Operations Lead

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA). 

This position has a term length of 4 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Location

Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world 

shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Position

Working in the ABMI’s Operations Centre, the Operations Lead is a highly motivated, nimble leader with a demonstrated history of strong performance. The primarily responsibilities of this position are managing the delivery of ABMI’s initiatives, including annual work plans, projects, operational activities, and partnership-building. This position will also undertake project management activities of specific initiatives within the ABMI. This is a fast-paced, multifaceted, and dynamic position, requiring a driven, collaborative, results-oriented individual.

Duties

The Operations Lead is responsible for managing several diverse operational activities for the ABMI. The responsibilities of the Operations Lead include:

1. Manages and Implements ABMI Work Planning

• Supervises a team of technical project managers who ensure ongoing, effective delivery of ABMI’s programs and commitments
• Compiles, integrates, and manages annual work planning for the ABMI
• Supports the annual creation of workplans with input from the Executive Office and Centre Directors.
• Contributes scientific and operational expertise to the development of plans, objectives, solutions, policies and procedures. Synthesizes complex information gathered from a variety of internal and external sources. Completes environment scanning and assesses opportunities and risks. Tracks key analytics and develops reports to support decision making.
• Evaluates scientific, strategic, and operational value and feasibility of different initiatives, program areas, and deliverables to ensure alignment with ABMI’s strategic plan and capacity
• Facilitates monthly ABMI Operations (leadership) meetings.
• Circulates meeting agendas and minutes, as well as provides reminders for action items.
• Maintains an archive of operational documents
• Monitors and reports on progress against annual commitments
• Fosters and maintains ongoing relationships with funders
• Presents work plan and project-based operational matters to the ABMI management team
• Clearly communicates strategic objectives and works with staff from across the ABMI to define action plans

2. Project Management and Operational Activities

• Leads cross-centre teams to deliver on planned work; identifies and resolves barriers to delivering on commitments
• Identifies operational challenges. Uses continuous improvement methodology to manage work and streamline processes. Evaluates current business processes for efficiencies and recommends changes
• Manages a diverse portfolio of projects with varying timelines, topics, and size
• Establishes project management processes and documentation for the ABMI
• Develops and implements operational policies and procedures that promote internal efficiency and optimal performance
• Fosters and maintains active working relationships with all other ABMI centres
• Facilitates appropriate safety training, and adherence to all UofA health and safety policies and protocols.

3. Supports Knowledge Translation and Partnership-Building

• Works across sectors and the scientific community to understand the knowledge needs of Alberta’s natural resource sectors
• Fosters cooperation, collaboration, and communication to create consensus and accomplish objectives
• Provides feedback to various funders and partners on the status of ABMI initiatives and projects
• Builds and maintains working relationships with key ABMI partners and collaborators
• Communicates monitoring outcomes in written and oral form to non-technical and technical audiences
• Provides operational summaries of ABMI’s activities

Minimum Qualifications

• MSc in ecology or related discipline
• Greater than three years experience working in the field of ecology or resource management with excellent interpersonal skills
• Greater than two years experience with project management

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of scientific principles related to monitoring design and analysis
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced work environment
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively
• Previous experiences multitasking and juggling multiple priorities
• Comfortable taking initiative and leading projects
• Experience collaborating and achieving results through teamwork
• Assertive communicator able to navigate complex and challenging situations
• Forward-thinking and able to advance work independently
• Proactive ability to anticipate and operationalize next steps for projects and initiatives
• Experience working with management teams
• Experience successfully working with academics, industry, Indigenous community, and government stakeholders
• Experience developing and implementing ecological monitoring or research programs
• Experience applying ecological monitoring or research knowledge to environmental management systems
• Formal training in project management is an asset

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.