Senior Research Manager, Ubc Centre for Climate Justice

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Posting End Date

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

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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 Summary
The Centre for Climate Justice Senior Research Manager works with the Co-Directors to manage and support the research and policy projects of the UBC Centre for Climate Justice, and to advance the role of the Centre within the University and in the broader community. The Centre functions include: to generate and coordinate original research projects, create effective collaboration within UBC and with diverse community partners, and stage public events, debate and discussion. Important functions of this position include: planning and developing new grant applications and managing existing grants and budgets, managing multiple research projects, providing outreach to and collaboration with faculty, students and units across UBC and with the Centre’s institutional partners, communicating with stakeholders, policymakers and the broader community, and supporting strategic planning and performance tracking and the long-term success of the Centre.

Organizational Status
The Centre for Climate Justice Senior Research Manager reports directly to one of the Centre Co-Directors and works closely with both Co-Directors and Executive Committee members. The Senior Research Manager, in conjunction with the Co-Directors, will work with the Faculty of Arts Director, Research Development and Research Centre Administrator on matters related to human resources and finance. The incumbent will interact with faculty members, students, staff, Indigenous communities, non-profit and government sectors, vendors, and the general public, as well as UBC leadership at central and Faculty levels, Human Resources, ISIT, and Finance.

Work Performed

Strategic Planning and Organization Building

• Works with Co-Directors and Executive Committee to renew and manage Centre strategic plans and goals, set and review annual benchmarks, and co-manages annual strategic planning process and associated engagement activities with the Program and Engagement Manager.

• Develops, implements and reviews research priorities, goals and work plans both short and long term, manages all aspects of the research program to ensure milestones are being achieved according to schedule and that the research objectives are met.

• Identifies and develops research strategies based on the interests of the program/projects and community partners with the Program and Engagement Manager.

• Identifies research synergies and create opportunities for new avenues of research, proposes new research directions through community engagement activities, attending relevant events and trainings.

• Designs and develops governance processes, organizational structure, and related materials for approval by Co-Directors and Executive Committee.

Grant Management and Research Facilitation

• Oversees grant proposals and funding applications in collaboration with Co-Directors and Executive Committee members, including identifying key internal and external funding opportunities, developing and preparing funding applications and fulfilling reporting requirements for successful applications.

• Works with faculty to recruit student researchers as necessary to implement the Centre’s research agenda and review and monitor research group timelines and deliverables, and coordinates with Co-Directors and partner researchers to make necessary adjustments.

• Drafts, reviews, and ensures accountability for formal and informal agreements with external partners, in consultation with partners, Co-Directors and projects leads, University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO) the Office of University Counsel (OUC) and other relevant university offices/officers.

• Works with the Program and Engagement Manager to identify opportunities for knowledge mobilization activities, including public lectures and external stakeholders, and execute knowledge mobilization activities led by Co-Directors and Executive Committee members.

• Writes or co-authors Centre research reports and other products showcasing Centre research and activities.

• Cultivates and manages respectful, accountable relationships with community organizations, academic, and industry partners, especially for Centre-level projects, alongside Co-Directors and Program and Engagement Manager.

• Manages research project budgets, including forecasting, implementing, monitoring and ensuring compliance with funding sources.

• Recruits, selects, and supervises Student Assistants.

• Manage onboarding of and support for independent contractors/vendors, Visiting Scholars and other external guests as needed.

• Liaises with faculty, graduate students, researchers, internal and external University Departments, funding agencies or organizations, and the private sector.

• Work with faculty and the University’s development offices to seek target opportunities for grants and outside funding.

Centre Operations and Finance

• Acts as a central point of contact for Centre members and affiliates, and for others interested in the Centre within and outside UBC.

• Participates in and prepares meetings for Co-Directors, Executive Committee, Research Leads, and University administrators.

• Evaluates and makes recommendations on Centre initiatives on an ongoing basis to support planning and decision-making.

• Develops and maintains program and project budgets including forecasting, analyzing expenditures, directing reconciliation processes, reviewing expenditures to ensure compliance with university and grant guidelines, and providing regular expenditure updates to Co-Directors and Executive Committee.

• Manages annual and project financial reporting in collaboration with the Arts Research Centre Administrator and the Arts Service Centre (ASC) Finance Team.

• Manages student staff, including overseeing the recruitment, training and mentorship, and performance evaluation.

• Works with the Program and Engagement Manager to assess team workloads to maintain a sustainable workload for each team member; sets weekly/monthly/yearly priorities and workplans; anticipates staffing needs.

• Fosters a positive, collaborative, and psychologically safe culture within the Centre’s team.

Communication and Knowledge Mobilization

• Writes the development of knowledge mobilization products from the Centre’s research in collaboration with the Program and Engagement Manager. Collaborates with researchers, students, research assistants and community partners to create public-facing materials, including (but not only) research reports and policy briefs.

• Contributes to public outreach strategies, including those directed at a range of institutions including government, business and community. Liaises with community partners to ensure effective knowledge mobilization.

• Drafts substantive correspondence and contributes to speeches and briefing notes for public engagement.

• Assists Co-Directors, Program and Engagement Manager, and Executive Committee in sourcing future speakers and designing future programming and events in collaboration with the Program and Engagement Manager.

• Contributes as necessary to updating the Centre’s online presence and social media.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Makes professional decisions and recommendations on all aspects of centre activities. Errors in performance of the above-related duties could have a significant impact on the effectiveness, reputation, collaboration, and financial status of the research centre. Inappropriate judgment could result in fundamental flaws in the research results, in funding shortfalls for research grants or contracts, and loss of future research partnerships.

Supervision Received

The successful candidate will work independently with considerable latitude and is expected to use a high level of initiative. Reports directly to one of the Centre Co-Directors and receives guidance and mentorship from the Faculty of Arts Director, Research Development on matters relating to Human Resources and Finance.

Supervision Given

Supervises CUPE 2950 Staff, graduate and undergraduate student assistants, Work Study students and temporary staff as needed. Will be responsible for supervision of projects as the Centre expands.

Minimum Qualifications

For research work, a post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation with a minimum of four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of six years of related experience, or an 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

Graduate training in a relevant discipline preferred. Experience with and knowledge of UBC and funding agency policies and procedures an asset. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to effectively liaise with faculty and research organizations across campus. Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thoroughly-considered decisions. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops. Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources. Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide reports and recommendations to Centre leadership, stakeholders, and staff. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Ability to think conceptually. (i.e., use creative, conceptual, or inductive reasoning or thought processes to identify patterns in complex data, and identify key or underlying issues in complex situations). Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to effectively use office software at an intermediate level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel). Ability to input and extract data, and compile data reports from a variety of analytical programs an asset.