Research Manager – Project Homeward Bound

Cape Breton University (CBU) is accepting applications for a Research Manager to join a transformative, multi-year research initiative titled Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotians. Funded by Research Nova Scotia, this 7-year initiative aims to support aging in the right place (AIRP) by improving the integration of healthcare, housing, and social supports in rural communities across Nova Scotia’s Eastern Health Zone.

This ambitious project brings together a multidisciplinary team spanning social work, architecture, nursing, medicine, computer science, economics, and policy, in partnership with communities, government, and academic institutions. Find out more here: www.homewardboundns.ca

About the Role

This position will be responsible for managing financial and other research operations of the Homeward Bound project, working closely with the Project Manager, Research Coordinator, and Research Leads.

The successful candidate will play a central leadership role in ensuring compliance with the project protocols and objectives and applying specialized knowledge to budget management, reporting, and forecasting. Depending on qualifications, the candidate may also support creation and compliance of the project’s data management plan and ethics applications/clearances across multiple institutions.

This is a full-time, reporting to the Co-Principal and working within a multidisciplinary team. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding and project needs.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations and Oversight

• Coordinate financial activities related to the grant.
• Develop budgets for the research project(s).
• Forecast lifespan of budget, identifying possible gaps and opportunities.
• Process expense claims.
• Monitor health of the budget.
• Support developing estimates of time, human, and financial resources needed to support the research plan.
• Document deviations from budget and communicate these to funder.
• Work closely with finance office to reconcile budgets.
• Prepare budget reports for internal and external partners.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Data Management & Governance

• Assist with the creation and implementation of the project’s data management plan.
• Laise with appropriate parties to communicate the data management plan.
• Update the data management plan as needed.
• Audit for compliance with the data management plan.
• Coordinate data sharing agreements across institutions as applicable.
• Maintain systems for de-identification, consent tracking, and secure storage.

Ethics

• Support the preparation and submission of research ethics applications and amendments across multiple institutions, both academic and in healthcare.
• Track ethics applications across multiple institutions.
• Keep records related to reporting needs to ethics offices.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Research Operations & Administrative Leadership

• Support coordination of interdisciplinary research activities across project teams, facilitating research meetings and check-ins as needed.
• Ensure research staff have the operational supports and tools required to carry out research activities effectively.
• Support reporting, documentation, and project tracking in collaboration with the Project Manager and Research Leads.

Required :

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large-scale budget.
• Demonstrated experience supporting team development, management, or workforce coordination.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including SharePoint and Microsoft Teams.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities in a large interdisciplinary research team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in a relevant
• Experience managing multi-million dollar and multi-year interdisciplinary research projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-oppressive, community-engaged, and equity-informed practices.
• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and interdisciplinary research.
• Experience and knowledge related to data management or a willingness to learn.
• Experience with multi-institutional research ethics applications.
• Experience with community-based and/or clinical research.

Applications for the successful candidate will include a:

• Complete resume / CV.
• Cover letter describing the expertise of the applicant.
• List of at least three references.

Please upload all required documents to Additional Documents if no designated area is listed. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Salary Range: $80,000 – $90,000 annually

Click here to apply.  Applications must be received by 11:00PM on September 25, 2026.

Cape Breton University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff, our faculty and its scholarship including, but not limited to, women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply but applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

CBU is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and applicants are encouraged to self-identity if they are part of a marginalized community or have experience working with Indigenous communities.

If we contact you for an interview and you are a person with a disability who requires technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance.

Cape Breton University

Human Resources Dept.

HumanResources@cbu.ca

1250 Grand Lake Road,

Sydney, NS B1M 1A2