Language Sciences Research, Engagement, and Operations Manager

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B

Job Title
Language Sciences Research, Engagement, and Operations Manager

Department
Language Sciences Institute | Faculty Publications & Centres | Dean of Arts Office

Compensation Range
$6,068.92 - $8,724.25 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
March 1, 2024

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

Job End Date

Mar 31, 2025

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 Language Sciences Institute comprises members from 47 departments on both the UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, as well as 93 affiliate members. Recently named a Global Excellence Research Institute, one of only four at UBC, the Institute aims to:

• catalyze new interdisciplinary research programs around five challenges,
• engage community and industry partners,
• engage with community and industry partners,
• share research findings to enrich public knowledge,
• promote equity, diversity and inclusion at and beyond UBC,
• cement UBC’s place as a global leader in language sciences research, and
• cultivate the next generation of language sciences researchers.

The Language Sciences Research, Engagement, and Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the operation and administration of all Institute initiatives, including developing and implementing LangSci research, educational, and community outreach and engagement strategies that facilitate formal and informal conversations, exchanges, and collaborations between Language Sciences members and affiliates outside UBC. The Manager will serve as the central point of contact for LangSci leadership, staff, faculty and graduate student members at UBC and other institutions, and stakeholders in departments, faculties, and units across UBC and the broader municipal, provincial, Canadian, and international community. They will develop programming such as member events, workshops, and roundtables that facilitate conversations and lead to new interdisciplinary collaborations in research, teaching, and community partnerships in the Language Sciences.

Organizational Status

The Language Sciences Institute has over 200 faculty, graduate student, and postdoctoral fellow members across 10 faculties, colleges, and schools at UBC Point Grey and UBC Okanagan, led by two co-directors from different departments and around 12 steering committee members. The Language Sciences Research, Engagement, and Operations Manager will report directly to the Academic Co-Directors of the Language Sciences Institute, and will work closely with steering committee members to plan and execute programming in their respective portfolios. Additionally, the Manager has supervisory responsibility for institute staff, and will work with the Arts Research Centres Administrator on matters related to human resources and finance. The incumbent will interact with faculty members, students, staff, general public, vendors, UBC leadership at central and Faculty levels, Human Resources, ISIT, and Finance.

Work Performed

The Language Sciences Research, Engagement, and Operations Manager is responsible for developing and implementing LangSci operational, research, educational, and community outreach and engagement strategies that facilitate formal and informal conversations, exchanges and collaborations between Language Sciences members and affiliates.

Member Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization

• With support from Communications Specialist, developing, enacting, and maintaining a member engagement strategy for the Institute that engages Language Sciences faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students at UBC and Affiliate members at other institutions by developing and organizing programming.
• In consultation with the co-directors and steering committee, planning and implementing a range of events including regular Lang Sci Events, research roundtables, Lecture and Film Series, mini-conferences, internal funding competitions for research seed money and professional development funds.
• Providing high-level advice and support to LangSci members in knowledge mobilization, community engagement, and industry partnership activities.
• Building relationships between LangSci members based on a broad and extensive knowledge of existing and emerging language sciences research, teaching, outreach activities, and personnel across UBC and other institutions.
• Connecting LangSci members with potential opportunities for funding, research collaboration, student exchanges, skills training, and teaching through regular member communications.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of current Language Science research and teaching activities across faculties at UBC; identifying potential new members and affiliates.
• Setting communication priorities for the Institute in consultation with the Co-directors, ensuring the communications and engagement strategy developed  and implemented by the Communications Specialist aligns with LangSci’s institutional priorities.
• Leading the development and preparation of reports, informational and promotional materials for a variety of stakeholders, including Language Sciences members and affiliates, Language Sciences leadership team members, Deans' oversight committee members, senior UBC administrators (including the Vice President Academic and Vice President Research), Language Sciences donors, and various public audiences.
• Communicating regularly with Steering Committee regarding project timelines and institute activities.

Research and Funding

• Overseeing outgoing grant proposals and funding applications in collaboration with co-directors and steering committee members, including identifying key internal and external funding opportunities, developing and preparing funding applications and fulfilling reporting requirements for successful applications.
• Managing the LangSci member funding request process, including establishing internal funding competition timelines and deadlines, coordinating the Member Funding Request Review Committee, responding to member questions regarding on- and off-cycle funding requests, liaising with the Office of Research Services and LangSci members regarding research funding awards, tracking the progress of funded member projects.
• Cultivating and managing respectful, accountable relationships with community organizations and industry partners, especially for Institute-level projects, alongside co-directors and project leads.
• Drafting, reviewing, and ensuring accountability for formal and informal agreements with external partners, in consultation with partners, LangSci co-directors and projects leads, University Counsel and other relevant university offices/officers.
• Identifying opportunities for knowledge mobilization activities, including public lectures and external stakeholders, and executing knowledge mobilization activities led by co-directors and steering committee members (with support from Communications Specialist and Program Assistant).
• Alongside members of the steering committee, lead the development and implementation of an equity, diversity, and inclusion action plan for Language Sciences; form and facilitate a LangSci working group on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Operations and Day to Day Running of the Institute

• Acting as the central point of contact for Language Sciences Institute members and affiliates, and for others interested in the Institute within and outside UBC.
• Building and managing relationships with faculty, staff, and students in the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology; the Senate office; the Offices of the Vice President Academic and Vice President Research; other administrators and senior leaders in Arts, and other UBC units.
• Participating in and facilitating meetings for LangSci Co-Directors, Steering Committee, Research Leads, and high-level University administrators such as the Provost, VPRI, and President.
• Evaluating and making recommendations on Institute initiatives on an ongoing basis to support planning and decision-making.
• Developing and maintaining program and project budgets including forecasting, analyzing expenditures, directing reconciliation processes, reviewing expenditures to ensure compliance with university and grant guidelines, and providing regular expenditure updates to Director and Steering Committee.
• Managing staff, including overseeing the recruitment, training and mentorship, performance evaluation, and termination of current and future LangSci staff in consultation with the Arts Research Centres Administrator and Faculty of Arts Human Resources team.
• Assessing team workload to maintain a sustainable workload for each team member; setting weekly/monthly/yearly priorities and workplans; anticipating staffing needs. Fostering a positive, collaborative, and psychologically safe culture within LangSci team.

Courses and Student Engagement

• Managing the development and implementation of new LangSci courses including developing curriculum and materials; exploring new innovations in teaching and learning; and promoting the course.
• Managing the operation of the university-wide course ‘Living Language: Science and Society”.
• Planning, alongside steering committee members and relevant UBC unit, professional development activities for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral fellows including professional development seminars for graduate students and postdocs.

Supervision Received

The successful candidate will work independently with wide latitude, with periodic review by the Academic co-directors to assess progress towards defined goals. The Arts Research Centres Administrator will provide additional high-level guidance and mentorship on matters relating to Human Resources and Finance.

Supervision Given

The Manager is responsible for supervising institute staff, (currently including the Communications Specialist and Program Assistant), as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on a project-by-project basis. They are also responsible for hiring, performance management, and termination of staff.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

A high level of competence is expected as errors in judgment could impact the financial well-being, integrity, and reputation of the research projects, team, and university.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of relevant experience, or 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 training in a relevant discipline preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to effectively liaise with faculty and research organizations across campus. Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thoroughly-considered decisions. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops. Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources. Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide reports and recommendations to Institute leadership, stakeholders, and staff. Ability to effectively market and promote interdisciplinary teaching and faculty research. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Ability to think conceptually. (i.e., use creative, conceptual, or inductive reasoning or thought processes to identify patterns in complex data, and identify key or underlying issues in complex situations). Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to effectively use office software at an intermediate level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel). Ability to input and extract data, and compile data reports from a variety of analytical programs an asset. Ability to assist in curriculum design an asset. Knowledge of the procedures for getting approval for curriculum changes an asset.