Trust Administrators
Appendix D - Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement
The source of funding under a trust academic job family shall be university-restricted funds (e.g. grants, fellowships, directed funding, contingent funding, endowments) and fall into one of the following academic job families under this Appendix and Article 6.02:
Trust Administrator Family: A Trust Administrator is a full-time or part-time staff member whose duties are to provide leadership, strategic advice and direction; and is accountable for planning, negotiating, problem solving, risk assessment and prevention, and operational oversight of resources. These positions may include some research responsibilities. Staff members in this job family hold positions which range from Project Manager to Trust Unit Director. A Trust Administrator normally requires an academic degree or professional designation.
Duties/activities of a Trust Administrator 1 involve providing leadership for the day-to-day operations of research projects or a small centre or institute, which includes recruitment of staff and managing resources and processes.
Duties of a Trust Administrator 1 may include, but are not limited to:
- Overseeing the strategic planning process for the short- and long-term success of the project/centre/institute.
- Providing financial management including the oversight and control of research project funds to ensure optimum use of financial resources.
- Making decisions on the acquisition of resources and manages issues related to facility and space allocation.
- Providing human resources management, which may include the supervision of a small number of support staff, and liaising with centralized HR.
- Advising on the application of the university's policies and procedures, including research administration, contract management, risk management, etc.
- Building and maintaining relationships with external and internal networks and partners, including collaborators, funding agencies, suppliers, etc.
- Participating in the preparation and submission of grant applications and reports and ensuring timelines/deliverables are met.
- Overseeing communications/marketing activities.
When assessing the level of positions, the following elements are taken into consideration: the work described; the context in which the work is done; the organizational structure; and comparable positions on campus.
Duties/activities of a Trust Administrator 2 are of a similar nature to a Trust Administrator 1, however these positions have managerial accountability over larger-scale, complex research projects and/or mid-to-large sized centres or institutes. Some variables taken into consideration are: budget size; staff complement (number of staff, diversity of functions overseen); collaboration with other academic institutions, government, private industry, etc.; and level of accountability and decision-making.
Duties of a Trust Administrator 2 may include, but are not limited to:
- Developing comprehensive business plans and overseeing strategic planning for the short- and long-term success of the project/centre/institute.
- Providing financial management including the oversight and control of research project funds to ensure optimum use of financial resources.
- Making decisions on the acquisition of resources and manages issues related to facility and space allocation.
- Providing human resources management, including supervising staff, and liaises with centralized Human Resource Services (HRS).
- Advising on the application of the university's policies and procedures, including research administration, contract management, risk management, etc.
- Building and maintaining relationships with external and internal networks and partners, including collaborators, funding agencies, suppliers, etc.
- Identifying opportunities for fundraising, developing funding proposals, and secures funds for the project/centre/institute.
- Participating in the preparation and submission of grant applications and reports and ensures timelines/deliverables are met.
- Overseeing communications/marketing activities.
When assessing the level of positions, the following elements are taken into consideration: the work described; the context in which the work is done; the organizational structure; and comparable positions on campus.
Duties/activities of a Trust Administrator 3 are of a similar nature to Trust Administrators at levels 1 & 2, however, these positions are accountable for providing managerial leadership to ensure the short-and long-term success of a large, complex research program and/or large/multi-disciplinary centre or institute. This includes hiring staff and managing resources, and research activities. Trust Administrators at a Level 3 may report to a Board of Directors or Executive (i.e. Dean, Chair).
Duties of a Trust Administrator 3 may include, but are not limited to:
- Developing comprehensive business plans and overseeing strategic planning for the short- and long-term success of the program/centre/institute.
- Providing financial management including the oversight and control of research program funds to ensure optimum use of financial resources.
- Providing human resources management, including managing a diverse and complex staff complement, providing guidance to individual areas and integration of all areas to attain the goals of the research program; liaises with central HR.
- Implementing and ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures, including research administration, contract management, risk management, etc.
- Planning and overseeing the development of the research program, ensuring sound research approaches/techniques are utilized.
- Determining resources (fiscal and human) required for various research projects and allocating resources as required; making decisions on the acquisition of resources and managing issues related to facility and space allocation.
- Building and maintaining relationships with external and internal networks and partners, including collaborators, funding agencies, suppliers, etc.
- Identifying opportunities for fundraising, developing funding proposals, and secures funds for the program/centre/institute.
- Directing and coordinating the content of grant applications, scientific and financial reports and manuscripts and ensuring timelines/deliverables are met.
- Coordinating the activities of multiple, diverse stakeholders (i.e. other academic institutions, government, private industry).
- Developing and leading the implementation of communications and marketing strategies.
When assessing the level of positions, the following elements are taken into consideration: the work described; the context in which the work is done; the organizational structure; and comparable positions on campus.