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.

CCMB also has a legislated mandate for research and, through the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba (the “Institute”), CCMB conducts wet and dry-lab research on all aspects of cancer and blood disorders, including studies aimed at improving patient care and experience. CCMB also has patients enrolled in over 120 clinical trials.

CCMB 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 clinically in numerous sites across Manitoba with its main location at 675 McDermot Avenue offering systemic and radiation therapy, patient support services, clinical trials and wet and dry-lab research and platforms.

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, privacy, confidentiality

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

Download Full Description: CCMB - Vice President Research - Position Profile.pdf

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 over 100 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. Once completed in December 2027, this will provide modern, purpose-built laboratory and collaborative space. The incoming Vice President and Scientific Director will be key to shape how these spaces and capacity are allocated.

The Institute has an annual operating budget of over $20M. Its 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's distinctive strengths include a large body of expertise in tumour microenvironment, immunology and cell metabolism, from the standpoint of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. In addition, the Institute benefits from comprehensive biobanking, best-in-class flow cytometry and cell analysis facilities and innovations in bioinformatics linked to clinical informatics. These are supported by province-wide data assets that are rare in a centre of this size: the Manitoba Cancer Registry, started in 1937, captures cancer incidence and outcomes for the entire provincial population of 1.5 million, and the Manitoba Tumour Bank provides annotated biospecimens linked to that longitudinal clinical data.

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

ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH & SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President of 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. As the Scientific Director of the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba, you are 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. A central task for the incoming Vice President & Scientific Director is to define where the Institute will lead. CCMB is large enough to build genuine critical mass in selected areas and small enough that a single leader's scientific judgement can shape the whole portfolio. The Vice President will have the latitude to concentrate investment, recruit to defined priorities, and build programs of national and international standing.

Working the CCMB executive team, the Vice President and Scientific Director 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 leadership for research operations, scientific programs, research platforms/cores, 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, local, national, and international research partners, funders, community stakeholders, and patient and family voices.

The successful candidate will hold, or be eligible to hold, a senior academic appointment with the University of Manitoba's Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. CCMB would support the Vice President maintaining an active, independently funded research program. The position may include protected research time, dedicated laboratory or research space within the newly renovated Institute, access to all Institute platforms, and a start-up package. Clinician-scientists may maintain clinical practice where it is aligned with organizational priorities.

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Accountability 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 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, collaboration, 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 of Research and Scientific Director 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

• PhD, MD or MD/PhD with relevant post-graduate training in a relevant field, with eligibility for an academic appointment at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
• Distinguished record of independent, peer-reviewed research funding as a principal investigator, substantial peer-reviewed publication record and credibility as a clinician-scientist, researcher, basic scientist, population health researcher, health services researcher or related cancer or blood disorders research leader.
• Senior leadership experience in a research institute, academic health sciences centre, comprehensive cancer centre, university-affiliated research environment, or comparable organization.
• Demonstrated success building and leading multidisciplinary teams, research programs, platforms and partnerships through periods of growth, transformation or increased impact.
• Experience developing and implementing research strategies, operational plans, performance measures, budgets and governance processes.
• Success attracting external research funding, philanthropic investment, research agreements, collaborations or other sources of support.
• Experience mentoring scientists, clinician-scientists, trainees and highly qualified personnel.
• Knowledge of research ethics, regulatory requirements, responsible conduct of research, data stewardship, risk management, and compliance in health research environments.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, political acuity, public-facing and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred/Asset

• Experience in cancer and/or blood disorder research, oncology clinical trials, precision medicine, genomics, translational research, population oncology, health services research or related disciplines.
• Experience working with a Board, advisory board, foundation, donors, government partners, universities or national and international research networks.
• Familiarity with Manitoba’s health system, Indigenous health priorities, health equity, and culturally responsive research approaches.
• Experience fostering commercialization, industry partnership, innovation, data science, clinical informatics or research platform development

References

1. Research at CCMB - https://research.cancercare.mb.ca/
2. CCMB Research Strategic Plan -https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/export/sites/default/About-Us/.galleries/files/corporate-publications/CCMB-Research-007_July-2025_compressed.pdf
3. Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba website - https://research.cancercare.mb.ca/paul-albrechtsen-research-institute/ 
4. CCMB Roadmap to Cancer Control for Manitoba - https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/export/sites/default/About-Us/.galleries/files/corporate-publications/CCMB-Roadmap-012_July-2025_compressed.pdf

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

INTEGRITY:

• Keeps the greater good of Manitobans in mind at all times and advances the health interests of the public in all policies, processes, and practices
• Makes principle-centered decisions
• Assumes responsibility, accountability and follows through when making commitments
• Demonstrates sincerity, honesty, respect, empathy, and adherence to the standards and principles of the health care system
• Maintains composure and perspective in difficult or volatile situations
• Able to maintain confidential information and use discretion in all interactions

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

• Has broad knowledge and perspectives
• Establishes a shared vision and common goals and creates the environment where the system can achieve them
• Adopts a long-term view of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks in a changing operational environment
• Clearly articulates a practical vision for the future, a credible case for change / enhancement, and influences and inspires others to work as part of a team toward that vision
• Promotes cooperation, collaboration, and integration between individuals and groups both within and outside of the organization, ensuring everyone understands each other’s roles, responsibilities, and contributions
• Identifies critical issues that will have an impact on the system

EFFECTIVE ORAL, WRITTEN AND PRESENTATION SKILLS

• Defines the principles and framework of effective organizational communication
• Actively listens to messages being communicated by stakeholders
• Articulates complex ideas in a clear, understandable way
• Creates and conducts powerful presentations to small and large groups
• Develops well-constructed documents and reports
• Provides sound, credible and thorough information to the executive team, the Board of Directors, Manitoba Health, and the general public
• Effectively facilitates meetings and discussions to assist participants in reaching shared decisions and fostering positive relationships

EXCELLENT JUDGMENT

• Efficiently and effectively perceives and assesses situations
• Understands when decisions require input and when they do not
• Asks the right questions and actively engages individuals across the organization to get the information needed
• Draws sound conclusions and recommends changes in policies and practices as required
• Generates options with an analysis of pros and cons as well as identified impacts
• Identifies the impacts and risks associated with decisions and takes appropriate risks
• Influences decisions that challenge the status quo and provoke growth and positive development in the system
• Takes responsibility for difficult decisions
• Defines decision-making model(s) / principles / criteria for others
• Utilizes objective, factual and valid information from a variety of sources to make informed decisions, understand the potential impacts, and keep all relevant parties informed

POLITICAL ACUMEN

• Understands complex political situations and determines effective strategies to maximize opportunity and minimize risk
• Understands and respects the role of all parties and how they might work together

RESULTS ORIENTATION

• Incorporates the needs of all stakeholders and patients when setting standards, strategies, and organizational direction
• Sets goals and priorities that maximize the use of resources available to consistently deliver results based on strategic direction and stakeholder expectations
• Driven to meet a high standard of performance
• Monitors progress towards a goal, anticipates problems, and adjusts when necessary
• Respects and champions established policies, procedures, and processes while continuously identify opportunities to streamline and improve workflows, ensuring consistency, compliance, and excellence across the clinical operations portfolio and the organization

FINANCIAL ACUMEN

• Understands the financial models of the system and the elements that impact the model and financial performance
• Exhibits strong administrative and financial discipline by effectively managing and optimizing limited resources, ensuring operational efficiency while balancing the evolving needs of Manitobans with cancer and blood disorder

Interested candidates are invited to contact:

Lillian Wong, Director, Executive Search

MNP

Lillian.Wong@mnp.ca

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