Research Officer, International Relations

Date Posted: 06/07/2023

Req ID: 31811

Faculty/Division: VP - International

Department: Ofc. of the Vice President International

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number: 00050862

Description:

About us:

Internationalization is a significant priority for the University of Toronto as part of our overall academic mission. The Office of the Vice-President, International (OVPI) engages with institutions in regions, countries and cities of strategic priority and leverages international opportunities for research, scholarship, learning and mobility. By providing leadership on international initiatives, the Office develops and maintains key international partnerships.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Director, International Relations, the Research Officer, International Relations provides strategic research and analysis of a wide range of international issues/trends in higher education, country and institutional-specific research. The incumbent focuses on the University of Toronto’s international profile and international linkages, providing marketing and communication materials to audiences within the University and to outside partners; conducts thorough reviews and analyses of international partnerships as they relate to the University’s provincial and federal government priorities, in support of the development and implementation of the University of Toronto’s international strategy and partnerships. The incumbent is also responsible for providing logistical support for incoming and outgoing delegations, with an understanding of protocols, greets and accompanies members of incoming delegations.

The incumbent is expected to develop a specialized and detailed understanding in international higher education trends, funding opportunities for international collaboration and mobility schemes, and maintain the University of Toronto’s international profile. The incumbent independently liaises with counterparts and divisional representatives/faculty across three campuses, as well as all relevant international offices, to understand and consolidate international activities related to the University. The Regional Lead must exercise considerable interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy in building and maintaining relationships across the institution. The incumbent will assist with projects on a wide variety of issues and topics related to the international priorities.

The incumbent is responsible for five main areas:

1. Compiling and assessing for relevance information on University of Toronto’s links with key countries and regions in order to put together content for material for outreach, briefing materials, identify corporate and other funding opportunities, develop country profiles and news items for internal and external audiences;

2. Research on, and analysis and monitoring of, developments in the international arena related to higher education, strategic partners and countries and research support of international dignitaries and delegations;

3. Support the development of region-specific strategies in collaboration with university faculty, colleagues, regional advisory councils within the university;

4. Contributing to strong partnership development in region, collaboration with academic partners including through development and management of joint-funding competitions, joint workshops and joint programs; support for corporate, NGO and government partnerships;

5. Assisting with special projects on a wide range of topics. In addition, the incumbent will assist in the development of international institutional agreements and divisional agreements as needed.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting detailed data analysis to inform management decision making regarding the Americas and other regions.

• Implementing and executing qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

• Synthesizing technical, qualitative and contextual research information and developing summary reports

• Liaising between departments.

• Developing and maintaining relationships with contacts whose cooperation is important to the University.

• Assessing needs and contributing to the planning of research goals. Assessing and selecting methods of data collection and analysis for research projects.

• Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting.

• Serving as a resource to others by providing (non-supervisory) job-related guidance.

Essential Qualifications:

• Regional knowledge and experience in the Americas, which includes Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States of America, and

• Master's Degree or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience.

• Minimum five years of related, relevant experience in a similar role within an academic environment and/or government; communications, event and project coordination experience required; demonstrated success in providing high level support to senior administrators; Experience in supporting high level delegations and knowledge of protocol required.

• Strong analytical skills: the ability to do independent research, conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis, and formulate recommendations;

• Must have excellent research skills with a focus on web based research and statistical analysis;

• High degree of accuracy required; detailed orientated individual;

• Excellent communication skills including strong writing skills and ability to concisely summarize qualitative and quantitative information;

• Excellent skills in office IT systems, especially Word, Excel, and power point;

• Experience with Word Press or similar software experience with database management;

• Experience with of bibliometric tools such as web of science and scopus;

• Experience with SharePoint an asset.

• An effective interpersonal style: the ability to interact with a wide range of people;

• Knowledge and interest in higher education, U of T’ s mission, and international affairs;

• The flexibility and judgment to handle fluid situations and shifting priorities and tight deadlines;

• Strong self-motivation, with the demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team;

• High degree of political acuity and judgment;

• A general understanding of the organizational structure and governance of the University and the division of responsibilities between the various bodies by which the University is governed;

• A general understanding of the external context in which the University operates;

• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrate strong service orientation in dealing with people along with knowledge of and sensitivity to various customs and protocols. Must have sound judgement, tact, problem-solving skills, and an ability to handle confidential information and maintain confidentiality;

• Ability to deal with senior administrators in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building; ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative, discretion, and tact; ability to work under pressure; superior organizational skills in planning, and project and task coordination;

• Considerable interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy required must be flexible and willing to respond to the given priorities of the day and be willing to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a challenging and dynamic environment;

Assets (Nonessential):

• Experience of living in a foreign country and facility in one or more foreign languages, particularly Spanish or Portuguese, is an asset; knowledge of the University of Toronto is an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable

• Organized

• Problem solver

• Self-motivated

Closing Date: 06/16/2023, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 13 -- $76,284 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $97,556. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Recruiter: Blythe Campbell

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.