CIFST Cluster Director

The CIFST Food Sustainability and Resilience Cluster (SCAP-ASC-14) is currently seeking an individual to take on the role of Cluster Director. This is a part-time (10 hours per week) contract position. The deadline for application is December 23, 2025 and the position commences January 6, 2026.

The objective of the Food Sustainability and Resilience Cluster is to support collaboration in three key priority areas that will promote energy reduction and efficiency, innovative production technology and practices.

Cluster Director Roles & Responsibilities:

Administration

 Liaise with AAFC and the AAFC/CIFST Cluster Steering Committee

• Liaise with the CIFST Board of Directors
• Liaise with CIFST Bookkeeper to ensure invoices/receipts have been received and paid and that industry funders have been invoiced and paid

 Scientific Coordination (Cluster Director/Manager):

Science Co-ordination involves the co-ordination of Cluster science and research activities such as coordinating and liaising with Principle Investigators, aligning research with Cluster research strategies, reviewing research results, Science Advisory Body (SAB) costs, etc. The financial audits must be charged under this activity. Where an employee/contractor conducts project management/administration and science co-ordination, their time must be split between administrative costs and science co-ordination. No additional administrative costs may be charged under science co-ordination.

 Working with the Scientific Director, continue to monitor progress and provide regular reporting: It will be essential to continue monitoring the progress of the activities and providing regular reporting to the Principal Investigators, the SAB and the Scientific Coordination staff team.

• Conduct ongoing evaluations: Evaluations are necessary to identify what is working well and what needs improvement.
• Continue to identify opportunities for knowledge transfer: Host and participate in conferences and workshops; build cluster-specific website; and develop infographics of scientific findings.  KTT will help build a network of collaborators, increase visibility for the cluster, and provide opportunities for feedback and learning.
• Stay up-to-date with relevant industry trends and developments: Science Coordination will require staying up-to-date with relevant industry trends and developments. This will be critical to ensuring that the cluster remains relevant and aligned with industry needs. Keeping abreast of developments can help to identify emerging issues and opportunities that the cluster can address.
• Prepare for annual audits.

 Knowledge Transfer and Technology (KTT):

To ensure that knowledge and technology resulting from investments in science better reach the end user and are readily available. 

• Host 10 monthly webinars (excluding June and July) to share information about the cluster's activities and findings.
• Present findings from two to three activities at CIFST’s Annual Conference.
• Publish scientific articles in four issues of Canadian Food Business Magazine, a quarterly publication.
• Provide monthly communique updates on cluster activities, including highlights, progress, findings, and features of individual activities.
• Support KTT efforts by individual cluster activities.
• Produce quarterly infographics to update stakeholders in a creative and effective way of the cluster's progress and findings.
• Host monthly webinars, presenting findings at CIFST Annual Conference, publishing scientific articles, providing monthly communique updates, and producing quarterly infographics.
• Develop a cluster website to provide a centralized platform for updates on cluster activities, scientific articles, research findings, discussion forums, infographics, and webinar recordings. The website should be regularly updated to ensure stakeholders are informed about the cluster's progress and findings.