Vice President, Research and Innovation

Location:Toronto, On

Sunnybrook is recognized as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres, where research and innovation are fundamental to our mandate. Guided by our vision to invent the future of healthcare and our evolving strategic plan, Sunnybrook is expanding its contributions to basic science and clinical evaluations, clinical trials, commercialization, and the implementation of new technologies and processes to improve patient care, particularly within hospital and healthcare system settings.

With a rapidly growing and aging population, heightened patient and family expectations, and a dramatically changing world, the need for innovative healthcare solutions has never been greater. While Sunnybrook has made significant strides toward realizing its vision, there remains an opportunity to further enhance the integration of the four pillars of our research enterprise and accelerate our impact on patient outcomes and the broader Canadian—and global—healthcare ecosystem.

Research is integral to Sunnybrook’s overall $1.7 billion annual operations, with $171 million (Fiscal 2025) dedicated to the Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI). Based on research expenditure, SRI ranks ninth among Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. Sunnybrook’s investment in discovery and innovation extends well beyond operational funding, with over $100 million in recent capital investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure, particularly in imaging and image-guided therapies.

Sunnybrook plays a leading role in Toronto’s academic health sciences network (TAHSN) and maintains strong influence provincially and nationally, reinforcing its position at the forefront of academic healthcare innovation.

As the Vice President, Research and Innovation at Sunnybrook, you will lead the integration of research and clinical care to accelerate the path from discovery to impact for patients. Building on Sunnybrook’s global reputation for excellence, you will foster a culture of inquiry and innovation that will drive improvements in care locally and globally.

As a key member of the hospital’s senior leadership team, you will advance Sunnybrook’s strategic priorities by embedding research excellence across clinical, operational, and educational domains. Reporting to the President and CEO of Sunnybrook (who also serves as President and CEO of Sunnybrook Research Institute), you will ensure Sunnybrook’s research, innovation, and commercialization agenda strengthens its academic and clinical missions.

You will champion Sunnybrook’s research enterprise with external stakeholders, government, donors, and industry partners while inspiring and mentoring the next generation of scientific leaders.

The ideal candidate will bring an optimal combination of the following qualifications:

• A scientist with an internationally recognized record of research excellence and accomplishments.
• Proven ability to lead, execute, and sustain an active research program while advancing organizational research priorities.
• Operational and administrative leadership experience, including oversight of complex research enterprises.
• Strong experience advocating for research at senior levels of government, academia, and the philanthropic community.
• Proven ability to build inclusive, diverse, high-performing teams with a collaborative culture.
• Demonstrated strength in business acumen, financial stewardship, strategic planning, and organizational management.
• Track record of fostering research commercialization, knowledge translation, and innovation impact.
• Exceptional communication, advocacy, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

For more information, or to submit an application, please contact:
Jim Stonehouse, Partner - [email protected]
Pamela Colquhoun, Partner – [email protected]

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity within its community and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: visible minorities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.