UBC: Research Manager

University of British Columbia
Published
15 December 2024
Location
Vancouver, B.C
Closing Date
December 22, 2024

Description

Locations: BC Children's Hospital

Time type: Full time

Job requisition ID: JR19292

Type: Staff - Non Union

Job catetogry: M&P - AAPS

Job profile: AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level A

Job title: Research Manager

Department: Research Support | Department of Orthopaedics | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation range: $5,365.42 - $7,709.92 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.

Job end date: Jan 31, 2025

This position is 1 year in length with the opportunity for extension.

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 Research Manager provides managerial support and high-level administrative oversight of Dr. Kishore Mulpuri’s multi-million dollar clinical research program.

The Research Manager is an integral part of the Hippy Lab, and provides supervision for the lab’s research coordinators, research assistants, trainees, and volunteers, and will work with the lab’s Research Director and Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Kishore Mulpuri, to plan and execute a large variety of global research programs and multi-centre studies, as well as provide day-to-day operational oversight of a range of clinical research studies.

The Research Manager will act as an expert advisor to lab operations to ensure the laboratory consistently meets a high standard of scientific excellence. Moreover, the Research Manager will optimize team and resource efficiency, and contribute to funding acquisition activities for sustained and growing operations of the Hippy Lab.

The Research Manager will organize compelling outreach efforts and sustain high engagement levels among collaborators and stakeholders, as well as with local lab team and community members. Activities include program and project planning & reporting, grant writing, budget and resource planning, hiring and training, and coordinating operational aspects of research and lab activities.

Organizational Status

The UBC Department of Orthopaedics has an international reputation for excellence in teaching, research and patient care. Our mission is to create knowledge, advance learning, and improve musculoskeletal health for the community at the provincial, national, and international levels. The Department consists of seven clinical divisions and a division of orthopaedic research, and is comprised of 200+ academic and clinical faculty who choose to contribute large blocks of their time to advance knowledge in the areas of clinical orthopaedics, musculoskeletal science as well as applied biomedical engineering and related basic science areas. This focus allows the Department to be at the forefront of exciting new developments in the areas of minimally invasive joint replacement, improved bone healing, advanced techniques in spinal surgery, innovative arthroscopic techniques, and improved biomaterials and implants.

This position will report to the Research Director in the Hippy Lab in the Department of Orthopaedics, and works closely with the lab leadership team.

Work Performed

  • Responsible for day-to-day research operations and provides direction for each of the lab’s new and ongoing studies, including studies related to global prospective patient data registries and surveillance programs, and RCT’s.
  • Responsible for hiring, onboarding, training, mentoring, supervising, and evaluating research staff, students/trainees, and volunteers; Fosters a respectful, safe, and inclusive environment, and identifies areas of concern for escalation to the PI and senior team members, as necessary.
  • Develops and maintains standard operating procedure for research protocols; Develops and enforces effective quality control measures, and ensures adherence to established policies, procedures, and processes.
  • Oversees organization, documentation, and storage of study data and materials in compliance with research and privacy protocols.
  • Oversees progress of research program; Develops work plans and timelines for new and ongoing studies, in accordance with grant and project protocols; Responsible for timely and clear reporting on program & activity status, progress and outlook.
  • Prepares and submits ethics applications, amendments, and renewals, and assist in addressing any issues that arise.
  • Advises study team members on ethical and operational requirements based on study-specific protocols, and ensure proper adherence.
  • Responsible for financial administration of research activities, including developing lab and study budgets, budget forecasting, monitoring and tracking expenses, and preparing expense reports.
  • Identifies grant opportunities, provides writing and editing support for funding applications, develops budget justifications, and assist in preparing grant reports.
  • Cultivates and sustains relationships with stakeholders across diverse departments within UBC, as well as external agencies, associations, and institutions. Liaises with the BCCH Research Institute, Dept of Orthopaedics, BCCH Dept of Pediatric orthopaedics, ORS, UILO, Faculty of Medicine, funding agencies, and finance and research offices at collaborating institutions to resolve research issues and explore program opportunities.
  • Develops and implements overarching knowledge translation and dissemination plans and monitor study-specific implementation of the plan.
  • Anticipates and manages challenges to achieving research and lab goals and develop and implement strategies to mitigate them.
  • Liaises with PIs and research staff across institutions and study sites to ensure studies are running according to schedule and study objectives are met on time.
  • Serves as the internal day-to-day leader of the lab, ensuring effective research lab operations, including but not limited to:
    • developing agendas for and facilitating lab-wide meetings and activities;
    • sourcing and ordering new software and equipment and ensuring proper maintenance;
    • conducting study coordination work, as needed, depending on capacity and availability of other team members;
    • overseeing safe and optimal lab facility usage, including managing lab moves.
  • Performs other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgment​

The Hippy Lab engages a global research network of faculty, researchers, and trainees from major institutions, as well as funders, advocates, professional organizations, and other stakeholders.

The successful applicant will be professional, thoughtful, reliable, and collaborative. They must be able to work independently and exercise strong initiative and judgment in supervising staff and volunteers, developing policies and procedures, and in managing the research operations of the Hippy Lab. Furthermore, research at the Hippy Lab relies heavily on maintaining strong working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including caregivers and families of children with lived experience of health challenges. Therefore, a commitment to cultural humility, respect, and professionalism is critical.

Errors or poor judgement could jeopardize participant data and relationships with participants, and/or result in the loss of collaborative relationships and partnerships, compromising the quality of the research findings, project deadlines not being met, budget overages, and damage to the reputation of the team and the credibility of the investigators and related institutions.

Supervision Received

Reports directly to Research Director, Dr. Emily Schaeffer, and works closely with lab leadership team. However, the Research Manager works with considerable latitude.

The successful candidate must be able to identify circumstances that require consultation with the appropriate individual(s), whether stakeholders across institutions, study coordinators, faculty, or other staff, and must be able to seek out that consultation in a timely and professional manner.

Supervision Given

Directly supervises, trains, and mentors study coordinators, student employees, and volunteers. Recruits and hires new research staff as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two 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

  • Professional clinical research designation
  • Successful completion of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS-2) Certification
  • Excellent organizational, time management, task prioritization and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written.
  • Comfort working within a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.
  • Proven ability to create a safe and inclusive environment and to communicate tactfully with diverse and/or vulnerable populations
  • Familiarity with multi-centre global research and advocacy
  • Experience with health systems, randomized control trials (RCTs), and/or large cohort longitudinal studies an asset
  • Proven expertise to develop and implement project plans and budgets
  • Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), REDCap, and Zoom
  • Experience using UBC RISe research administration system or similar tool
  • Experience using finance and HR tools on Workday is a plus
  • Coordinating projects and/or studies from initiation to closing phases, as well as planning, developing, and implementing new processes
  • Strong organizational skills and an ability to prioritize, coordinate and execute multiple, concurrent projects and initiatives while working under tight time constraints in a dynamic environment
  • Ability to effectively facilitate groups to achieve study outcomes
  • Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
  • Openness and willingness to learn new data management tools, applications, and study equipment
  • Has received management training and meets staff with openness, encouragement, and adaptability
  • Contribute to creating a strong team environment. Foster trust and mutual respect and support open dialogue.
  • Self-aware and eager to solicit and incorporate feedback
  • Self-directed and able to complete projects with limited supervision