Project Co-ordinator– Making Ontario Buildings Smart
Department: Making Ontario Buildings Smart Program
Position supervisor: Jenn Mc Arthur, Project Lead
Contract length: 2 years (renewable up to Jun 2029)
Hours of work per week: 18 (part-time)
Start Date: September 15, 2024
Position type: Project and stakeholder coordination
Rate of pay: $40,000 annual including salary in lieu of benefits.
Location: Toronto, Canada (hybrid, 2 days/week on-site)
About Toronto Metropolitan University
At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do. TMU welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and in every unit of the university. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from members of equity deserving groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada, First Nations Peoples in the United States, racialized people, Black people, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. Preference will be given to candidates with lived experiences as people from equity deserving groups, as well as experience working with these communities with which the University works every day. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and we welcome newcomers and immigrants to Canada. In April 2022, the university announced its new name of Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn more about our next chapter.
Making Ontario Buildings Smart The Making Ontario Buildings Smart (MOBu S) program is centred around a large, multi-partner consortium, consisting of 12 faculty from four (4) institutions with 21 private-sector and one (1) government partner to reduce resistance to smart building adoption. The objectives of MOBu S are to:
● Reduce the technical barriers to adoption by developing novel solutions to make key smart building technologies easily consumable by operators who are not skilled in information technology and supporting the commercialization of these technologies by Ontario companies;
● Reduce commercial barriers to adoption by both improving the ROI for smart building conversion and communicating these clearly to the market through costed case studies;
● Reduce market confusion by aligning standardization efforts to provide unified market direction regarding Smart Building implementation and supporting this with an industry-friendly document that helps owners navigate the ‘what’, ‘why’, and ‘how’ of Smart Building implementation, including operator training, data privacy and cybersecurity best practices, a benchmarking tool, and clear roadmap to implementation; and,
● Scale the impact of this initiative across Ontario and beyond through policy.
This grant is an applied R&D-focused project with a strong focus on commercialization and field studies to develop, test, and validate new technology solutions. These objectives will be achieved by a series of coordinated sub-projects across four pillars of research enabling the ‘how’ of smart buildings, developing solutions to improve buildings for people (comfort and functionality) and the planet (decarbonization), and market research to support the development and commercialization of new technology solutions. The consortium was initially established in July 2019 and has received significant new funding for sub-projects from July 2024 through June 2029.
The Opportunity
The Project Co-ordinator will provide effective co-ordination and overall project management support for the OFR-RE program; ensure creation and implementation of administrative, operational and financial procedures, processes, and controls to facilitate smooth and efficient research; engage with the private sector partners (PSPs) and end-users; coordinate and attend Governance meetings and other activities of the program. Additionally, the project manager will be involved with the development of a sustainability plan inclusive of the development of partnerships and stakeholders.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: Administrative and Operational Management:
● Develop and implement administrative procedures and controls in accordance with University policies and the MOBu S governance structure.
● Research and create policies and guidelines for efficient research subproject management.
● Collaborate with university and PSP stakeholders to interpret policies, resolve issues, and ensure compliance.
● Plan and organize meetings and events, managing logistics and securing related services and vendor contracts.
● Distribute and delegate incoming communication, assess information, and collaborate with Project Lead for issue resolution.
● Liaise with Funding Program staff and others in the Office of the Vice-President of Research and Innovation Office.
Financial Management:
● Have proficiency with university financial systems to ensure compliance with reporting and university regulations.
● Provide oversight and control of program financials.
● Support Project Lead in coordinating distribution of funds to subprojects at collaborating institutions.
● Ensure compliance with university and regulatory financial policies.
● Coordinate the preparation of periodic financial reports and collaborate with central Financial Services to resolve financial issues.
Other :
● Perform additional duties as required for program success. Qualifications To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications:
● Successful completion of a post-secondary degree program. Graduate degree is preferred;
● Formal training in project management is considered an asset.
● Minimum of two (2) years of project management and administration experience in a multi-stakeholder context, including budgeting, accounting, set up, and administration of sub-projects. Experience with research grants is preferred;
● Experience engaging and coordinating a diversity of project stakeholders, including government, industry, and academic partners is preferred;
● Excellent organizational and administrative skills and attention to detail;
● Demonstrated interpersonal skills and commitment to client services required to develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholders, with a demonstrated commitment to fostering Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) in all activities;
● Effective oral communication, project reporting, and writing skills. Ability to facilitate client and team meetings.
● Excellent financial and basic accounting skills, including the ability to review and synthesize budget proposals from multiple sources and monitor relevant research and contract accounts;
● Strong analytical, problem solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills required to resolve issues;
● Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exercise sound judgment;
● Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel), Google Workspace (Docs, Spreadsheet, Email, Calendar, Drive), Financial Management Systems, automated accounting and budgeting systems;
● Strong time management skills and the ability to effectively prioritize and meet multiple conflicting deadlines;
● Demonstrated ability to work independently and as an effective team-member.
How to apply
Please email your application to Jenn Mc Arthur at jennifer.mcarthur@torontomu.ca.
Applications should be submitted in screen readable PDF or Word formats. In the subject line of the email please include: MOBu S Project Co-ordinator.
Applications should include:
● A letter of application that describes the focus of your work to date, including an articulation of how you are situated in relation to project management, research activities, customer service, regional engagement, financial budget administration, smart building technologies, and your motivation to join the MOBu S team (letter of application max. 2 pages);
● A curriculum vitae; and
● Names and contact details of 2 individuals who may be contacted for references.
Please send any inquiries about the position via email to: Jenn Mc Arthur, MOBu S Project Lead (jennifer.mcarthur@torontomu.ca). We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only candidates who are invited for an interview will be contacted.
Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months
Pay: $40,000.00 per year
Expected hours: 18 per week
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON M5B 2K3