Research Legal Operations & Intake Lead - Research Operations, Services and Support Office

Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system - a world where Mental Health is Health.

To learn more about CAMH, please visit their website at: www.camh.ca.

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As Canada’s largest mental health care provider, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health provides evidence to drive system and policy change through the implementation of innovations and novel service delivery interventions. The Research Operations, Services and Support (ROSS) Office is a central group within CAMH Research that provides administrative support to ensure that all research activities carried out at CAMH or by CAMH personnel, comply with funder, governmental or institutional policies and regulations. Research Legal Services (RLS) is a team within Legal Services that provides legal and risk advice on all research activities, including review of legal agreements, assessment of risks related to the conduct of research and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and best practices frameworks.

Position Description:
The Research Operations, Services and Support Office (ROSS) and Research Legal Services (RLS) is seeking a full-time, permanent Research Legal Operations & Intake Lead reporting to the Director, Grants, Philanthropic Awards and Contracts and the Director, Corporate Legal Services. This role is integral to both teams and works closely with scientists, research staff and members of ROSS and RLS. The role is responsible for supporting and overseeing the intake and triage processes for all research-related legal inquiries, facilitation and coordination of the institutional approval processes for any research-related legal agreements, providing strategic and operational leadership and project management expertise with respect to operational efficiency projects and special projects otherwise identified by ROSS and/or RLS, acting as a liaison between CAMH Scientists, Research Managers, and ROSS/RLS and managing a team of 1 direct report (Legal law clerk). The successful candidate will support a workplace that encourages teamwork, embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion, and complies with all applicable regulatory requirements.

In this role you will:

• Lead and oversee the intake, triage and routing of incoming research agreements, including the review of intake packages and assignment of agreements.
• Monitor workloads within each of the file managers’ portfolios and ensure the efficient delivery of research-related agreement intake/triage.
• Manage and supervise the Law Clerk and provide support, guidance and feedback.

• Act as the point of contact for with respect to: Triage/intake; background/context; Workflow; Status updates; Institutional approval.

• Maintain expert knowledge of funder and institution policies, updates and guidelines to ensure alignment.
• Facilitate and track approval processes of research agreements and ensure coordination between RLS and appropriate ROSS teams (e.g. Grants).
• Identify workflow, accountability gaps or required escalations between ROSS and RLS to reporting Directors
• Work collaboratively with members of the RLS and ROSS teams such as Grants, Research Finance, REB etc.
• Lead the execution of special projects with senior leadership to improve operations
• Report on special project activities, recommend improvements to project stewardship and provide advice and guidance as needed
• Plan and implement frameworks, tools, and resources to improve collaboration and alignment between within the RLS team and between ROSS and RLS
• Serve as subject matter expert to oversee the implementation of any new systems or processes for use by ROSS and RLS related to research legal operations.

This position will be located at both the College Street and Queen Street sites.

The Research Legal Operations & Intake Lead will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Health Sciences, Public Administration, Legal Studies, Business Administration, or related discipline) is required.
• A Master’s degree or advanced training in Research Administration, Health Law, Public Policy, or a related field is considered an asset.
• Certifications, such as the Mohawk College/Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) Certificate in Research Administration or Grant Professional Certification (GPC) offered by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), is an asset.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in research administration or contract management in an academic, healthcare, or research setting.
• Experience in a supervisory role (i.e. managing staff and/or project teams).
• Experience working with research agreements, funding guidelines, and legal review processes is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in a role requiring a high level of organizational skills, project coordination, project management and/or process improvement requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional projects and driving process improvement initiatives
• Strong knowledge of research grant compliance, ethics requirements, regulatory compliance and institutional research policies.
• Familiarity with legal terms and contract language commonly found in research agreements (e.g., data sharing, IP, confidentiality, indemnity) is an asset
• Experience with RFP processes is an asset
• Proven ability to navigate complex organizational structures and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders including legal counsel, scientists, research staff, and research administrators.
• High attention to detail, critical thinking, and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with demonstrated ability to lead initiatives and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of applications (e.g. outlook, word, powerpoint)
• Familiarity with mental health research and knowledge of relevant regulations and compliance standards is beneficial.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse programs and participants to maintain integrity and consistency.
• Ability to handle a high volume of diverse projects simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment
• Superior written and verbal communication skills to facilitate collaboration and maintain effective relationships.

Please note: This full-time, permanent position is NOT part of a bargaining unit.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary is competitive and based on experience, with a hiring range of $83,797.50 - $104,746.88 per year.
• Employees in this role may progress within the full pay range of $83,797.50 - $125,696.26 per year
• CAMH’s Total Rewards: Includes participation in HOOPP defined benefit pension plan, extended health and dental benefits, paid vacation starting at 4 weeks, flexible work arrangements, and ongoing professional development support.

This role allows professionals to apply their expertise in a mission-driven environment dedicated to public health outcomes.