Who We Are
Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.
SFU’s Institutional Strategic Awards (ISA) designs strategies and leads initiatives to grow research capacity, income, and visibility. We support faculty in pursuing major research grants, awards, and prizes by providing strategic consultations, stakeholder engagement, and expert guidance on proposal development. The Research Development team works closely with colleagues across the university to align projects with institutional priorities and funding opportunities. ISA’s team culture is collaborative, responsive, and committed to supporting faculty success.
About the Role
The Strategic Grants Advisor will help advance SFU’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy by developing funding opportunities and proposals that connect AI research strengths across the university. This part-time role is suited to someone who can translate complex ideas into clear, compelling funding narratives and work effectively with researchers, partners, and institutional teams. The role will support interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary AI initiatives, including major grant applications, partnership proposals, philanthropic opportunities, and strategic funding prospects aligned with SFU priorities. Working within Institutional Strategic Awards and the broader VPRI environment, the Advisor will help build the project-development runway: identifying opportunities, coordinating contributors, shaping proposal strategy, preparing budgets, and supporting high-quality submissions. This is a collaborative, intellectually engaging role for someone who enjoys research development, complex proposal writing, and helping ambitious ideas become fundable projects.
The ideal candidate is a strong writer, strategic thinker, and skilled project coordinator who can translate complex AI research into clear, compelling funding narratives. They will be comfortable working across disciplines, building relationships with researchers and partners, interpreting funder requirements, and managing multiple deadlines with sound judgment and discretion. Success in this role requires curiosity, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to move between high-level strategy and practical proposal development. Experience with major grants, interdisciplinary research, partnership development, or AI-related research environments would be an asset.
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