Chemical Risk and Indigenous Expertise Research Coordinator

University of British Columbia - Staff; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Chemical Risk and Indigenous Expertise Research Coordinator to lead a transformative six-year research initiative. This role involves managing communication across multiple projects, overseeing budgets, and collaborating with Indigenous communities to enhance chemical risk management practices. The successful candidate will have strong program management experience and outstanding communication skills, contributing to a diverse and inclusive research environment. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in sustainability and Indigenous research methodologies while working within a supportive academic framework.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of related experience or equivalent education.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage communication and coordination among sub-projects.
• Oversee project budget and ensure milestones are met.
• Facilitate workshops with Indigenous communities.

Skills

Program Management

Research Facilitation

Communication Skills

Budget Management

Indigenous Research Methodologies

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Relevant Discipline

Tools

UBC HR and Finance Software

Spreadsheets

Website Management

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B Job Title Chemical Risk and Indigenous Expertise Research Coordinator Department Research | Oberg Lab | Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability | Faculty of Science 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 18, 2025

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

Job End Date

Jun 1, 2026

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 Chemical Risk and Indigenous Expertise Research Project is a new, large, six-year-long research initiative funded by the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) that brings Indigenous research methods to boldly transform chemical risk management in four arenas: 1) Indigenous community-based practice, 2) university labs and classes, 3) regulatory practices, and 4) policy development, and support graduate students and faculty in applying scholarly research and expertise towards sustainable chemicals management solutions. The project is administered by the University of Toronto and consists of six sub-projects, of which two are administrated by the University of British Columbia. The other subprojects are administrated by the University of Toronto, The University of Guelph, and Landcare Research, New Zealand. The Program Coordinator is required to manage and administer the two sub-projects administrated by UBC, responsible for managing communication with the other sub-projects, works closely with the Director of Operations at UofT on all aspects of the project, and assists in developing new research and training collaborations. The successful candidate will have proven program management experience, experience in research environments and outstanding communication skills. The position is initially for 1 year with option of renewal for up to 6 years.


Organizational Status

The Program Coordinator reports to the Principal Investigators (PIs) at UBC: Gunilla Öberg and Amanda Giang. In addition, they will facilitate communication among researchers, Student Fellows and Postdocs in the two sub-projects at UBC and facilitate communication with the other four subprojects. The Coordinator will manage and be responsible for program coordination in the two subprojects at UBC, including running existing activities and helping to identify, establish and run new activities, and all ongoing administrative, communications, organizational, financial and human resources aspects of these activities. In addition, the Coordinator collaborates with the Director of Operations at University of Toronto, the other sub-projects, including Indigenous partner communities and organizations, and other UBC units related to joint programming initiatives. Coordinates on- and off-site research activities with UBC faculty and students, governmental collaborators, and external stakeholders. May hire and supervise up to 2 Work Learn students per year.

Work Performed

· Develop and maintain a documentation strategy, including an online database, website, social media platforms, and associated governance documents on data governance and stewardship.

· Oversee research project budget and participates in budget forecasting along with IRES Finance/HR Manager.

· Oversee project progress against project timelines and budgets, liaise as necessary, and ensure that timelines are met and milestones achieved. Follow up and take action, solve problems to ensure project targets are met

· Manage and participate in project events, including the bi-weekly sub-project meetings and the monthly all-team meetings to define strategy, goals and scope of the project and UBC sub-projects

· Oversee a budget of ~$700,000/yr. Responsible for budget reporting, forecasting and ensuring project remains on budget and expenses in line with project outcomes.

· Work closely with IRES finance manager, ORS, UILO and finance officers involved in project at UofT.

· Work closely with the Director of Operations at the University of Toronto on all aspects of the project.

· Organize and facilitate knowledge synthesis workshops and planning meetings with collaborating Indigenous communities and organizations (e.g., Inuit Circumpolar Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami)

· Work with the project’s communications team at the University of Toronto and at IRES/UBC to provide advise and oversee that external messaging is coherent.

· Responsible for managing all internal communication (e.g. regular team meetings, meeting schedules)

· Engage and direct communication with other sub-projects, Indigenous communities and organizations, and governmental staff engaged in the larger project.

· Support knowledge mobilization with international, regional, and local audiences through outreach events, peer-reviewed publications, and other project materials and activities in collaboration with PIs, Indigenous partners, and government collaborators.

· Manage and participate in the development and review of Research Protocols, including but not limited to: ethics applications, research license applications, workshop guides, and interview protocols, field activities including participant recruitment.

· Oversee the work of part-time students in the securing, organizing, storing and sharing of research data, including literature reviews.

Perform other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Failure to meet these objectives could affect the reputation of the larger project and our collective ability to gain the trust of Indigenous communities and organizations, attract funding, researchers, and students to contribute to the project’s research portfolio, jeopardizing the viability of the entire project’s core operations.

Supervision Received
Works under the direction of Dr. Gunilla Öberg in collaboration with Dr. Amanda Giang. Exercises a high level of independent decision making. Keeps the PIs informed and up-to-date on issues through regular meetings and collaborates closely with the Project Management Team at the University of Toronto .

Supervision Given
The Research Coordinator provides supervision to students when appropriate ;

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

• has experience or training working with Indigenous communities,
• familiarity with OCAP(c)/Indigenous data sovereignty/Indigenous research methodologies
• has experience of higher education research management experience,
• is highly skilled in research facilitation and implementation and in organizational, data, and financial management in a complex, multifaceted environment,
• 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 organization resources (e.g., people, materials, assets)
• Demonstrated knowledge of UBC’s organizational structures, relationships, platforms (e.g., Workday), policies, and protocols is an asset
• Proficiency in computer-based environment including UBC HR and Finance software, spreadsheets, accounting, website etc.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, able to communicate with diplomacy and tact with diverse partners and collaborators (e.g., academia, Indigenous communities, and government)
• Ability to be organized and deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.
• Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment on routine tasks as well as special projects.