OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create
OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.
It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.
OCAD University (Toronto) invites world-leading established researchers to apply for a recently announced federal initiative as a Canada Impact+ Research Chair at the largest art and design university in Canada.
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is a one-time Canadian tri-agency initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada's strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. The CIRC program provides an opportunity for international researchers, including Canadian expatriates wishing to return to Canada, to lead a prestigious research program at OCAD University and to contribute to Canada's excellence in research and innovation. Applicants must hold a current position outside of Canada to meet eligibility requirements.
Summary of Responsibilities:
OCAD U’s goal for addressing the CIRC program is to:
Nomination Process
The nomination is a two-stage process: 1) applicants apply to this job posting; 2) successful applicants will then work with our research office to develop and submit a nomination package to the Canada Impact + Research Chairs competition.
Following this selection process, the national program awards successful applicants and their teams either $500k or $1M per year over 8 years to establish ambitious research programs at the nominating university, with a potential for a four-year extension at 50% of the initial per annum award value.
Strategic Priority Areas
OCAD U anticipates nominating up to two candidates for Impact+ Research Chair positions, based on award value. Applications from outstanding established scholars are welcomed in the one or more of the following strategic priority areas:
REMUNERATION
Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary range: $130,236 to $179,928 per annum.
Access to full benefits, and pension contribution after one year of service.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & DEADLINE
Applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee and must include the following:
Application Details: Interested applicants are invited to submit their application by selecting "Apply Now" below.
Please upload all seven (7) components (including any URL to work) as one PDF. Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Canada Impact+Research Chairs
Application Deadline: March 21st, 2026
Review of applications will begin from the date of posting with the expectation of selecting candidates by April 15, 2026 and developing nomination packages in June. The expected start date will be January, 2027.
The University recognizes that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID-19 impacts) are often an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a nominee’s record of research achievement, and that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.
As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact Olivia Bowes at people@ocadu.ca for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.