Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS

Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level C

Job Title Project Manager \xe2\x80\x93 PCIGR

Department Research | PCIGR | Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range $5,906.25 - $8,508.42 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 June 9, 2023

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

Job End Date Jun 30, 2024



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.

Organizational Status
This position reports directly to Professor Dominique Weis, . This position will be responsible for the oversight of administrative and operational matters related to promoting and sustaining the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research (PCIGR) facility.

Within the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, a shared research platform, this position works on budgeting and managing infrastructure and expenditures related to the facility\xe2\x80\x99s projects and activities. This position interacts and liaises significantly with faculty, staff and students across UBC and external to UBC, including visitors from other sectors (i.e., academia, government, industry, non-profits, general public) who use PCIGR.

PCIGR is among the best-equipped geochemical mass spectrometric facilities worldwide. PCIGR is a unique research facility that provides analytical services to investigators from academia, government and industry, both locally and worldwide. PCIGR is equipped with 6 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC- or HR-ICP-MS), 4 thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS), 2 stable isotope ratio mass spectrometers, a noble gas mass spectrometer, and 2 laser ablation systems. The facility also includes 3 low-level trace metal Class 1000 cleanrooms with Class 100 laminar flow hoods. With its 15 state-of-the-art instruments, sample preparation laboratories and resident research and support teams,

Job Summary

The Project Manager leads the successful planning, management and execution of scientific and administrative projects performed at the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research (PCIGR).

This position develops and implements facility strategic plans and project work plans leveraging funding, developing partnerships, whilst promoting the facility to the research community and to the public. The Project Manager provides scientific and technical knowledge and expertise in PCIGR\xe2\x80\x99s laboratories and provides functional direction to researchers and staff.

PCIGR is a premier analytical geochemistry facility in Canada that provides analytical services to academic, government, industry, and non-profit users in a wide array of fields (e.g., geology, earth and environmental sciences, oceanography, biology, engineering, archaeology). Established in 2002, the facility houses 12 mass spectrometers and a variety of peripheral equipment. The Project Manager demonstrates a thorough understanding of how complex analytical facilities operate and has working knowledge of research project processes, including collaboration with industry.

Work Performed

• Identify and develop new research avenues and collaborations and facilitates collaborative research agreements.
• Maintain existing relationships, develops and facilitates new relationship engagement, and seeks out funding opportunities.
• Identifies appropriate funding opportunities and develop grant applications to support the facility; and leads the development of grant proposals and budgets.
• Coordinate research projects in collaboration with industry and government agencies, focusing on the technical needs and requirements.
• Provide scientific and technical expertise and advice to the facility\xe2\x80\x99s laboratories and bring in research expertise in a stable isotope to facilitate the research review process.
• This position provides functional direction to relevant faculty and staff members.

Project Management

• Develop strategic plans for the facility and work plans for projects on high-precision isotopic analyses.
• Manage and monitor progress of implemented plans to ensure adherence with funding requirements, deadlines and project goals.
• Assess variances from plans, budgets, and schedules; develop and implement changes as necessary.
• Coordinate research projects in collaboration with industry and government agencies, focusing on the technical needs and requirements.
• Organizes the PR of the facility (website, social media) and ensures the technical accuracy.
• In the absence of the Director and other management team members, lead weekly lab meetings and coordinate other facility-wide activities.
• Represent the facility\xe2\x80\x99s health and safety concerns at monthly departmental safety team meetings and contribute to general health and safety discussions.

Public Relations and Communications

• Drafts a variety of written work, including editing, publishing and maintaining digital and print marketing materials and resources (e.g., website, brochures, posters, digital displays, social media), in line with Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation and UBC branding.
• Manage all general inquiries from the research community om a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain databases that track user information, research activities, and other evaluation metrics.
• Work with Director and key stakeholders in developing and executing meaningful knowledge translation activities.
• Assist the Director of PCIGR, in creating media advisories for newsworthy facility activities.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Project Manager will be expected to use professional judgement and initiative in the overall coordination and management of facility projects, and use guidance, input and advice from the facility Director, other members of the management team and VP Research. The Project Manager is accountable for the effective execution of facility projects and reports for government and industry projects.

Inappropriate judgment could damage the facility\xe2\x80\x99s reputation amongst the research community and with the facility\xe2\x80\x99s partners, which can directly affect user interest, revenue from contracts, and future ability to attract research funding. These outcomes could, in turn, negatively impact the reputation of UBC as a centre of research excellence.

Supervision Received
Works with wide latitude under the direction of/and in collaboration with the Director. Work is reviewed periodically to assess the validity of recommendations or the achievement of defined goals.

Supervision Given
Provides direction and technical knowledge to the research team, including faculty members and to collaborators, including MDRU team, government and industry. Will manage staff and/or supervise research assistants and students, depending on the project being administered.

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\xe2\x80\x99s own.

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation in a relevant discipline (i.e., earth sciences, chemistry, engineering, professional management). Ph.D. preferred.
• Exceptional organization (project management), communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of the operation of complex analytical facilities, with working knowledge of research project processes.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload, handle multiple assignments effectively, and set and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability in preparing reports and technical/research documents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, preparing and coordinating research grant proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to design and create print and digital promotional materials.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail in all duties.
• High proficiency in English (reading, writing, speaking) is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Workday, content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal), video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Webex).
• UBC Chemical Safety certificate required (for access into laboratories).
• Understanding of occupational health and safety fundamentals in a lab setting is required.
• Experience in light stable isotope mass spectrometry and related research activities (methods, protocols, project design, data interpretation) is preferred.

University of British Columbia