration of standards literacy and training into the academic curriculum, and the integration of standards into large, collaborative research projects. This role will work with CSA staff and committees to identify current research and training needs as well as emerging trends and technologies and build meaningful academic collaborations including collaborative funding proposals that will help support these needs. They will perform outreach at multiple levels of colleges and universities including the Office of Research, innovation programs, faculty and department levels, enhancing the awareness and reputation of CSA's research and education programs, assessing emerging trends in research and education and identifying opportunities for collaboration, standards development and education development. This role will manage and support the development, launch, maintenance and promotion of standards literacy modules and promote the standards research scholarship program.

Working Relationships

• Reports to the VP, Research and Education
• Works with CSA standards staff and management (i.e., Research Managers, Project Managers, Education Product Managers and Senior Managers, Strategic Initiatives Managers, Program Managers (PGMs), Directors)
• Develops collaborative working relationships with corporate functions (Finance, Legal, Marketing) and external parties (members, academia, research institutions)

Dimensions

• No direct reports
• Peer relationship with Standards Research Managers
• Accountable for the operation and promotion of the research scholarship programs
• Accountable for the development, maintenance and promotion of the standards literacy content
• Responsible for engaging with academic collaborators to promote uptake of the research scholarship program, support of scholarship recipients and their supervisors, promote the use of standards literacy modules, identification and development of research and education collaboration opportunities

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Understanding the Business

• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of scientific research methods and identifies opportunities for collaboration where research activities can help support and advance standards development.
• Understands the academic environment from both research and education perspectives, how standards complement academic activities, ability to relate to senior leadership, faculty members and students alike.
• Assist with identifying and developing strategic research opportunities to support emerging areas in standards development. Establishes collaborations to support the growth of these strategic opportunities.
• Understands the research funding environment and how to identify opportunities for external funding (e.g., government, industry, academic), identifies and jointly secures external research funds as appropriate.

Working Well with Others

• Communicates in a clear manner, with an appropriate level of detail for the situation (oral and written) and the audience including external parties, peers, supervisors and senior leadership.
• Reviews the work of others, as required, including students, external collaborators, team members and peers, providing actionable feedback and guidance.
• Supports all team members in resolving project delivery issues and maintains a continuous focus on key project risks.
• Provides guidance to an optimal solution/outcome to support learning and comprehension, as required.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships within CSA Group and with internal and external parties.
• Maintains excellent external relationships through appropriate communication channels, provides proactive solutions for key parties.

Delivering Results

• Identifies and performs outreach to existing and potential academic research partners across Canada, assist with developing strategic collaborations that foster the mobilization of knowledge between research and standards development.
• Engages in ongoing outreach with CSA staff and committees to identify and select research topics, identify knowledge gaps and needs, and uses this information to optimize academic collaboration opportunities.
• Identifies external research funds (i.e., government and industry) that complement CSA Group research and education activities and leverages these opportunities as needed.
• Supports in developing grant and other funding proposals with academic institutions to support research and education activities.
• Identifies standards literacy training needs in academia, leads the development, launch and promotion of these materials in post-secondary institutions.
• Promotes and supports the research scholarship program including support for applicants, student recipients and their supervisors.
• Plans and manages approved standards literacy and research scholarship budget, collaborative research project budgets.
• Develops and manages work plan for collaborative academic research projects, standards literacy content development and maintenance.
• Ensure progress of work plans.
• Communicates progress and achievements of research collaborations, scholarships and academic engagement activities through internal channels and via corporate media channels and presentations to external audiences.
• Performs outreach to identify collaborative standards education opportunities, working with Education Product Managers to validate opportunities.

Concern for Safety

• Carry out responsibilities in a safe manner, whether in the office or travelling on business.
• Complete safety-related company training courses as assigned and on time.
• Immediately reports hazards, near misses, incidents, observed unsafe acts and conditions and encourages team to do the same.
• Participates in corrective action process and resolves audit related actions.

Work Environment

• Office work environment
• Business travel up to 25% per year for company/regional meetings, conferences, etc.,
• Carrying of portable computer when travelling
• Extended periods of sitting during regular performance of job duties
• Work in matrix organization

Preferred Education & Experience

• Graduate degree. A Ph.D. is preferred.
• 5 years of relevant experience in an academic research environment.
• Experience in conducting joint projects with academic or private partners.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills and ability to prepare clear concise reports, correspondence and submissions.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of funding and research opportunities.
• Expertise in the preparation of complex applications and proposals.
• Ability to self-manage, influence others without direct reporting authority, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Proven ability to lead by influence.
• Experience with delivering formal presentations to senior level management and large audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, discretion and diplomacy.
• Professional and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a wide range of individuals and interested parties.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven relationship-building abilities.
• Applicants with proficiency in French will be given special consideration.

#CSAstandards

CSA Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on any grounds stipulated by applicable laws. We are an organization where opportunities are based on skills and abilities, and differences are respected and valued. Please contact us at human.resources@csagroup.org if you require accommodation in the interview process.