Vice President, Research

About Cancercare Manitoba

CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) is the provincial cancer authority responsible for setting strategic priorities and long-term planning for cancer and blood disorders. CCMB provides prevention, early detection, multidisciplinary treatment, and supportive to end-of-life care for both children and adults. The organization also oversees radiation protection across Manitoba.

Through the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba, CCMB conducts research on all aspects of cancer and blood disorders, including studies aimed at improving patient care and experience.

CancerCare Manitoba relies on the ongoing support of Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care and its close working relationships with regional health authorities to deliver quality cancer services to Manitobans. The financial assistance provided by the donations of Manitobans to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is vital to undertaking research and providing quality care to Manitobans.

The organization’s multidisciplinary approach to patient care attracts experts in medical, radiation, and surgical oncology, hematology, the best and brightest scientists, passionate nursing staff, and other dedicated healthcare professionals.

CCMB operates five sites in Winnipeg, with the main location at 675 McDermot Avenue offering systemic and radiation therapy, patient support services, and housing the Research Institute. In partnership with Prairie Mountain Health, the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon provides radiation and systemic therapy, along with patient support services for residents of western Manitoba.

Five locations in Winnipeg and one location in Brandon | 1100+ team members | $340 million operating budget

Vision

Leading the way in cancer control

Mission

Reduce the risk and impact of cancer for all people of Manitoba through world class cancer control, research, and education

VALUES

Respect for People

Dignity, fairness, openness, equity, collaboration, co- operation, sensitivity to cultural diversity and identity, compassion

Integrity

Honesty, objectivity, reliability, responsibility, fidelity, transparency

Stewardship

Prudence, sensitivity to risks, opportunities and sustainability of human and material resources and the natural and built environment, accountability

Excellence

Timeliness, efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, diligence, creativity, initiative

About The Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute Cancercare Manitoba

The Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba (the 'Institute') is embedded within CCMB and is dedicated to advancing research and innovation across cancer and blood disorders. Its work is closely connected to Manitoba’s cancer system and is informed by the real-world questions faced by patients, families, clinicians, and researchers.

The Institute builds on a long research history that began in 1969 through the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, a joint initiative with the University of Manitoba. It has evolved into a multidisciplinary research institute encompassing basic science, preclinical and translational research, clinical trials, health services research, health care informatics, epidemiology, and psychosocial oncology research.

Today, the Institute brings together clinicians, scientists, technicians, research nurses, trainees, bioinformaticians, and other specialized professionals to translate discoveries into better patient and population outcomes. It is supported through a long-standing partnership with the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, which funds operational support, research platforms, equipment, education, and training.

In May 2023, the Institute was renamed to recognize a transformative $27 million gift from the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation. This generous gift has allowed CCMB to undertake a major renovation of the research labs currently underway and is expected to be completed in December 2027. The Institute’s platforms and resources include areas such as the Manitoba Tumour Bank, the Manitoba Cancer Registry, genomics and bioinformatics, cancer modelling and imaging, clinical informatics, and quantitative imaging, phenotyping and sorting.

The Institute organizes its scientific investigation, staffing, resources and investment across three interrelated research disciplines. Together, these disciplines span the full breadth of cancer and blood disorder research, with the patient at the center of every effort.

Research Discipline & Focus

Basic and Translational Research:

Understanding how cancer and blood disorders work at a fundamental level and translating those discoveries into new approaches to prevent, detect and treat disease.

Clinical Research:

Advancing new and better ways to prevent, find and treat cancer through clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies, including areas such as hematology, radiation oncology and patient experience.

Health Services Research:

Examining the structure, processes and effects of health care services and systems - including accessibility, quality, delivery, cost and patient outcomes - to optimize care delivery.

About The Vice President, Research

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President, Research is a member of CCMB’s executive leadership team and provides enterprise-level leadership for the research mandate of CancerCare Manitoba and the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba. The role is responsible for advancing the Institute’s research vision, shaping a focused and distinctive research identity, and ensuring that research is integrated with CCMB’s broader mandate for cancer control, care, education, and innovation.

The Vice President, Research, working with the CCMB executive team, will lead the Institute through continued growth and transformation, building on a strong foundation of scientific credibility, clinical connectivity, philanthropic support, and provincial responsibility for cancer and blood disorder research. The position requires a leader who can strengthen multidisciplinary research programs, grow research platforms and partnerships, support clinical and translational research, and position the Institute for increased local, national, and international impact.

As the senior research leader, the Vice President will provide strategic and operational oversight for research administration, research operations, scientific programs, research platforms, and affiliated scientists. The role will foster a high-performance research environment grounded in scientific integrity, collaboration, innovation, mentorship, accountability, and alignment with patient and population needs.

The Vice President will also serve as an ambassador for CCMB’s research mission, working closely with the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, the University of Manitoba, Shared Health Manitoba, regional health authorities, research partners, funders, community stakeholders, and patient and family voices. The successful candidate is expected to hold, or be eligible to hold, an academic appointment with the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. Depending on background and interests, the Vice President may also maintain an active research program and/or clinical practice where aligned with organizational priorities and appropriately resourced.

Key Leadership Accountabilities

Accountability 1: Research Strategy, Vision and Planning

• Lead the development and implementation of a clear, practical and forward-looking research strategy that supports CCMB’s mission, Roadmap to Cancer Control for Manitoba and CCMB’s Research Strategic Plan (2025).


• Define research priorities and areas of distinctiveness that build critical mass, improve patient and population outcomes, and enhance the Institute’s profile and impact.


• Translate CCMB’s strategic directions into research portfolio priorities, operational plans, performance measures and resourcing strategies.


• Strengthen governance, decision-making and planning processes for research programs, platforms and partnerships.


• Anticipate emerging scientific, clinical, technological, funding and policy trends that may affect research opportunities, risk, sustainability and impact.

Accountability 2: Research Operations, Financial and People Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of research operations, administration, infrastructure, laboratories, platforms, policies, budgets and performance management.


• Lead a progressive talent strategy to recruit, retain, develop and support scientists, clinician-scientists, research personnel, trainees, administrators and other highly qualified personnel.


• Ensure research operations are supported by strong processes for compliance, risk management, ethics, regulatory requirements, reporting and resource stewardship.


• Develop business cases and implementation plans for new or expanded research initiatives, platforms, personnel and infrastructure.


• Create a culture of psychological safety, mutual respect, mentorship, accountability, collaboration and high performance.

Accountability 3: Scientific Excellence, Integrity and Knowledge Translation

• Promote research excellence across basic and translational research, clinical research, health services research, population-based research and emerging areas of cancer innovation.


• Champion rigorous scientific standards, research integrity, peer review, data quality and responsible conduct of research.


• Support the translation of research evidence into better care, improved patient experience, enhanced system performance and population-level outcomes.


• Advance clinical trials, investigator-initiated research, implementation science and other initiatives that strengthen the connection between research and care.


• Mentor and support researchers and trainees to grow research productivity, funding success, publications, collaborations and impact.

Accountability 4: Partnerships, Funding and External Profile

• Build and sustain strong partnerships with the University of Manitoba, Shared Health, regional health authorities, national and international research bodies, industry, government, funders, donors and community partners.


• Work closely with the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation to support fundraising, donor engagement, public awareness and the growth of research investment.


• Represent CCMB and the Institute in provincial, national and international forums, strengthening the Institute’s reputation and influence.


• Identify and pursue opportunities to increase grant funding, philanthropic investment, research agreements, collaborations and shared infrastructure.


• Communicate the value and impact of research in a clear and compelling way to boards, funders, partners, staff, patients, families and the public.

Accountability 5: Equity, Indigenous Engagement and Culturally Responsive Research

• Embed equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, cultural safety and trauma-informed principles into research strategy, culture, partnerships and decision-making.


• Support research approaches that are responsive to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and underserved populations across Manitoba.


• Promote inclusive engagement processes that involve patients, families, communities and knowledge users in research planning and priority-setting.


• Advance research practices aligned with Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous self-determination, and respectful partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations.


• Ensure research priorities reflect the needs of diverse communities and contribute to reducing inequities in cancer outcomes.

Accountability 6: Research Platforms, Data and Innovation

• Lead strategic investment in research platforms, technology, data assets and infrastructure that enable discovery, collaboration and precision approaches to cancer care.


• Support the responsible use of clinical informatics, genomics, bioinformatics, imaging, tumour banking, registries, artificial intelligence and other emerging tools.


• Ensure research platforms are accessible, sustainable, high quality and aligned with CCMB’s strategic and scientific priorities.


• Foster collaboration between research, clinical programs, system performance, information systems and other enabling functions.


• Encourage innovative models that accelerate discovery, improve care and strengthen Manitoba’s role in cancer research.

Accountability 7: Executive Leadership and Cancer Services Integration

• Contribute as a collaborative member of CCMB’s executive team, bringing a research lens to organization-wide strategy, policy, performance, risk and system planning.


• Champion the integration of research, clinical care, education and quality improvement across disciplines and across the cancer control continuum.


• Support interprofessional structures that encourage inquiry, evidence-informed practice and continuous improvement.


• Work with clinical and operational leaders to identify research opportunities that address real system needs and improve outcomes for Manitobans.


• Provide credible advice to the President and CEO, Board, advisory bodies, partners and stakeholders on research strategy, priorities and performance.

Education And Experience Requirements

The Vice President, Research role requires a highly credible research leader with the scientific depth, executive presence, operational discipline and partnership orientation to lead a complex research enterprise within a provincial cancer authority.

Required

• MD, PhD and/or MD/PhD in a relevant field, with eligibility for an academic appointment at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.


• A strong record of scientific achievement and credibility as a clinician-scientist, researcher, basic scientist, population health researcher, health services researcher or related cancer research leader.


• Senior leadership experience in a research institute, academic health sciences centre, comprehensive cancer centre

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