Manager, Shared Research Platforms – Operations

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Administration, Level D

Job Title
Manager, Shared Research Platforms – Operations

Department
Leadership jobsincanada.one Portfolio A jobsincanada.one AVP Research and Innovation

Compensation Range
$8,063.17 – $12,575.08 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
December 7, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary

Shared research platforms are facilities funded jointly by VPRI and Faculties and departments for the purpose of offering specialized research services to the UBC and external research community.  Platforms are characterized by their shared funding model which includes various entities at UBC including VPRI, grants and user fees and a shared governance model consisting of a Steering Committee made of researchers who are engaged users and administrators who have a keen interest in the sustainability of the facility and work by consensus. Shared platforms are operated by a team of highly qualified personnel who work in close collaboration with a Scientific Advisor. 

The Shared Research Platform Manager (Operations) will assume administrative and management responsibility for four existing platforms (Plant Care Services, the Sequencing & Bioinformatics Consortium, FINDER (a Level 3 Containment facility), and Upright Open MRI).  The Manager oversees the relationship between the scientific and operational teams on each platform, and with central UBC business units such as Human Resources, Payroll, Research Finance, and others. A command of UBC s administrative processes is essential.

Organizational Status

The Vice President Research & Innovation is responsible for enabling shared infrastructure initiatives at UBC. This includes ongoing institutional support for existing initiatives, facilitation and navigation for emerging initiatives, and leading the development of business cases for new shared infrastructure opportunities. The Manager, Shared Research Platforms (Operations) is responsible for the administration and management of four existing Shared Research Platforms at the University (Plant Care Services, the Sequencing & Bioinformatics Consortium, FINDER (a Level 3 Containment facility), and Upright Open MRI).  The Manager will report to the Associate Vice President Research & Innovation. 

Work Performed

Ongoing responsibilities centre on the human resource, financial, and operational aspects of the four VPRI-led shared research platforms:

• Leads and provides operational oversight across four Shared Research Platforms, with responsibility for all associated human resources functions such as staffing plans, recruitment, performance evaluation and management, workplace and worker safety, etc.
• Evaluates researcher and operational needs, develops and implements appropriate staffing models and procedures accordingly
• Leads the preparation and implementation of change management activities within the SRP portfolio, including development of new staff positions or platform services
• Oversees the budget for each platform in close collaboration with the VPRI Budget Team ensuring that forecasting is accurate, and accounts for all expenses and revenues
• Manages procurement processes to ensure each platform is adequately supplied to deliver seamless service to researchers.
• Determines and analyzes relevant metrics and indicators for each platform, and ensures any reporting requirements are met. 
• Ensures that equipment maintenance plans that minimize downtime are in place and adhered to.
• Ensures each platform is actively engaged in University-wide initiatives such as the Inclusion Action Plan, Indigenous Strategic Plan, UniForum, etc.
• Identifies and enables special ad hoc projects for that improve the operations or service capacity of each platform (e.g. refurbishing offices or spaces, improving signage, developing materials to promote services to external users etc.).
• Serves as first point of escalation for SRP Platform Managers when advice or support is required for difficult or challenging issues, and serves as key contact for professional development of SRP staff members
• Establishes a shared facilities organizational culture at UBC by hosting events, liaising with leaders of other core facilities at UBC to identify events that could be relevant for their staff, and organizing information sharing meetings for SRP Managers.
• May perform other tasks as assigned

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Shared research platforms can be high-profile, operationally and politically complex collaborations between diverse groups of stakeholders on campus. They will consistently command large budgets – from central University resources and from a variety of funding agencies, and in some cases from both. Poor performance in this role could result in a lack of engagement from key stakeholders, could risk UBC s reputation with funding agencies, or lead to inefficient start-up and ongoing operations of shared infrastructure initiatives. Prudent execution of this role, consistent demonstration of organizational awareness, political sensitivity, and proactive project management will give shared research platforms the greatest chance for success.

Supervision Received

Works with wide latitude.  The Manager will report to the Associate Vice-President, Research & Innovation, and will have a close working relationship with the Shared Research Platform Manager-Strategy. The Manager is expected to balance working with limited direct supervision with an innate sense of when consultation with others is required.

Supervision Given

The Manager of each of the four VPRI-led shared research platforms report to the Shared Research Platform Manager-Operations. 

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of seven years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required, with a minimum of 7 years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Relevant successful experience working with scientists and administrators in a research-intensive university environment is an asset
• Demonstrated success in enabling complex, large-scale scientific or research initiatives
• Expertise in managing large groups of stakeholders who may have conflicting priorities
• History of writing or participating in the writing of successful grant funding applications
• Proven record of success in a timeline-driven, milestone-oriented environment.
• Reputation for clear, politically sensitive, and discrete written and spoken communication style;