Help us make Terry's dream of ending cancer through research a reality

The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), named for Canadian icon Terry Fox, is built on Terry's dream to end cancer through research. Established in 2007, TFRI is a registered charity and invests its funds in cutting-edge cancer research through highly collaborative, team-oriented programs and national research networks. Together with its many research and funding partners, TFRI empowers Canada’s brightest researchers to seek out new transformational and precision medicine discoveries to advance our understanding, diagnosis and treatment of cancer with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for patients.

About this opportunity

The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) seeks an enthusiastic and dedicated individual for the role of Communications Coordinator to join our team. This full-time, term position (end date April 30, 2026) will provide the successful applicant with the  opportunity to grow their skillset and expand their knowledge in website and social media management and content creation at one of Canada’s leading cancer research organizations. Working closely with TFRI colleagues and Communications professionals across the country, this position plays a vital role in raising awareness of TFRI’s key research initiatives: The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN), the TFRI Research Grants Programs and the Digital Health & Discovery Platform (DHDP). The position will be a co-report to the Senior Communications Specialist and Chief Communications Officer.

This is a bilingual role, and fluency in both English and French is required.

Responsibilities

Website and social media channels

• Create as well as schedule, post and monitor content to TFRI and MOHCCN websites and social media channels in both languages.
• Work with the communications specialists for the TFRI’s Research Grants Programs and the MOHCCN to oversee an editorial calendar, ensuring all written and posted content is relevant and reflects a given style and guidelines; and curating, preparing and posting content, which includes sourcing images and graphics from various sources (e.g., researchers and Network partners).
• Ensure that the TFRI and MOHCCN websites are current and dynamic (for example, regular posting of researcher and patient stories).
• Explore and identify new avenues for growth and reach via other platforms; and provide regular tracking, reporting and analysis on social media performance, using insights to optimize engagement.
• Contribute to the development of social campaigns as required to raise awareness of and interest in TFRI initiatives, events and achievements.
• Collaborate with web developers to enhance the user experience and accessibility of TFRI initiative’s online presence.

Coordination and stakeholder engagement

• Liaise with partners and contributors to coordinate interviews, gather quotes and clarify key messages.
• Support the amplification of content by coordinating with partners for joint communications and broader reach.
• Manage databases to ensure contact lists are organized and updated regularly.
• Liaise and interface with colleagues and teams at the Terry Fox Foundation to support joint initiatives as directed  

Content creation

• Work with editorial team on the development of key materials and content required to support the success of TFRI’s mission and vision (e.g. stories, social media and website posts)
• Help coordinate communications activities by emailing researchers, partners institutions and patients
• Contribute and provide content for TFRI and MOHCCN communications activities as required (e.g., Impact Report, newsletters, etc.) and participate in other communications activities (e.g. Terry Fox Foundation queries and meetings, provision of materials).
• Help generate high-quality written, visual and multimedia content for social media channels that showcases the achievements and goals of TFRI projects.
• When needed, assist in drafting press releases, news stories, newsletters, reports and other communications materials that promote TFRI and MOHCCN progress.
• Assist in the production and coordination of feature stories and case studies focused on the work of TFRI’s researchers and the experiences of patients benefiting from precision medicine.

Qualifications

• University or college degree/certificate in communications, marketing, journalism or a related field.

• 1-2 years’ experience in communications, social media management or content creation (internships and co-op experience will be considered). Background in health/life sciences or biology would be an asset.

• Fluency in both of Canada’s official languages English and French is required.

• Proficiency in social media platforms, content management systems (CMS), basic graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite). Experience using video platforms/programs to create and edit video is also desirable.

• Experience creating, maintaining and managing various databases and distribution lists and using various tools/programs (e.g. Mailchimp, Excel)

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for storytelling and a commitment to TFRI’s mission and the goals of the MOHCCN.

Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick days
• Extended medical and dental coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• A work culture that values excellence, creativity, teamwork, learning, fairness and integrity
• A passionate group of high-performing teammates across Canada

Join us!

Please email your cover letter and resume by June 20, 2024 to hr@tfri.ca with the subject line: Communications Coordinator.

Salary range: $50,000 - $60,000

We appreciate all applications, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The candidate must be authorized to work in Canada. 

We recognize the importance of diversity and equity in our workforce and encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including Indigenous persons, women, persons with disabilities, minorities and other underrepresented communities.

The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), named for Canadian icon Terry Fox, is built on Terry's dream to end cancer through research. Established in 2007, TFRI is a registered charity and invests its funds in cutting-edge cancer research through highly collaborative, team-oriented granting programs and national research networks. Together with its many research and funding partners, TFRI empowers Canada’s brightest researchers to seek out new transformational and precision medicine discoveries to advance our understanding, diagnosis and treatment of cancer with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for patients.

About this opportunity

The Contract Coordinator, Research will report to the Chief Financial Officer and play a critical role in supporting the preparation, negotiation, coordination and signing of a variety of research grants and other types of operational agreements. As an intermediate Contract Coordinator, Research you will have the opportunity to work on a large number of simultaneous and varied agreements between TFRI and its external research partners and vendors located all across Canada, including creating the agreements, working with cancer research institutions to agree on legal terms, resolving partner concerns, tracking progress, managing electronic signing, analyzing areas of risk and tracking and reconciling financial commitments in accordance with contract terms.

Preference is to candidates located in Vancouver to work hybrid out of our local office. However, all out of province applicants will be considered to work remotely.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate the drafting, and preparation of research grant and other operational agreements using established templates.

• Compile and interpret work plans, financial budgets and payment schedules to ensure alignment with the agreement’s legal terms, including preparing amendments as needed.

• Review and analyze requested changes to standard terms and conditions for compliance with legal, regulatory and organizational requirements.

• Identify areas of potential risk in agreements and propose practical alternatives to mitigate those risks.

• Track agreement progress through draft, review, approval and execution stages using internal systems, maintaining accurate records of correspondence, changes and executed documents.

• Monitor progress, resolve issues and ensure timely execution of agreements.

• Manage the electronic signing process through Docusign for agreements with external partners, ensuring adherence to organizational policies and timelines.

• Track and reconcile financial commitments associated with each agreement using Excel and other grant management software, ensuring that payments, budgets and client expenditure reporting align with contractual obligations and are accurately recorded and reported.

• Serve as a liaison and point of first contact with Canadian research institutions and companies, including their legal, finance and research administration teams.

• Attend meetings with internal and external stakeholders to discuss existing agreements, or to develop agreement terms and requirements for new projects, programs or initiatives.

• Perform a variety of research or other analyses to support agreement preparation and execution.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated 1 to 3 years experience, education and interest in research agreements, contract law and/or health-care law.

• Proven experience tracking and reconciling financial commitments via complex Excel spreadsheets or other digital tools, ensuring alignment with agreement terms and in compliance with funding requirements.

• Excellent understanding of and confidence with basic Canadian contract terms, concepts and language, including analyzing and assessing the implications and impacts of proposed changes to agreement language.

• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Excel, and the rest of MS Suite (e.g., Word, SharePoint and Teams) and with the compiling of PDF documents.

• Proactive, confident self-starter with a very strong attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing and tracking multiple concurrent agreements and priorities and delivering on established deadlines.

• Demonstrated ingenuity, judgment, and creativity to perform all job responsibilities with excellent planning and organizational skills.

• Ability to function effectively alone and in a team.

• Fluency in both Canada’s official languages would be an asset.

Benefits of working with us

• A passionate group of high-performing teammates working for a cause across Canada
• Flexible schedule
• Hybrid work
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick days
• Extended Medical and Dental Coverage after three months of employment
• Group Registered Pension Plan after three months of employment
• A work culture that values excellence, creativity, teamwork, learning, fairness and integrity

To apply

Please email your cover letter and resume by May 30, 2025 to hr@tfri.ca with the subject line: Contract Coordinator, Research. Cover letters suspected of being written using AI software may be rejected.

The candidate must be authorized to work in Canada.  

We recognize the importance of diversity and equity in our workforce and encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including Indigenous persons, women, persons with disabilities, minorities and other underrepresented communities.

Salary range: $56,000 - $75,000

“Inspired by Terry Fox, we invest in highly collaborative, world-class scientific teams to drive research discoveries that improve and save the lives of cancer patients.”

The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), named for Canadian icon Terry Fox, is built on Terry's dream to end cancer through research. Established in 2007, TFRI is a registered charity and invests its funds in cutting-edge cancer research through highly collaborative, team-oriented programs and national research networks. Together with its many research and funding partners, TFRI empowers Canada’s brightest researchers to seek out new transformational and precision medicine discoveries to advance our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for patients.

TFRI is seeking a highly qualified individual with a strong background in oncology to join our Board of Directors. TFRI Board is composed of professionals from diverse fields, including research, oncology, business, communication, finance and philanthropy. United by Terry Fox’s legacy, they provide strategic oversight and guidance to advance cutting-edge cancer research and improve outcomes for patients.

The ideal candidate will be a clinician or researcher with significant expertise in cancer research or clinical oncology. This individual will bring objective scientific judgment to TFRI’s strategic direction and governance while helping advance our mission to drive impactful cancer research. The Director should exemplify Terry’s values: Integrity, Inclusivity, Perseverance, Creativity and Excellence.

The role of the Board is two-fold: decision-making and oversight. The decision-making aspect includes the selection and appointment of the President & Scientific Director, and, working with management, the formulation of TFRI’s strategic goals and policies. Oversight focuses on reviewing management decisions and ensuring adequate systems, controls and the successful implementation of strategic policies. Directors receive no remuneration for their service in accordance with the by-laws of TFRI. TFRI does reimburse out-of-pocket expenses for travel and accommodation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy

• Work with the President & Scientific Director to set long-term goals for TFRI.
• Provide objective scientific input and broad judgment to ensure strategic initiatives align with TFRI’s mission.
• Working with management to develop, approve and monitor the implementation of TFRI’s strategic plan, ensuring its success in advancing cancer research.

Governance

• Select and appoint the President & Scientific Director of TFRI.
• Nominate directors with relevant experience and qualifications to support TFRI’s strategic goals.
• Appoint and define mandates for Board committees (e.g., Nominations, Finance & Audit Committees).
• Regularly review and assess the Board’s governance structures and processes.

Financial oversight

• Steward TFRI’s financial resources by approving annual operating and capital budgets.
• Authorize expenditures and approve cancer research investments based on recommendations from the President & Scientific Director.
• Monitor financial performance against the approved budget and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Vote on recommendations from the Finance & Audit Committee and approve the annual audited financial statements.

Stakeholder accountability and communication

• Ensure stakeholder relationships are maintained based on principles of inclusion, equity, transparency, accountability and fairness.
• Balance the interests of key stakeholders, including the Terry Fox Foundation (TFF), researchers, patients, hospitals, governments and donors.
• Contribute to the development of effective communication strategies for TFRI’s stakeholders.

Risk management

• Understand the risks inherent in cancer research supported by TFRI and balance these with potential benefits to patients and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: PhD, MD or equivalent in oncology, cancer research or related fields.
• Professional Experience: Experience in clinical oncology or cancer research.
• Leadership and Governance: Previous board experience or leadership roles in research or clinical settings is an asset.
• Strategic Judgment: Proven ability to provide scientific and clinical judgment in decision-making.
• Collaborative Approach: Experience working with diverse stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, funders and policy makers.
• Commitment: Availability to attend quarterly board meetings (in-person or virtual) and engage in ongoing Board activities.

Join Us!

To express interest in this position, please submit a cover letter and CV to board@tfri.ca outlining your relevant experience and your vision for contributing to the mission of TFRI.