Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is seeking a Scientific Director for the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA), one of CIHR’s 13 health research Institutes.
Scientific Directors (SDs) of CIHR Institutes are leaders in their respective fields who champion and support health research, knowledge mobilization, and capacity development at the highest level of scientific excellence. As key representatives of CIHR, they provide scientific leadership and advice, shaping CIHR’s health research priorities and investment strategies with the goal of improving the health of people in Canada and around the world. This role provides an unparalleled opportunity to mentor and train the next generation of health researchers, advocate for researchers, people with lived experience and other partner communities and give back to the health research ecosystem.
Learn more about the role of the Scientific Director.
Intent of the process
The intent of this process is to fill one SD position for a four-year term, beginning July 1, 2025. There is the possibility of re-appointment for a subsequent four-year term, with a maximum mandate length of eight years in total.
CIHR promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate if they belong to one of the designated groups when they apply: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), racialized, a person with a disability, women, and/or a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
About CIHR
CIHR is Canada's federal health research funding agency. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR collaborates with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system. As a member of the federal government’s Health Portfolio, CIHR reports to Parliament through the Minister of Health.
CIHR's Strategic Plan 2021-2031: A Vision for a Healthier Future sets out a path to ensuring that Canadian health research is internationally recognized as inclusive, collaborative, transparent, culturally safe, and focused on real-world impact. CIHR is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), accessibility, anti-ableism, and anti-racism across all aspects of its business. Additionally, CIHR embraces a distinctions-based and culturally safe approach, incorporating Indigenous Ways of Knowing, by listening attentively to and working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples to further strengthen Indigenous health research in Canada.
About CIHR-INMHA
The mandate of CIHR-INMHA is to support research that enhances knowledge of the brain – mental health, neurological health, vision, hearing and cognitive functioning - and reduces the burden of related disorders through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation.
In collaboration with other CIHR Institutes and partners, CIHR-INMHA develops funding opportunities that support the research community in addressing important health needs within the diverse CIHR-INMHA mandate areas.
CIHR-INMHA supports the research community through training workshops, recognizing excellence in research achievements, sharing research evidence with partners, strengthening Indigenous health research, and fostering EDI in all activities.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting directly to the CIHR President, and working with CIHR's executive team, staff, and other partners, the Scientific Director of CIHR-INMHA will provide overall executive direction and scientific leadership for CIHR-INMHA. The successful candidate will contribute across a breadth of areas:
Institute Mandate
- develop a research priority plan that outlines the strategic research priorities for the Institute;
- support innovative and impactful research related to neurosciences, mental health, and addiction research across all health research pillars;
- maintain an active presence, scientific standing, and engagement in/with the health research community through attendance at, and contributions to, workshops, conferences, scientific fora, and other related activities, at the national and international level;
- support capacity development of trainees, early- and mid-career investigators, as well as in emerging areas of expertise to develop and strengthen health research capacity in CIHR-INMHA mandate areas;
- oversee the Institute Advisory Board (IAB) and seek advice from the IAB to set the strategic agenda and direction of the Institute;
- provide analysis and advice on Canada's research needs, gaps, and opportunities in the CIHR-INMHA mandate area;
- play an important convener role with partners, nationally and internationally, that contribute to the leadership of Canada in the areas of neurosciences, mental health, and addiction health research.
CIHR Mandate
- prioritize the mobilization of new and existing knowledge to inform health practices and policies, and improve the health literacy of Canadians;
- contribute to the development of CIHR-wide science policies and research strategies;
- advise on the development of, and investment in, cross-cutting strategic initiatives;
- foster partnerships amongst researchers, people with lived and living experience, knowledge users, practitioners, community-based organizations, decision makers, other funders, and government organizations as well as other CIHR Institutes to sustain inter- and transdisciplinary inter-sectoral research initiatives and explore opportunities to develop new ones.
CIHR Strategic Plan
- contribute to achieving the strategic objectives of CIHR as contained in CIHR's Strategic Plan;
- advance CIHR's commitment to eliminating systemic ableism in Canada's health research funding system and ensure the application of accessible and anti-ableist practices;
- advance CIHR's commitment to addressing systemic racism in Canada's health research funding system and ensure the application of anti-racist principles; and
- support the implementation of CIHR's Indigenous Health Research Action Plan, embody the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission [ PDF (298 KB) - external link ] and at all opportunities, seek to promote the inclusion of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and learning in the culture and programs of CIHR.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenous Rights
- embed an EDI lens into all areas, including decision-making, engagements, and initiative development;
- strengthen Indigenous health research within the Institute mandate areas;
- foster and promote a culturally safe and inclusive environment; maintain awareness of evolving best practices of EDI, accessibility, anti-ableism, anti-colonialism, and anti-racism.
Key Qualifications
Degree and position
- have a PhD and/or MD degree with an equivalent advanced degree in a discipline relevant to the CIHR-INMHA mandate areas;
- hold an academic position at, or be affiliated with, a CIHR eligible institution.
Leadership
- have a demonstrated track record of effective leadership, including of interdisciplinary teams in various domains (research, administration, etc.) and mentoring diverse trainees and students to support capacity-building;
- demonstrate a clear scientific and strategic vision, including continuity for the Institute and its role within CIHR, and an in-depth understanding of the relative strengths, gaps and opportunities in fields related to the CIHR-INMHA mandate areas;
- have a demonstrated track record of research accomplishments (e.g., research publications, guidelines, datasets, standards, influence on policy and practice, knowledge mobilization, etc.) at both the national and international level in the field of neurosciences, mental health, and addiction health research;
- be a strong advocate for health research across all four CIHR research pillars;
- demonstrate a thorough understanding of the value of engaging with partners and key stakeholders in neurosciences, mental health, and addiction health research.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous Rights
- have a strong commitment to integrate best practices in EDI and Indigenous health research, accessibility, anti-ableism, anti-colonialism, and anti-racism into all aspects of the work environment;
- understand the breadth of neurosciences, mental health and addiction health research landscape and work to ensure all areas and their constituent communities are adequately represented;
- be an excellent and culturally competent communicator, facilitator, and convener, able to listen and build relationships with broad and diverse partners and stakeholders.
Management
- be able to undertake planning and prioritization processes in the face of limited resources;
- demonstrate an understanding of human and financial resources management.
Proficiency in both official languages would be an asset.
How to Apply
CIHR invites applications from all qualified candidates. Please submit the following information to SDrecruitment-recrutementDS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca by September 16, 2024:
- CV;
- Cover letter; and
- Three (3) references (include name, relationship, and email address)
Persons are entitled to participate in the application process in the official language of their choice. Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their email application.
Accommodation
Measures for accommodation are available to all candidates retained for further assessment. If you require accommodation(s), please contact SDrecruitment-recrutementDS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
If you have any questions regarding this job opportunity, please contact SDrecruitment-recrutementDS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
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