Career Opportunities

Associate Dean, Research and Grant Development [Internal Search]

Arts, Dean's Office

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples, the Faculty of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University [www.torontomu.ca] (formerly Ryerson University) invites applications for the position of Associate Dean, Research and Grant Development. The successful candidate will be appointed for a five-year term commencing January 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal of up to one additional five-year term. 

During the term of appointment as Associate Dean, the incumbent shall be an “associate member” of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association [TFA] in accordance with the TFA Collective Agreement. The processes related to the recruitment and selection of the successful candidate for the Associate Dean position are governed by the Appointment of Academic Administrators Policy and Procedures (the “AAA Policy”). Consistent with other senior university appointments, the successful candidate will receive an administrative stipend for the period of appointment as Associate Dean. 

In recognition of the under-representation of members of equity-deserving groups in academic leadership, applications from those who self-identify as one or more of the following groups are particularly encouraged: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. 

The Associate Dean, Research and Grant Development leads the Faculty of Arts’ strategy to advance research, scholarly, and creative (SRC) activity, with a focus on research impact, grant development, and internal and external funding. Guided by TMU’s Academic Plan (2025–30), Strategic Research Plan (2025–30), and the Faculty of Arts Action Plan (2025–30), the Associate Dean works closely with the Dean, Associate Deans, and other academic leaders to foster a vibrant and inclusive research culture that supports faculty, students, and collaborative initiatives.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Research Strategy & Capacity Building – Develop and implement Faculty-wide research strategies, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, nurture diverse and inclusive research, and support equity-deserving scholars.
• Grant Development & Facilitation – Oversee support for grant proposal and research partnership development, facilitate research spending and administration, manage and allocate internal research funds and initiate major research award nominations.
• Research Infrastructure & Compliance – Build research support infrastructure and ensure policy and ethics compliance, both within the Faculty of Arts and in collaboration with relevant TMU administrative units (Research Services, Financial Services).
• Knowledge Mobilization & Partnerships – Lead strategies to amplify research reach, promote Arts research and researchers in internal and external media, and build strategic partnerships for knowledge mobilization.
• Budget & Resource Planning – Participate in budget setting; advocate for resources; monitor financial allocations within the research and grant administration portfolio.
• HR & Administrative Leadership – Supervise staff; provide onboarding, training, and performance oversight; represent the Dean as required.

The successful candidate will be a tenured faculty member who holds a terminal degree in the humanities or social sciences and demonstrates excellence in teaching, SRC and service activities. They will further present evidence of: 

• Visionary, empathetic, and collaborative leadership with superior organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills;
• Experience managing  a large and complex portfolio of grant administrative and research-related responsibilities;
• Strong knowledge of SRC practices, funding processes, and operational issues within a university context, particularly in social sciences and humanities disciplines;
• Demonstrated success in fostering research capacity, grant development, and interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse scholarly and creative fields;
• Ability to identify and advocate for institutional and systemic changes that strengthen research infrastructure and processes (e.g., research ethics, finance, and grant administration);
• Sensitivity to the differing research needs of scholars across disciplines within the Faculty, and the ability to support inclusive and equitable research practices;
• Strong commitment to excellence in research training and the professional development of faculty and students.
   

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking on “Start Application Process” to begin. 

Applications, consisting of the following, must be received by October 30, 2025: 

• A cover letter and curriculum vitae 
• A statement on commitment to EDIA

Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity may be directed to Dr. Amy Peng, Dean, Faculty of Arts.

For any confidential accommodation needs in order to participate in the recruitment and selection process and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Recruitment Portal, please contact vpfa@torontomu.ca.