Research Manager - DICE

To be assigned

Saskatchewan Polytechnic considers the diversity of our workforce to be one our leading strengths and greatest assets. Our employee diversity enhances our ability to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Currently, approximately 20% of our students are Indigenous. A continued emphasis on the development of a representative workforce is one of Sask Polytech’s strategic priorities and, as an organization, we are making significant efforts to attract and retain Indigenous employees.

The Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) is an NSERC-funded Technology Access Centre at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, located at Innovation Place in Saskatoon. DICE supports partners across diverse sectors through applied research in data integration, visualization, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies.

Reporting to the Director of DICE, the Research Manager will lead applied research and digital innovation projects that support industry, community organizations, governments, Indigenous communities, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The role combines technical leadership in artificial intelligence, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) architecture, and cybersecurity with project delivery, funding development, and team management.

The Research Manager will build collaborative partnerships, pursue external funding, and mentor research staff and students. Working with internal and external partners, the manager will translate research into practical solutions and support knowledge mobilization and innovation adoption throughout Saskatchewan and beyond.

Applied Research Leadership

Approximately 50 percent of the role

• Lead and promote applied research in digital solutions and innovation, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, SLAM architecture, and cybersecurity.
• Set research objectives with partners and guide the selection of methods, experiments, system architectures, and technologies that address their needs.
• Provide technical direction for AI model development and evaluation, SLAM and sensor integration, and secure system design; assess technical tradeoffs and validate proposed solutions.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities, and lead the preparation of research proposals, grant applications, business cases, and partner-funded projects.
• Lead projects from concept through execution, evaluation, and dissemination, serving as principal investigator where appropriate and assigning research duties to team members.
• Supervise and mentor research associates, technologists, and student research assistants, supporting sound research methods and technical development.
• Establish and monitor project plans, schedules, deliverables, budgets, and risk assessments to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Analyze findings and translate results into actionable recommendations, prototypes, and practical solutions for partners.
• Ensure research meets quality standards, ethical guidelines, project objectives, and funding requirements; assess emerging technologies and opportunities for digital innovation.

Partnership Building Communication and Outreach

Approximately 20 percent of the role

• Serve as a key liaison with industry, government, economic development agencies, Indigenous organizations, entrepreneurs, and business support organizations.
• Develop and maintain mutually beneficial research partnerships locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
• Lead engagement sessions, workshops, and consultations to identify partner needs, business challenges, and opportunities for applied research.
• Identify partnerships and lead business development activities that expand the Centre’s research and innovation portfolio.
• Communicate research findings through technical reports, presentations, publications, conferences, and industry events to support knowledge mobilization and adoption.
• Promote Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s applied research capabilities to prospective partners and funding agencies.

Administration

Approximately 30 percent of the role

• Supervise, mentor, and support research personnel through staffing, training, workload planning, and performance management.
• Manage research budgets and financial accountability for externally funded projects, including monitoring expenditures and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate research resources, personnel, facilities, and project activities to deliver outcomes effectively.
• Collaborate with the Office of Applied Research and Innovation, other research centres, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic departments to advance strategic research objectives.
• Monitor and report on project outcomes, performance metrics, funding results, and partner satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with Saskatchewan Polytechnic policies, granting agency requirements, and ethical research standards, including appropriate protection of research data.
• Contribute to strategic planning, annual reporting, and continuous improvement within DICE; maintain awareness of funding programs, partnership opportunities, and innovation initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• A relevant degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively responsible experience demonstrating the technical and management capabilities required for the role. Relevant fields include computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or a related discipline. A graduate degree, such as a master’s or PhD in a relevant field, is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in industry and/or applied research, with demonstrated progression to a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning, including developing or directing applied AI solutions, preparing and analyzing data, evaluating models, and integrating solutions into practical applications.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or providing technical leadership for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) architectures, including localization, mapping, sensor fusion, and validation for robotic or autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated experience in cybersecurity, including assessing risks and applying secure system design, data protection, access controls, and security practices to research or industry solutions.
• Experience leading complex projects involving cross-functional teams, budgets, schedules, deliverables, and risk management.
• Demonstrated financial management, budgeting, resource allocation, and project planning skills.
• Knowledge of applied research methodologies, experimental design, program evaluation, and knowledge mobilization.
• Strong proposal writing, grant development, and business case preparation skills.
• Experience supervising and mentoring research personnel and/or students, with the ability to guide technical work and support professional development.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, relationship-building, collaboration, and business development skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking, critical analysis, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills, with attention to research quality and detail.
• Ability to work independently while leading collaborative initiatives and managing multiple projects within agreed timelines.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and respectful Indigenous engagement.
• WHMIS and laboratory safety training, or willingness to obtain the required training.