Senior Project Coordinator

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

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Senior Project Coordinator for Population Data BC within the Faculty of Medicine. The role involves overseeing project management for a multi-regional data access initiative, facilitating collaboration with researchers, and providing guidance on academic writing. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree, preferably with experience in linked data research, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of related experience.
• Experience in a research environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage the SPOR CDP.
• Facilitate collaboration across the network.
• Perform complex qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Skills

Strong oral and written communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Knowledge of research methods

Attention to detail

Time management skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B Job Title Senior Project Coordinator Department HDRN Projects | Population Data BC | Faculty of Medicine 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 July 30, 2025

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

Job End Date

March 31, 2026

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

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

Population Data BC (PopData) is a multi-university, data and education resource facilitating interdisciplinary research on the determinants of human health, well-being and development. We support secure research access to individual-level, de-identified longitudinal data on 5.4 million residents living in British Columbia, linking data across various sectors such as health, education, early childhood development, workplace and the environment.

We are a key member of the International Population Data Linkage Network, through which we have promoted international research collaborations and fostered working groups on privacy and access to data. Population Data BC is also one of 14 centres that comprise Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada), a research-enabling, distributed network that supports multi-regional, person-focused research. The work of HDRN Canada is supported by a seven-year, $39M grant awarded by the CIHR under its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), and has in-kind contributions from network member organizations across Canada. HDRN Canada is a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization with many complex and strategic relationships with Ministries of Health and other government entities (which are often funders of network members), with federal agencies and with other groups, networks and data providers. The network is comprised of every national, provincial, and territorial centre that holds population-wide health data. As HDRN Canada, our 14 centres work together and share resources to support researchers in using over 550 health and social datasets that our centres hold.

The Senior Project Coordinator will be responsible for enabling the various activities of this significant national data and infrastructure investment. The incumbent will exercise professional judgment and initiative, and is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the SPOR CDP. They will lead the project review process and the development of collaborative agreements and plans. The Senior Project Coordinator will also facilitate collaboration across the network as well as provide guidance on academic writing and communications content.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Project Manager and will have accountability as well to the Director of Operations and the Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI) / Scientific Director for Health Data Research Network Canada. As a coordinator for a nationally distributed network, the Senior Project Coordinator is expected to work with external researchers, members of partner institutions, project leads, and cross-institutional committees.

The Network Coordination and Operations (NCO) team for Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada) and the SPOR Canadian Data Platform (CDP), the first initiative of HDRN Canada, are based at Population Data BC in the Faculty of Medicine.

Work Performed

Project Coordination

• Manages the project administration of a multi-regional data access and harmonization project using a common data model to enhance efficiencies and improve transparency and reproducibility of research evidence. This includes developing project plans, technical reports, financial budgets and other materials.

• Leads the coordination and collaboration of senior data analysts and data access staff between member organizations across Canada, with regular engagement with project leads, consultants, and researchers.

• Utilizes in-depth understanding of administrative data holdings and close knowledge of established data access processes and policies across multiple jurisdictions to provide advisory support, leadership and professional recommendations to project processes.

• Leads an environmental scan of data access and use policies, training, resources, and community engagement across HDRN Canada member organizations to inform future action plans for the Canadian Data Platform.

• Performs complex qualitative and quantitative data analysis using software (e.g., Nvivo and Excel).

• Facilitates project management of other centrally driven projects and operationalizing network work plans, including ongoing reviewing of budget, processes and timelines.

Training and Capacity Building

• Oversees the roll out of network-wide data access and use training (e.g., Indigenous data governance and sovereignty), including facilitating discussions of shared learning.

• Identifies other training needs through engagement with member organizations and partners and co-designs targeted learning opportunities to address gaps in knowledge and practice.

• Manages project knowledge translation and dissemination activities, working closely with the Communications Team, including reports and summaries of project findings

• Drives and facilitates capacity-building efforts in the Algorithm and Harmonized Data Working Group and other Working Groups/Teams as necessary.

Network and Research Administration

• Facilitates the operationalization of the Canadian Data Platform and Health Data Research Network Canada, supporting various activities and initiatives led by the Project Manager, Director of Operations and Nominated Principal Investigator

• Manages Canadian Data Platform documentation, organizing and disseminating as necessary, including preparing for funding applications.

• Develops an understanding of researcher access to data in BC, Canada, and around the world in order to support efforts to streamline data access at the provincial and national levels

• Fosters and strengthens relationships among Population Data BC staff, HDRN Canada member organizations, internal partners, data providers, the research community, and other external partners at both provincial, territorial, and national levels.

• Supports and backfills key staff as needed

• Performs other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
As a representative of PopData with extensive contact with researchers, policymakers, and partners, the Senior Project Coordinator must exercise sound judgment at all times. Actions carried out by the incumbent directly affect the effective and efficient operations of the Canadian Data Platform, HDRN Canada and PopData. Judgment within established guidelines is required with regard to the management of project priorities, schedules, and resource requirements.

This role will work under strict confidentiality because of the nature of the data held by Population Data BC and its partners. Any breach in data security would place the reputation and future of the SPOR CDP, PopData, and its partner organizations at risk.

Accuracy is extremely important because any errors in communication will have a significant effect on the reliability of information released by the SPOR CDP and PopData. The release of erroneous or misleading information may have implications that affect the network, the research community, partners, and public bodies.

Work must often meet tight deadlines and requires the incumbent to perform well under extreme pressure. The incumbent will be expected to respond well to unexpected circumstances and exercise independent judgment. The incumbent must demonstrate exceptional public relations and interpersonal skills in dealing with government, high profile members and senior administration of the university community.

Supervision Received
The position reports to the Project Manager, HDRN Canada. The incumbent will work with and occasionally receive direction from other senior members of the SPOR CDP and HDRN Canada Leadership team, as well as senior staff members of Population Data BC.

Supervision Given
None.

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

Undergraduate degree in a health or data-related program or other related discipline with five years' experience in a research environment is preferred. Experience with and knowledge of data, particularly linked and linkable data, and how they can be used for research is an asset. Experience in working within a statutorily-regulated or privacy-sensitive environment is highly desirable. Work with sensitive information or complex data systems also a significant asset.

Skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including proficiency in the use of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and technical terminology

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to liaise with individuals at varying levels of expertise, including programming staff, senior government staff, researchers, and community leaders.

• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods applicable to health research

• Strong ability to exercise tact, discretion, and judgment

• Strong understanding of how to function as a team player in a multi-institution environment

• Ability to understand technical terms and concepts

• Exceptional attention to detail

• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multitasking and competing priorities

• Exceptional initiative and willingness to learn new concepts and detailed procedures

• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment

• Must be positive in attitude and a team player