Associate Director, Ontario Tumour Bank

About OICR

OICR is Ontario’s cancer research institute. We bring together people from across the province and around the world to improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer. We take on the biggest challenges in cancer research and deliver real-world solutions to find cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. We are committed to helping people living with cancer, as well as future generations, live longer and healthier lives.

Launched in December 2005, OICR is an independent institute funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

Position Details

Position:  Associate Director, Ontario Tumour Bank

Location:  MaRS Centre, Toronto

Department:  Ontario Tumour Bank

Reports To:  Acting Scientific Director and Head, Adaptive Oncology

Hiring Range:  $131,000 - $146,300 per annum, commensurate with experience; total compensation includes a competitive benefits plan, plus a defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP) 

Hours:  35 hours/week

Job Type:  Hybrid

Status:  Full-time, Permanent

Position Summary

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is looking to fill an existing vacancy for an Associate Director, Ontario Tumour Bank (OTB).  The Associate Director of the Ontario Tumour Bank (OTB) provides overall leadership, strategy and oversight for the Ontario Tumour Bank program, active across five institutions and employing eleven FTEs, and working with researchers world-wide. The Associate Director is responsible for daily operations management, program strategy, funding applications/reviews, reporting, finances, compliance, quality management and business development activities. The Associate Director chairs the Governing Council of Ontario Biobanks, a province-wide network of tissue biobanks to which OTB is a founding member. The Associate Director also represents OTB internationally, providing leadership and expertise externally to further develop the biobanking sector while simultaneously promoting OTB/OICR’s brand and increasing credibility/reputation globally.

Learn more here: www.ontariotumourbank.ca.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day program management and operations oversight across 5 institutions (four Ontario collection centres (hospitals) plus central OICR site)


• Develop and execute foundational tissue bank operational processes that will enable the efficient and high-quality collection of samples and data for the OTB inventory


• Ensure ultimate fiscal accountability and management for program, including budget reporting and forecasting; grants and payments to collection centres, financial signing authority for all program expenses


• Formulate and develop the scientific and business strategic plan for the program, including long-range vision


• Prepare, submit, and present funding applications/reviews (e.g., under Adaptive Oncology)


• Report and present program performance to the Scientific Advisory Committee (e.g., under Adaptive Oncology)


• Develop, implement and monitor the plans and projects to meet overall strategic objectives and agreed timelines


• Identify, implement and monitor business development and commercialization activities for OTB


• Spearhead new business development initiatives, marketing programs and promotional activities to promote awareness about OTB and ensure distribution/revenue targets are met


• Ensure effective communications within OTB and across all provincial stakeholders (PIs, CC staff, local management committees, service providers (e.g., Tissue Portal), finance departments at all 5 institutions, vendors, etc.)


• Provide leadership in developing appropriate policy for OTB and ensure all OTB-related roles and responsibilities are clearly defined (e.g., for OTB employees within OICR and the OTB-funded staff at the hospitals)


• Manage the OTB team, fostering a team-based culture, ensuring positive interactions with external collaborators and other OICR teams


• Act as the Privacy lead for the OTB - primary point of contact for privacy, security and data access related issues within the OTB


• Oversee compliance to PHIPA, including triennial review submissions to the IPCO


• Develop, implement, and maintain a complete set of provincial tissue banking standards in consultation with key stakeholders (provincial Standard Operating Procedures)


• Provide leadership to the Ontario Biobanks consortium, a developing federation of Ontario biobanks.


• Develop, implement and maintain a total quality management program and monitoring performance metrics (both quality and conformance) to ensure the highest level of tissue and data quality, which includes adherence to international best practice (e.g., ISBER Best Practices) and maintenance of biobank certification (e.g., through the Canadian Tissue Repository Network)


• Share learnings and expertise by presenting internationally and authoring/publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts


• Contribute to the development of publicly available tools, resources, and learnings in collaboration with other biobanks and biobanking experts internationally

Position Requirements 

• Masters degree in science, a health-related discipline, or business management or recognized equivalent


• PMP, MBA, or equivalent business management related expertise


• Leadership experience in a health care or research environment


• Experience managing interdisciplinary teams of people


• Excellent communications skills


• Strong problem-solving abilities


• Experience with clinical data management and confidentiality protection

For more information about OICR, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

CLOSING DATE:       Until Filled 

OICR is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we support an inclusive culture for all. We welcome all applicants, and encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to furthering a diversity of ideas within our community. OICR is committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience. Providing an accessible workplace and recruitment process is important to us, as described in our Accessibility Plan (https://oicr.on.ca/accessibility/).  Should you require accommodation during any stage in the recruitment process, please complete the form at the bottom of page https://oicr.on.ca/careers/. Information received related to accommodation will be handled confidentially.  

OICR hiring managers may use approved Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with an initial screening or assessment of applications, and selection of applicants in accordance with OICR’s privacy policies.  Personal information associated with any job application will not be shared with or retained by any third party for the purpose of training an AI model.  Hiring managers shall determine which applications proceed through the recruitment process.

Resume Format: If you elect to apply, please click on the “Apply for this Job” button.  You will be required to enter contact details, and to attach your resume to your application. Please attach your resume as a .pdf or .doc file.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research thanks all applicants. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.