Research and Development Project Manager… at University of… · Kelowna

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B

Job Title

Research and Development Project Manager – Critical Raw Material Innovation

Department

UBCO | Shared Research Platforms | Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Research | Vice Principal Research Office

Compensation Range

$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 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

May 8, 2026

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

Job End Date

May 31, 2028

 

 

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:

This role has three primary responsibilities: (1) ensure the effective project management of a multi-year project, (2) liaising with mining industry and government partners, and (3) develop geological research applications for the newly acquired ICP-TOF-MS system paired with an Elemental Scientific Laser ImageGeo 193 excimer laser.

Project background:

This role is responsible for project management of a PacifiCan supported project – “Enhancing Critical Raw Material Innovation to Advance Exploration and Production” ($3.1M). The project will enhance critical raw material (CRM) innovation to advance exploration and production by providing industry access to rapid, advanced mineral analytics. The project aims to train 45+ new data-savvy highly qualified personnel (HQP). The importance of CRMs is recognized in Canada’s most recent NATO spending targets, highlighting their role in national security and development of clean technology. With PacifiCan support, we are installing new instrumentation (including a TOF-LA-ICP-MS and LIBS) that will boost the productivity of Canadian CRM companies through Business Expenditures in Research and Development (BERD). This project will not only serve the needs of our current 15+ small and medium enterprise (SME) partners, whose focus on CRM identification and production addresses the urgent need for stable, domestic CRM sources, but also develop new such partnerships. The activities enabled by this project will directly support $2–3M in BERD within the first two years, help de-risk over $100M in CRM exploration costs, train HQP in state-of-art techniques, and attract investment in Canada’s clean resource sector.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Director, Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Research (FiLTER), which is a shared research platform under the portfolio of the Office of Research and Innovation.

Work Performed
Project Management:

• Manages the Enhancing Critical Raw Material Innovation to Advance Exploration and Production project, including project execution, monitoring, and reporting to ensure multi-year project commitments are being met effectively and efficiently.  Has overall responsibility for ensuring the success of the project.

• Manages and maintains records for tracking activities and revenues, reporting information to the funding agency and ensuring terms of the Statement of Work with the funders are met.

• Liaises with central Finance Manager to ensure funds are spent within UBC policies and guidelines.

• Ensures project objectives and milestones are achieved and provides frequent updates to the Principal Investigator and research team.

• Identifies, problem solves, and works to remove barriers for successful project activities, with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships between researchers, collaborators, funding agencies, and external parties. Identifies interdependencies between various groups and projects.

• Coordinates and supports the development of funding applications with the Principal Investigator and research team.

• Monitors and reports on status of project timeline, budget, and scope to the OVPRI, the Director of FiLTER, the Principal Investigators, and other interested parties as needed.

Writing and project reporting:

• Manages the preparation of written progress, quarterly, annual and final reports.

• Responsible for providing information with respect to the performance indicators, as requested by the Funder.

• Tracking of HQP training and HQP jobs created through surveys and dialogue with past-trainees.

• Prepares and develops project documents and templates such as Statement of Works, financial and progress tracking sheets and procedures, etc.

• Special Projects as assigned by the Director of FiLTER and/or the Principal Investigators

Liaising with mining industry and government partners:

• Arranges meetings and interaction with partners involved in the project (includes mining and mineral exploration companies and government geological surveys); responsible for keeping meeting minutes and distributing them to attendees; follows up on action items in minutes.

• Identifies and develops new partners, including industry, local government, and indigenous groups in British Columbia.

• Assists the Director of FiLTER to champion the facility’s long-range research communication, marketing, outreach and engagement strategies to both internal and external audiences to raise the facility’s research reputation, increase research collaborations, and positively impact UBCO’s research culture.

• Work within the UBC structure and to represent FiLTER and UBC at events like PDAC and AME Roundup.

• Supports the development of proposals, initiatives, projects, and programs and develops new or expanded partnerships/relationships.

• Tracks Partner business expenditures in research and development (BERD) targets through a combination of accessing and synthesizing values from public disclosure and through interactions with industry partners.
  
  

Research application development

• Develops analytical methodologies for a newly acquired Nu Instruments Vitesse ICP-TOF-MS system paired with an Elemental Scientific Laser ImageGeo 193 excimer laser, ensuring optimal performance for in situ microanalysis of geological samples.

• Performs research and analysis focused on critical mineral deportment and ore petrogenesis, utilizing the instrument to generate high-resolution elemental and isotopic data from various geologic settings and deposit types.

• Investigates, in detail, trace element partitioning between cogenetic mineral phases and association with potential fluid-related alteration.

• Prepares manuscripts and presentations of findings.

• Other duties as required by the Principal Investigator and FiLTER Director.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors in the management of the project budget, schedules and resources would result in a lack of accountability to granting bodies and of financial and other resources that are essential to complete the project.

Errors or poor judgement in the co-ordination and facilitation of the information exchange between the co-investigators, the scientific community, industry and the public would damage the reputation of the project and the credibility of its findings.

Decisions made directly affect the effective and efficient operations of the facility and potentially UBC. Decisions made affect the public image of the University. Decisions made can create legal and financial liabilities for the University. Poor decisions and lack of tact, diplomacy, or sensitivity in dealing with industry and government partners could potentially result in missed opportunities, damaged relationships, and loss of credibility for the University.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Director, FiLTER

Works under the general direction of the Director of FiLTER with research mentorship/support from the Principal Investigator. This position will be expected to develop work plans and timetables and to exercise judgement and initiative on duties. This position is accountable for the progress of the project, and the effective and efficient execution of project milestones and commitments. Work will be reviewed against the overall strategic plan and project deliverables and objectives.

Supervision Given

This position may supervise staff or student workers.

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

• Postgraduate degree (PhD) in Earth Sciences is strongly preferred. Three years of related experience coordinating research projects in an academic or industry setting or in project management or the equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Knowledge of project management methodologies and principles, project evaluation and monitoring. Training in project management with a Project Management Professional designation preferred.

• Research financial administration experience, including experience with budget development, accounting and forecasting; or equivalent combination of training and experience. 

• Demonstrated understanding of Canadian funding agencies mandates and programs.  Knowledge of successful grant application procedures and granting agency requirements.

• Related experience in building collaborative research teams and multi-disciplinary and/or multi- institutional research proposals for provincial, national, and international agencies.

• Related experience in the development of research proposals, publications, grant applications, including project logistics and budget development. Grant writing experience an asset.

• Experience identifying, building and maintaining relationships at senior levels with industry, academia, government and associations in the local and national arenas.

• Strong communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills. Expertise in applying knowledge and experience to complex, multifaceted problems.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments within a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated organizational, analytical and decision-making skills.

• Excellent ability to organize work and communicate effectively. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.

• Ability to look beyond existing methodologies and own discipline to define and resolve complex problems. Ability to use sound judgment in managing unexpected situations, competing or changing priorities

• Ability to work under pressure of deadlines. Ability to accept responsibility and work independently. 

Ability to work as part of a team.