Senior Director, Research Legal

Job Description

Sinai Health is implementing its Research Strategic Plan (6-1), which aims to enhance alignment, modernization, and capacity-building across the research enterprise. As part of this transformation, we are seeking a results-oriented Senior Director, Research Legal to lead legal services for the Sinai Health research community. Reporting directly to the Vice President, Research and General Counsel, this pivotal role will provide critical legal support, including oversight of the legal team supporting research.

The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing corporate goals while taking a practical approach to safeguarding our Institution's endeavors for discovery research and clinical research. You will lead the review, drafting, and negotiation of complex agreements with peer hospitals, third-party vendors, and other healthcare organizations. This position also offers a unique opportunity to shape the institutional scaffolding for a cohesive, efficient, and innovation-ready research enterprise.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Legal Management and Advice

• Draft, review, and provide advice on a broad range of research agreements and complex projects.
• Provide oversight and mentorship to research legal staff, including guidance on substantive legal work, file management, and Sinai Health’s policies.
• Lead staff to meet Sinai Health expectations for productivity, quality, continuous improvement, and provide effective performance feedback.
• Provide timely, practical, and risk-based advice to the Vice President, Research, Deputy Directors, and Research Administration teams.
• Work in collaboration with Sinai Health Privacy and Risk, Grants Administration, Procurement, Research Ethics Board, and other stakeholders to support the organization’s research legal activities.
• Represent Sinai Health and actively participate in inter-institutional working groups with other hospitals and research institutes to harmonize contracting practices.
• Engage and manage external legal counsel

Strategic Capacity Building and Modernization

• Partner with stakeholders across Sinai Health to develop an integrated, practical research risk management framework.
• Develop and implement process improvements to streamline research contract review. Initiatives may include pursuing further opportunities for coordination in the research matter lifecycle; enhancing the matter intake process; and exploring digital contracting tools.
• Collaborate with Sinai Health Privacy, Research Ethics, and Digital Health on a data governance strategy that integrates the Research Strategic Plan, including coordinated frameworks for AI governance, open science, and responsible data sharing.
• Lead internal education sessions for researchers, clinicians, and research coordinators.

Job Requirements

Skills/ Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor Degree () or Bachelor of Laws (LLB), called to the Ontario Bar and a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Minimum years of relevant legal experience gained at a law firm or in-house legal department in the health/pharma/medical sciences. Experience working in an academic hospital or research institute setting and/or the broader medical research industry is considered an asset.
• Experience drafting and negotiating data transfer agreements, material transfer agreements, collaboration agreements, clinical trial agreements, registry agreements, funding agreements, and research services agreements.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with experience managing individuals with a legal background.
• A well-organized self-starter in possession of strategic thinking and practical problem-solving skills with the ability to independently identify underlying issues and implement solutions.
• A proven team player with the ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Strong communication, negotiation, drafting, and analytical skills
• Strong understanding of Canadian and Ontario privacy, research ethics, and health information legislation (including PHIPA and TCPS2). Knowledge of intellectual property, risk management, and procurement, particularly in the context of an academic clinical and biomedical research environment in Canada.
• Familiarity with data governance and open science frameworks preferred.

A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and professional growth is at the heart of our institute's values. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Application Instructions:

Apply directly through Interfolio []. A resume and cover letter are required in order to be considered for this position.