Business Manager

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Research and Facilitation, Level C

Job Title
Business Manager

Department
Research Berlinguette Lab Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science

Compensation Range
$6,551.00 – $9,418.83 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 26, 2024

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

Job End Date

Mar 25, 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

This position leads business development, communications, project management, and government relations for Professor Curtis Berlinguette’s dynamic academic research group of over 40 scientists, students, and staff.

Organizational Status

Reports directly to Professor Berlinguette. Works closely with Professor Jason Hein (co-lead with Berlinguette for UBC’s activities related to the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) – Acceleration Consortium). Interacts daily and directly with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members in the Berlinguette Group. Liaises significantly with technical and administrative staff both internal and external to the university in order to efficiently conduct their work.

Professor Curtis Berlinguette (Chemistry Department; Chemical & Biological Engineering Department; Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute) leads a large interdisciplinary team that explores, discovers, and deploys advanced materials that serve an ever-growing need for high-performance, low-cost alternative energy technologies. The Berlinguette Group specializes in systems that can convert, store, and modulate clean and abundant solar energy, and builds automated and autonomous platforms to help find the best new materials faster than ever.

Work Performed

BUSINESS AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Leads strategic partnership development with funders and collaborators across industry and government to:
  • i) Develop new revenue-generating opportunities and strengthen current business activities; and
  • ii) Identify research synergies among potential collaborators and create opportunities for new avenues of research.
• Maintains existing relationships, develops and facilitates new relationship engagement, and seeks out funding opportunities;
• Manages planning and execution of laboratory tours and exploratory meetings with stakeholders on campus;
• Writes progress reports for funders;
• Acts as a point of contact for all industrial partners and funders;
• Contributes integrally to the development of collaborative agreements with industrial partners; and
• Attends events and conferences to increase and promote the Berlinguette Group’s profile.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Plans, manages, and handles communications for multiple research projects;
• Drafts a variety of written works, including: proposals, grant applications, grant reports, conference abstracts, web content, manuscripts, speaking notes, and letters of support;
• Creates effective slide decks for communicating project motivations, objectives, and research results;
• Ensures that all research group communications are of an exceptional standard, which includes editing and approving the work of staff, post-docs, and students;
• Leads development of new communication strategies; and
• Handles media enquiries related to the Berlinguette Group’s projects in a timely and professional manner.

PROJECT AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversees budget and tracks spending for various projects and the Berlinguette Group as a whole;
• Works closely with technical team members to plan new sub-projects based on the Berlinguette Group’s research interests and the goals of potential partners and funders; and
• Forecasts resource requirements (personnel and equipment):
  • Manages hiring process for co-op students;
  • Coordinates drafting of job postings for new staff positions; and
  • Drafts of RFPs for key equipment.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

• Leads government relations for the Berlinguette Group;
• Executes monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting as needed;
• Leads conference calls with points of contact in government as needed;
• Ensures that all research and administrative team members are aware of reporting milestones and deadlines to ensure the quality of report content, in addition to driving the delivery of a professional end product;
• Writes progress and final reports for other government funders (e.g., NSERC, NRC); and
• Establishes and fosters new relationships with other governmental offices.

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INITIATIVES

• Participates in ongoing assessment of potential new initiatives.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position exercises considerable judgment and initiative in establishing priorities and carrying tasks through to completion, and must demonstrate, tact, discretion, and diplomacy with all stakeholders. Work is expected to be of professional quality at all times to ensure external perception of the group is not compromised. Consequences of error include missed opportunities for stage-gated funding, loss of program reputation, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information.
Supervision Received

Works with wide latitude and considerable autonomy. Work is reviewed periodically by Professor Berlinguette to assess the validity of recommendations and/or the achievement of defined goals.

Supervision Given

• Provides direction and delegates work to other research group staff members, students, postdocs, and research associates.
• Coaches group members on effective written and verbal communication.

Minimum Qualifications
For research work, a post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation with a minimum of four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of six 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

• Science-related industry experience; start-up experience is an asset;
• Experience working in an academic research setting;
• Experience building strong strategic partnerships;
• Experience managing an organization’s communications portfolio;
• Project management experience;
• Experience reviewing and ensuring compliance with legal contracts;
• Familiarity with Canada’s funding landscape;
• Experience with UBC s financial management system is an asset;
• HR experience is an asset; and
• Understanding of IP law is an asset.

• Exceptional written and visual communication skills;
• Ability to effectively communicate to a variety of audiences with varying levels of scientific knowledge;
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently;
• WordPress proficiency;
• Experience with Google Apps environment; and
• Ability to travel/work flexible hours of work.