Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS

Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level C

Job Title Senior Research & Development Program Facilitator

Department Sekirov Laboratory | Centre for Disease Control | Faculty of Medicine

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 November 12, 2022

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

Job End Date Oct 31, 2023

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

Job Summary
The UBC CDC is seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual to work as a research program facilitator on various projects related to communicable diseases research, including respiratory viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV-2) surveillance, HPV research and clinical trials, and other conditions of public health importance. The successful applicant will be responsible for leading and contributing to a number of existing funded projects, spanning several institutions and PIs, such as faculty members at the BCCDC and Public Health Laboratory, and Women's Health Institute. The ideal applicant will possess a curiosity and passion for science, a talent for independent and team-based research, strong coordination and facilitation skills to ensure smooth operations of complex and spread out research programs, and extensive knowledge and experience in a variety of laboratory methods relevant to communicable diseases (e.g. molecular, genomics, serology).

Organizational Status
This position will report directly to the study Principal Investigators and the Senior Scientists overseeing the projects. PIs and Senior Scientists are positioned at different sites and coordination with multiple research teams will be required. They will work collaboratively with other research team members, including research associates and assistants, graduate student trainees, and other research personnel. The position will provide supervision and mentorship to trainees, technicians and graduate students, and interact with local, national, and international collaborators on a regular basis.

Work Performed

• Actively engaged in identifying opportunities for developing new initiatives, grants and projects that enhance funding of laboratory trials or grants by collaborating with stakeholders to enhance current and potential future studies;
• Sources funding from external organizations such as Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Genome Canada, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the provincial and federal governments and industry;
• Defines research project administration needs and develops strategies to meet needs by working with the research Study Managers and Clinical Trials Coordinators to determine such things as staffing and equipment requirements and to forecast the cost of laboratory services to include in grant applications. Develops procedure manuals for implementation as required;
• Performs literature reviews and analysis to provide background information in preparation for writing grants and reports. Writes significant portions of grants in association with senior staff, trainees and support staff including but not limited to the background, methodology, budget and bibliography. Writes and manages ethical review submissions for patient-related studies as needed;
• Reviews current literature to propose, develop, and establish advanced and/or novel laboratory methods (e.g. metagenomics, genomics, serology) for surveillance and reference level testing
• Provides leadership by liaising with senior scientists, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students, as well as academic and clinician collaborators to provide scientific and laboratory support to the various clinical trials and assist in meeting identified milestones and timelines for grants, projects and contracts. Assesses partner laboratories for relevant necessary accreditation requirements, as well as ensures compliance with accreditation standards, as necessary, for research services at the PHL; follows-up with appropriate stakeholders to obtain resources required as necessary;
• Oversees and manages workload for junior personnel, in both technical laboratory and administrative streams
• Organizes research activities in a way to ensure seamless coordination and side-by-side operation of research and operational teams at the BCCDC PHL to promote a constructive working environment and downstream translation of research-based findings and developments into operational stream, as appropriate
• Provides quarterly, annual and final reports to granting agencies as required. Prepares Power Point and poster presentations describing results of research;
• Writes significant portions of manuscripts resulting from grant-funded research in association with senior staff and submits to journals for peer review;
• Works with staff to identify needs and participates in the development of data warehouses relevant to grants and projects;
• Creates and manages university Research Ethics Board and biosafety applications;
• Plans and oversees the commercial MSD serological testing on clinical samples according to the manufacturer's protocol;
• Validates any new MSD and other serological tests using previously characterized clinical samples;
• Ensures appropriate validation reports and standard operating procedures are created for novel methods;
• Manages, trains, and supervises research technicians and students in various serological testing methods;
• Liaises with international and national collaborators to facilitate data or sample sharing and resolve any problems;
• Oversees the implementation and performance of new, research use equipment;
• Performs other administrative and related duties in the lab

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The incumbent will make important decisions affecting the productivity of the lab. Poor judgment could result in loss of experimental data and delay in conducting research, which could impact collaborations, publications, and future funding. Studies may be jeopardized if not conducted according to ethical requirements as laid out by the University and by regulatory authorities. Study files must be kept secured to ensure that patient confidentiality is not compromised. An error within the realm of a research study may result in biased or incomplete data and skewed study results. Errors made and poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of the Principal Investigator, the BCCDC, and the University and could lead to incorrect or inappropriate policy recommendations being made.

Supervision Received
Direction is provided by the Principal Investigators; however, the position requires a strong independent work ethic and a candidate capable of setting their own directions and priorities within a given framework and working within agreed-upon milestones and timelines.

Supervision Given
Manages and oversees research assistants, junior staff and students as required.
Assists and provides guidelines to other research members as required.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of a PhD degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or related fields
• Minimum of three years' of experience in laboratory research involving ethics and biosafety approvals, with knowledge and extensive experience in serology/immunology testing
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in the preparation and/or presentation of research
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities. Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint at an intermediate level. Excellent programming skills and mastery in one or more high level programming language (R preferred).
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimize bench-side experiments with high efficiency. Ability to resolve technical problems in an innovative manner.
• Excellent organizational and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to accurately create and maintain records.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships.
• Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner. Ability to effectively train, supervise, and motivate employees.
• Excellent leadership skills and experience leading small teams
• Ability to validate data.
• Ability to keep abreast of current developments and trends in the field of information technology.
• Must conduct all activities in an ethical manner and treat funding information and research data confidentially.