The University of British Columbia

Associate Director, Research Programs and Administration

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
  • Minimum of seven years of related experience in research management or administration.
  • Demonstrated ability to foster inclusive and respectful environments across diverse populations.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and empathetically with people from various backgrounds and perspectives.
  • Proven experience in leading teams and managing complex organizational change initiatives.

Responsibilities

  • Lead development and implementation of strategic plans for research within the Faculty of Medicine.
  • Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships to advance research priorities.
  • Provide operational leadership and oversee the management of the Office of Research.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for effective research administration.
  • Collaborate with senior faculty and external partners to identify opportunities and navigate challenges.

Benefits

  • Leave replacement role with potential for extension.
  • Professional development opportunities provided.
  • Collaborative work environment within a prestigious academic institution.
  • Exposure to diverse research initiatives and academic programs.
Full Job Description
Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Administration, Level D

Job Title
Associate Director, Research Programs and Administration

Department
Office of Research Leadership | Office of Research | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range
$8,554.25 - $13,340.92 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.


Posting End Date
July 11, 2026

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

Job End Date

November 1, 2027

 

This is a leave replacement role for 14 months with a possibility of extension.

Job Summary

This position leads in conceptualizing, strategizing and implementing a collaborative planning approach collegially for areas that impact the Faculty of Medicine (FoM) and UBC. This position is responsible for strategic planning in conjunction with Senior Leadership at FoM for all operations across research and academic sectors within the Faculty. The position is also responsible for leading the administration and operations of the Office of Research, oversee staff within the Office of Research, provide functional direction to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Office, and responsible for research-related resources for faculty members within the Faculty. The incumbent will work closely with the Vice Dean, Research, Senior Director, Research and across the other pillars (Education, Organization, Partnerships) within FoM to undertake special administrative initiatives as required.

This position is primarily located at the Point Grey campus, but may also work from alternate locations.


Work Performed

Reporting to the Senior Director, Research and Vice Dean, Research, the incumbent will bring operational and programmatic leadership, direction, and oversight on internal and external matters within FoM Office of Research. As a senior administrative member of the Office of Research, the incumbent will play a pivotal leadership role in the strategic development and management of FoM’s strategic initiatives.

The incumbent will be actively involved in the implementation of FoM’s strategic plan and work across pillars to seek alignment in the rollout of this refreshed plan.

Responsibilities include:

  • Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships across the institution and external entities across many sectors that will advance FoM’s research priorities
  • Provide leadership in the development and implementation of plans to support areas of research relevant to the needs of faculty members that are consistent with FoM’s academic mission
  • Working closely with the Executive Director of CIEBH, manages projects and provides administrative leadership for the Hub
  • Provides leadership and strategic direction to FoM’s research administration activities in collaboration with university administrators
  • Provide operational leadership by participating in the implementation of strategic plans and changes to meet initiatives and evolving needs to enhance productivity and to streamline business processes
  • Leads and oversees the development and implementation of practices, policies, procedures and tools to ensure the effective, efficient management, accountability and reporting of the Office of Research
  • Provides strategic leadership and guidance on the reviews and searches of UBC Senate approved and FoM centres and institutes
  • Provides oversight on the operational work on guidelines and procedures for the creation, decommissioning and overall governance structure of centres and institutes under the FoM Office of Research portfolio
  • Provides leadership for and participates in the development of organizational and systems change strategies that promote equity, anti-racism, and inclusive excellence across the Faculty and at UBC
  • Develop unit goals, defines measures of progress, and leads teams in aligning their day-to-day activities with strategic priorities in support of the Office of Research’s and FoM’s vision, values and purpose. This includes leading and overseeing the development, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of progress on initiatives
  • Liaise with key stakeholders and provide leadership, guidance and direction to required teams and committees
  • Build business cases for continuous service improvement ideas, identify the impact to each unit with respect to change, evaluation of costs, desired outcomes and overall performance
  • Build relationships with academic and administrative units across UBC, nationally and internationally to understand operational issues and challenges
  • Collaborating closely with Faculty HR and academic unit heads, works closely with the Development and Alumni Engagement Office to lead discussions and develop fundraising opportunities for the creation of Chairs, honorifics and research proposals
  • Seek and develop new collaborations nationally and internationally with partners in academia, industry and other sectors
  • Work closely with research centre and institute Directors to understand and identify opportunities to support their goals and remove barriers
  • Develops, implements, and manages faculty-wide initiatives in response to major funding calls
  • Provide information and analysis in response to ad hoc inquiries from stakeholders
  • Prepare key documents including internal and external reports
  • Provides leadership in the establishment and management of a professional and collegial team dynamic and working environment.
  • Oversees recruitment, training, supervision, performance review, mentorship, dispute resolution, staff development, training evaluation for all staff within the Office of Research and oversee HR-related matters for the Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Office
  • Advises and serves on relevant staff and faculty committees for the purpose of providing strategic input
  • Represent the Senior Director, Research on committees and working groups as appropriate
  • Contribute to the overall success of the Office of Research by performing other duties as required


Consequence of Error/Judgement
 

The incumbent is responsible for exercising professional judgement to support the overall management of research in FoM. Errors in accuracy, judgement, tact, and poor decisions could delay the timely completion of projects, be damaging to the reputation, and cause financial loss to the faculty member, Department, Faculty and UBC.

Supervision Received
 

The incumbent reports to the Senior Director, Research. The position will have broad guidance from the Vice Dean, Research as well and keeps the Vice Dean, Research and Senior Director, Research apprised of research-related matters at UBC, and in FoM. They will interact closely with faculty members, Division Heads, Division Administrators and other senior research leadership, including FoM Office of Education, Faculty Affairs, Development and Alumni Engagement Office, Digital Solutions, and Office of Creative and Communications to address challenges with respect to research administration. Works with wide latitude on initiatives that align with FoM’s strategic plan. The incumbent will need to be comfortable working in an environment that requires flexibility and adaptability to respond to shifting and emerging priorities.

Supervision Given
 

This position directly supervises and provides direction to all staff within the Office of Research and will provide functional direction to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Office.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of seven years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

-Demonstrated ability to actively create and sustain respectful and inclusive environments. -Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and interact with empathy, understanding, and humility with people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse identities, perspectives, and behaviours. -Commitment to upholding the Faculty of Medicine’s values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity.

Preferred Qualifications

Degree in Science and PhD preferred. Professional designation related to health/life sciences and experience with research. Specialized experience in leading, designing and implementing similar office and major organizational change initiatives.

Experience in HR management, office administration in a research area at UBC is preferred. The successful candidate must be proactive and capable of suggesting and effectively implementing alternatives to current people and process approaches, all aligned to the organization’s strategy and culture. A thorough understanding of the conduct of research obtained by experience in research management positions within a university or research focused agency. A published author and presenter preferred. Demonstrated leader, indicated by experience in research position and training related to leadership and academia. Excellent oral, written, communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to be poised, tactful and articulate when dealing with senior administrators, faculty, students, staff and members of the external community within UBC, the province, nationally and internationally. Proven track record in leading teams, working effectively with teams as well as working independently, superior analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills. Combination of working knowledge and experience in conducting research, directing research teams and supporting collaborative, multi-institutional research groups. Experience with strategic planning and project planning. Works with conflicting demands and independently determines priorities. Respects confidentiality of highly sensitive information. Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities. Detailed knowledge of UBC grant and ethics application preparation. Knowledge of research institutes and how they relate to each other and to UBC. Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Ability to exercise sound judgement. Ability to exercise initiative, diplomacy, tact and discretion. Proficient and comfortable using a range of software for desktop publishing, website design and database/accounts administration, bibliographic programs and in a variety of operating systems. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Ability to identify, obtain, and effectively manage organizational resources. Excellent written and verbal English are a must. Ability to work with others in a team environment. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Ability to work a flexible schedule including early morning and evening meetings/events as required. 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.

About The University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, UBC is British Columbia's oldest university. The university is ranked among the top 20 public universities worldwide and among the top three in Canada. UBC is a research-intensive university and has an annual research budget of over $600 million. The university offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of academic fields. UBC has a diverse student population, with over 65,000 students from over 160 countries.
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