Research and Development Team Lead

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Job Profile

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Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

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

Job End Date

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 UBC CDC, located at the BCCDC, is hiring a Research and Development Team Lead to support the various ongoing research programs and projects associated with Environmental Microbiology. Working with a team of senior scientists, project collaborators, research technicians, routine laboratory technologists, and students, the Research and Development Team Lead manages a wide scope of operational needs. These operational requirements include, but are not limited to, the writing of grant proposals, procurement of laboratory materials, oversight and training of research staff, development and validation of new methods and procedures, and the synthesis and analysis of data for various forms of communication. The Research and Development Team Lead must be exceptionally detail-orientated and organized, self-directed, capable of prioritizing time-sensitive duties, experienced in designing validation experiments, and able to effectively communicate and facilitate communication with a multi-disciplinary team.

This position is grant-funded with a possibility of extension.

Organizational Status
The Research and Development Team Lead will report directly to the study Principal Investigators and the Senior Scientists overseeing the various research programs and grant-funded projects. They will work collaboratively with the routine Environmental Microbiology Public Health Laboratory Staff, as required, and other research team members, including research assistants, students, and other research personnel.

Work Performed

• Manages multi-scope research projects, including project conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting to ensure multi-year project commitments are being met effectively and efficiently.
• Leads, develops, and implements research plans, including schedules, timelines, and budgets for multiple projects.
• Designs experiments, performs validations, and evaluates data pertaining to the implementation of new procedures for various molecular methods (qPCR, whole genome sequencing)
• Identifies, problem-solves, and implements the removal of barriers for successful project activities, with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships between researchers, collaborators, funding agencies, and external collaborators.
• Creates reports, presentations and other data products facilitating productive discussions with a diverse set of collaborators, including community partners, members of industries/communities affected by the research, government officials, and policymakers.
• Assists in the development and writing of manuscripts and grants related to the research project(s).
• Assists with hiring, onboarding, and mentorship of new junior staff.
• Trains research staff and students on laboratory protocols and evaluates their performance regularly.
• Manages laboratory operations as needed, including ordering reagents.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Research and Development Team Lead is required to conduct all activities in an ethical manner. Any procedures or data recorded as part of this research must be accurate and must accurately reflect the work performed. Strict confidentiality of all project participants is critical. Errors made could influence the ability of researchers to interpret data correctly, delay the timely completion of work, and thus compromise the results of research projects. This would impact the credibility of the PI and other team members.

Supervision Received
Most aspects of work will be assigned and then carried out independently, with feedback from project Principal Investigators, Senior Scientists, and Research Associates.

Supervision Given
The Research and Development Team Lead will supervise research assistants and students.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the 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

• Masters degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Microbiology preferred (or an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Microbiology with prior experience leading research studies)
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills
• The ability to work with a diverse group of collaborators in a calm, respectful, and effective manner
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others within a team environment and independently
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative and self-directed work habits
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently organize work assignments and establish priorities
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Able to identify and relate to concerns of others and to exercise good judgement when resolving difficulties.
• Excellent ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Computer literacy and proficiency (minimum with Microsoft Office)