Manager, Major Initiatives

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

This position will be filled internally. It is posted for informational purposes only.

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. 

• →Leads the end-to-end development of complex grant, partnership and strategic funding proposals, including multi-investigator, multi-institutional, government, industry, infrastructure and translational funding applications.
• →Serves as the primary hands-on writer and editor for assigned proposals, translating scientific, technical and partnership concepts into compelling, integrated and competitive submissions aligned with program objectives and evaluation criteria.
• →Develops and manages proposal work plans, schedules, responsibility matrices and internal timelines; coordinates and integrates contributions from investigators, partners and UBC administrative units; manages iterative review and approval processes; and maintains version control through final submission.
• →Researches and synthesizes scientific, technical, economic, societal and policy information required to strengthen cases for support, partnership rationales, implementation strategies and impact pathways.
• →Develops and coordinates complex proposal budgets and budget justifications, in collaboration with finance and research administration personnel, and develops work plans, performance measures, knowledge-mobilization plans, partner commitments and supporting documentation.
• →Coordinates institutional approvals and works with Research Services, Finance, Research Contracts, Innovation UBC and other administrative units to address submission requirements, risks and compliance considerations.
• →Supports faculty leaders and School leadership in converting strategic opportunities into competitive funding applications, collaborative programs and funded initiat

• Coordinates the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of major initiatives that support SBME priorities in research, education, innovation, translation and societal impact.
• Supports School leadership and faculty leaders in implementing initiatives that advance strategic priorities through funded programs, collaborative projects, institutional partnerships and special initiatives.
• Leads the operational design and implementation of assigned major initiatives, translating approved concepts and funding commitments into executable programs, governance structures, work plans and deliverables.
• Develops project charters, implementation plans, milestones, risk-management frameworks, communication plans and performance metrics for assigned initiatives.
• Supports the development and implementation of governance and reporting frameworks required for effective project execution and accountability.
• Coordinates activities associated with major initiatives and collaborative programs, including research and innovation hubs, strategic partnerships and special projects assigned by School leadership.
• Supports implementation of priority initiatives such as the SBME-NRC collaboration, Cancer Engineering Innovation Hub, Global Health Technologies Hub and future strategic projects.

• Works closely with the Research Manager to evaluate research opportunities, faculty strengths, team composition, program requirements and institutional alignment for major initiatives and funding opportunities.
• Works closely with the Partnerships Manager to align initiatives with partnership opportunities, stakeholder interests, funding pathways and relationship-development activities.
• Facilitates coordination among faculty members, trainees, staff, external partners, funding agencies and administrative units involved in complex multi-disciplinary and multi-sector initiatives.
• Supports principal investigators, faculty leaders and School leadership in partner-engagement activities, including preparation of briefing materials, presentations, meeting agendas, concept notes, letters of support and records of decisions.
• Coordinates internal and external stakeholder consultations required for proposal development, project implementation and program delivery.
• Maintains productive relationships with collaborators, sponsors, funders and project partners to support successful initiative development and implementation.

• Acts as project manager for assigned strategic initiatives, collaborative programs and funded projects.
• Establishes project-management systems, communication protocols, reporting processes and implementation frameworks that support successful project delivery.
• Monitors project scope, schedules, deliverables, milestones, dependencies and risks; identifies emerging issues and develops options and recommendations for project leaders.
• Coordinates meetings, prepares agendas and decision-support materials, documents actions and ensures timely completion of follow-up activities.
• Works with principal investigators and finance personnel to monitor budgets, forecast expenditures and support compliance with sponsor requirements and University policies.
• Coordinates progress reporting, performance reporting and sponsor reporting requirements and assists in the preparation of final project reports and outcomes summaries.
• Tracks implementation progress and provides regular project-status updates to faculty leaders, School leadership and funding partners, as appropriate.

• Supports communications, stakeholder engagement, change-management and knowledge-mobilization activities associated with major initiatives and funded programs.
• Develops and maintains tools, templates, guidance documents and best practices related to proposal development, project management and initiative implementation.
• Identifies opportunities to improve proposal-development processes, project-management practices and initiative-delivery effectiveness across the School.
• Contributes implementation insights, project analyses and operational recommendations that support School-wide planning and reporting activities.
• Maintains records, project documentation, performance measures and initiative outcomes required for reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• May coordinate consultants, students, temporary staff or project contributors and may supervise staff where assigned.
• Performs other related duties consistent with the scope and classification of the position.

• Graduate degree in biomedical engineering, engineering, life sciences, health sciences, public administration, business or another relevant discipline is an asset.
• Significant experience in complex grant development, research project management, strategic initiative implementation or partnership-based programs.
• Demonstrated success writing and coordinating complex, competitive research or innovation funding proposals.
• Experience managing multi-investigator, multi-institutional or government-industry research collaborations from planning through reporting.
• Strong project-management skills, including scope, schedule, budget, risk, governance, stakeholder and change management; PMP or equivalent certification is an asset.
• Knowledge of Canadian research and innovation funders and programs, particularly federal funding and collaboration mechanisms involving organizations such as NRC, NSERC, CIHR, CFI, Mitacs or PacifiCan.
• Ability to understand complex scientific and technical material and translate it into compelling, accessible narratives for varied reviewers and partners.
• Experience developing budgets, milestones, logic models, performance measures, risk registers and funder reports.
• Excellent writing, editing, facilitation, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage concurrent deadlines and contributions from senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, resolve ambiguity and move multidisciplinary groups toward decisions and deliverables.
• Sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential, commercially sensitive and pre-publication information.