CSFS Research Manager

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level A

Job Title
CSFS Research Manager

Department
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm | Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Compensation Range
$5,209.17 - $7,485.33 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
April 15, 2024

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

Job End Date

Apr 30, 2025

Please include cover letter. This is a 1 year term position with the possibility of an extension.

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. 

Organizational Status
Reports to and works closely with the CSFS Director. Collaborates with the CSFS Operations Director, other CSFS staff, CSFS Advisory committee and Faculty Associates, and other UBC units related to joint programming initiatives. Coordinates on- and off-site research activities with UBC faculty and students as well as external stakeholders to achieve CSFS strategic objectives. Hires and supervises up to 4 Work Learn students per year.
Work Performed

Research Project Coordination

Works with the CSFS Director to facilitate the development, implementation, coordination and evaluation of research activities of at the CSFS;

• Coordinates and supports field activities for research and other academic projects based at the CSFS/UBC Farm.
• Coordinates CSFS research at partnering farm locations.
• Develops baseline and set of short to long-term experiments that will provide clear guidance for improving agroecological sustainability.
• Establishes a framework that provides a welcoming and safe space for researchers interested in Indigenous ways of cultivating, harvesting, and preserving food and medicines.
• Improves opportunities for research associates and partners to develop research projects improving agronomic, social and environmental outcomes in the context of an operational farm.
• Tracks and monitors of all active research projects within the CSFS Research portfolio and their annual outputs (i.e. funded research projects, published papers, project outcomes, research projects hosted at UBC Farm, as well as at partnering farm locations.
• Reviews Land Based research proposals for new and renewing projects, and makes recommendations to the Land Committee.
• Provides annual indicators of CSFS Research program performance to support CSFS grant applications and reporting as needed.
• Monitors research project funding contributions to the CSFS (UBC Farm fees, research OH, etc.) in collaboration with the CSFS HR & Finance Coordinator.  Supervises and maintains the UBC Farm research fee monitoring platform.
• Maintains the CSFS/UBC Farm data infrastructure and ensures access for researchers as needed.

Knowledge Mobilization

• In collaboration with the CSFS staff and stakeholders, facilitates strategic linkages between academic initiatives, industry and community partnerships.
• Oversees, in collaboration with other CSFS staff and stakeholders, the collection, sharing and promotion of CSFS research activities to international, regional, and local communities through maintenance of the online database, website, social media platforms, and the extension web-portal, as well as through outreach events and activities.
• Supports the establishment of a network of on-farm trials to help develop, contextualize, and promote agroecological research.
• Works with CSFS associates to support the development of peer reviewed publications.

Administration and Facilitation of Special Research Projects

• Works with CSFS Directors to support the development of a new Farm Centre, as well as Long-Term Agroecological Research though grant writing, academic and research planning, strategic budget planning, and securing of financial and operational investment through project and grant development.
• Oversees the work of part-time students in the securing, organizing, storing and sharing of research and operational data.
• Provides special project assistance (e.g. revising site use, Land Based activity proposal processes, site orientation and service rates) and other duties as necessary.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Ensures that new and existing academic/research relationships fulfill the CSFS’ stated mission, vision and goals set out in the Strategic Plan. Failure to meet these objectives could affect the reputation of CSFS and its future ability to attract funding, researchers, and students to contribute to the Centre’s academic/research portfolio, jeopardizing the viability of the Centre’s core operations.

As the CSFS is seen as an integral component of UBC's Sustainability strategy, the innovation and quality of on-site sustainability research and teaching contributes towards the quality and success of UBC's broader sustainability efforts.

Supervision Received
Works under the direction of CSFS Director. Exercises a high level of independent decision making. Keeps the Director informed and up-to-date on issues through regular meetings and collaborates closely with the Operations Director. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of long-term goals. Works towards implementation of recommendations in the Strategic Plan.
Supervision Given
Supervises up to 4 seasonal student employees per year.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of two years of related experience, or an 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

• Graduate degree (MSc or PhD) is preferred, in a relevant discipline or mix of disciplines (education, agriculture, environmental sciences, ecology, food system science, geography, etc.).
• Proven research expertise: literature reviews, protocol development, field research design in on-farm settings, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, familiarity with publication procedure, research fund securement.
• Familiarity with the current social, ecological, and economic issues affecting food systems both locally and globally.
• Demonstrated experience and success in researching, writing and managing research funding grants.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UBC’s organizational structures, relationships, policies, and protocols is an asset.
• Familiarity with the history and current operations of the CSFS/ UBC Farm is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills: able to work quickly, efficiently, and calmly to identify and prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision in a dynamic and fast paced environment.
• Strong written and oral English communication skills; strong interpersonal, conflict resolution, negotiating skills: able to communicate with diplomacy and tact to a multi-cultural audience as a CSFS representative as well as when dealing with controversial issues; able to deliver engaging presentations to a variety of audiences.
• Proven collaborative leadership and vision with a strong track record for developing positive relationships with stakeholders and supporting a dynamic and creative team.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage, monitor, complete and evaluate multi-year projects within allocated time and resources; ability to identify, obtain and effectively manage organizational resources (e.g. people, materials, assets, budgets).
• Sound financial management in grant-funded enterprises, including financial tracking and reporting.
• Intermediate computer skills required (e.g. MS Office and online applications).  Knowledge of data programming tools (e.g. R, Python and QGIS) at an intermediate level is preferred.  Comfortable with learning new software and interested in developing data management skills.