Academic and Research Funding Advisor

Position Summary

BCIT’s Academic Office is seeking two (2) regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) Academic and Research Funding Advisors. This role identifies and assesses funding opportunities, advises faculty, researchers and staff, guides the development and submission of competitive proposals and applications, ensuring compliance with institutional and funding agency policies, with an aim to enhance educational program delivery and research capacity. Collaborates with faculty and researchers to integrate knowledge of educational program and curriculum development into the design and operationalization of projects and programs to secure external funding, ensuring alignment with BCIT’s strategic priorities to create outstanding learning opportunities and support the creation of new educational programs and applied research projects. Serves as the primary liaison between internal parties and external funding agencies, fostering a collaborative and well-informed educational and applied research environments. Duties & Responsibilities DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Researches, identifies, and disseminates new educational and research funding opportunities that align with BCIT’s mission, program delivery and outcomes, and research priorities.
• Evaluates funding eligibility, funder policies and requirements. Communicates information to internal partners. Advises researchers, faculty, staff and students on appropriate funding options based on research interests and goals.
• Collaborates with faculty and researchers to develop, write, and edit competitive proposals, ensuring clarity, alignment with funder requirements, and compliance with institutional guidelines.
• Provides detailed advisory for application components, including letters of intent, impact statements, research summaries, budget justifications, and the integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into the design of proposal materials, including grant applications and bid documents.
• Conducts internal review processes and assists program champions to acquire institutional approvals before submission.
• Collaborating with faculty and researchers, integrates knowledge of educational program and curriculum development to support the design, development, evaluation, and enhancement of academic program funding application and proposal development, ensuring alignment with learning outcomes, accreditation standards, and institutional priorities.
• Confirms the eligibility of co-applicants from other institutions and ensures they have received approval to participate in the proposed activities from their authorized institutional representatives. Coordinates with collaborators and their host institutions to streamline joint projects.
• Liaises with Legal and Risk Management to develop and finalize funding contracts and research-related policy and agreements (e.g., inter-institutional, partnership contracts). Ensures institutional, faculty/ researcher eligibility and compliance with the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions, the Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration and relevant program requirements.
• Assists with interim and final funding report submissions, reviewing and approving quarterly activity and financial information to ensure compliance with project and funder requirements.Collaborates to assist faculty and researchers respond to reviewer or funder feedback and facilitates compliance requests.
• Maintains a centralized calendar and database of application deadlines, submission records, reporting timelines, and institutional funding knowledge.
• Monitors funded projects to ensure alignment with funding terms and flags potential compliance issues.
• Initiates and develops large-scale institutional or multi-partner funding proposals. Ensures proposals meet ethical, financial, and administrative compliance requirements, including eligibility verification for applicants and co-applicants. Identifies and flags potential conflicts of interest to leadership as required.
• Reviews reconciled restricted funds accounts monthly, investigates and reports discrepancies. Collaborates with project champions and finance team members to resolve errors.
• Conducts activities in a manner consistent to support both internal and external audit requests(e.g. maintaining repository of audit-ready documentation) and coordinates responses to internal and external audit requests.
• Provides individualized coaching and advisory to support faculty and researchers building funding streams. Identifies their areas of expertise and priorities and proactively sources and aligns appropriate funding opportunities to support the development and sustainability of their research and academic growth.
• Serves as the central point of contact for external funding agencies and internal communications related to academic innovation and applied research funding.
• Builds and maintains relationships with internal parties (e.g., Finance, Purchasing, Communications, RDI, Research Ethics Board) to enhance readiness.
• Designs and delivers training sessions, workshops, and guidance documents related to funding strategies and opportunities, grant writing, and submission processes.
• Develops templates, resources, and tools to support proposal development and increase research capacity.
• Maintains current knowledge of major funding streams (e.g., ESDC, NRCAN, PacifiCan, SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, CRC, BCKDF, CFI, Mitacs), including eligibility criteria and application requirements.
• Analyzes trends in the funding landscape to inform institutional research strategy and recommends process improvements.
• Establishes and supports research-related and award adjudication committees.
• Contributes to institutional strategic planning and research development initiatives.
• Participates in regional advisory groups and professional organizations (e.g., Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) and the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS)) to inform and share best practices.

Qualifications QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as Education, Public Administration, Business, Communications, or Social Sciences.
• A doctorate (e.g. Ed.D./Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline is considered an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in an education fund/grants development, applied research funding officer capacity, or a related field in a post-secondary, nonprofit, or research environment.

Other Skills/Attributes:

• Demonstrated experience in writing, editing, and coordinating funding proposals.
• Understanding of post-secondary educational program development processes, including: instructional design, curriculum development, internal and external accreditation, delivery, and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience working with funding agencies (e.g., PacifiCan, ESDC, NRCAN, Tri-Agency, NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, Mitacs, etc.) and understanding of their policies and processes.
• Proven track record of successful funding proposals to government agencies, foundations, and/or other funding bodies.
• Experience translating complex research concepts into clear, compelling written content for diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of the applied research funding landscape (national and international), including funding mechanisms and compliance frameworks.
• Experience in supporting proposal development, especially for complex or collaborative research projects.
• Knowledge of institutional research policies, ethics requirements, and post-award procedures.
• Experience working with faculty or researchers in a university/college/polytechnic environment.
• Familiarity with budgeting and financial management for complex projects.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to synthesize technical or academic content into accessible and persuasive language.
• Strong project management and organizational abilities with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex guidelines and policies clearly.
• High level of professionalism and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across departments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in educational program development and applied research practices.

Additional Information Benefits – Why you’d love working with us

• Competitive pay
• Minimum of twenty-five days of vacation (or more, depending on your position)
• Competitive employer-paid extended health and dental plan – take a look at our benefit plans!
• Defined benefit pension plan with employer contributions
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements available
• Professional Development funds and resources
• Access to most BCIT Flexible Learning courses free of charge
• Wellness and Employee Assistance programs
• Complimentary membership with free access to the Fitness Centre, Gymnasium, and more
• Eligibility requirements apply, benefits may vary depending on the employee group the position belongs to and whether the position offered is temporary or part-time. For more information on our generous benefits, click here!

BCIT is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring for systemically oppressed groups who have been excluded from full participation at BCIT and the larger community. This includes Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2S/LGBTQIA+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact us using our contact form. Please note that all applications must be submitted via the careers page portal. Applications submitted through the contact form will not be accepted. For additional information, please visit our frequently asked questions (FAQs) page and see how we hire.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology acknowledges that our campuses are located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).