Scientific and Business Development Director - The Electron Microbeam and x-ray Diffraction Facility (Emxdf)

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Department

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

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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 Scientific and Business Development Director is responsible for the scientific leadership, research direction and business development of the Electron Microbeam and X-Ray Diffraction Facility (EMXDF) at EOAS.

This position requires leadership in facility and team management, research investigational work including developing new methodologies, consultation with and advises departmental, UBC and industry facility users on Electron Microbeam and X-Ray Diffraction measurements, and method development for electron beam techniques.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Head of Department, with scientific oversight from the EMXDF Steering Committee. The incumbent will work closely with EOAS faculty members, supervise research scientists, advise users of the facility and participate in the education of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. As a professional geoscientist and expert in the fields of electron-beam microanalysis, X-ray crystallography, and mineralogy and mineral chemistry, the incumbent will develop administrative and scientific policy as appropriate to meet the needs of researchers and other clients.

The Department of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) is a large and complex organization with over 50 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 50 staff employees, 200 graduate students and PDFs, and over 350 undergraduate students in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Geological Engineering, Geological Sciences, Geophysics, and Oceanography. Departmental programs extend beyond the Faculty of Science and interface with the Faculty of Applied Science.

EOAS houses multiple semi-autonomous ancillary research units, several fee-for-service laboratory operations, a public geological museum, stores operations, a fleet of vehicles and a research boat, a mechanical shop, and a remote field school facility in the Okanagan. The Department maintains strong relationships with numerous industry and government sectors.

Work Performed

Leadership:

• Formulates and implements the short and long-range strategies and goals for the operation and promotion of the facilities; develop the tactical and operation plan for the facilities.
• Leads a team of highly specialized analytical staff and directs the daily operation of the EMXRDF, which provides both technician-run sample analysis and self-service sample analysis.
• Fosters scientific excellence by ensuring the facility provides leading edge support for both graduate student research programs and departmental, UBC and industry research initiatives.
• Manages the EMXRDF operating budget including, forecasting and resource allocation to align with the strategic direction of the Facility.
• Maintains the operational continuity of the instruments with service contracts, oversees instrument maintenance and repairs, and manages instrument servicing and vendor communication.

Business Development:

• Identifies funding and market opportunities for synergy and collaboration, and keeps abreast of industry trends related to technology transfer and corporate development in related industries.
• Engages with faculty and research staff to identify and facilitate increased interaction with other research institutes, including evaluating and facilitating business and collaboration opportunities, fostering new research collaborations, that enhance the reputation and funding opportunities for the EMXRDF and increasing access to government and private research facilitation and funding initiatives.
• Develops commercialization and marketing strategies with the capability to be successful with business development for the lab.
• Attends relevant academic and industry conferences in geoscience and mineral exploration, follows current literature in the field, interfaces with equipment manufacturers, and actively networks with related analytical laboratories in Canada and internationally.
• Leads the preparation of grant applications for funding of new equipment and facility operations in collaboration with researchers and stakeholders.
• Develops and executes a communication and public relations strategy to promote the EMXRDF facility's laboratory services, research and method development, and publications from facility users.

Research:

• Leads and evaluates the development of analytical methods (with domain expertise in mineralogy and geological sciences), based on current scientific advances.
• Monitors instrument performance and adjustment of operating parameters to achieve optimum performance for specific analyses.
• Leads the negotiation, procurement and contracting of equipment and instrumentation and oversees the installation and testing.
• Contributes to the academic mandate of the department in knowledge transfer by facilitating educational opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
• Prepares scientific publications related to electron beam method development and application, and contributes to user scientific publications as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This role has a significant client-facing component, both internally and externally. Errors in analyses and/or poor supervision would lead to incorrect interpretation of research results and prevent the attainment of research goals. Such errors would result in the significant loss of time and resources on behalf of the researchers. In the case of commercial contract work, errors will lead to significant reputational damage to EOAS and UBC, and could create significant revenue loss for high-value mineral exploration work. A high degree of accuracy and initiative is required in decision-making and effective implementation of strategic priorities, operational management, problem resolution and addressing unique situations and opportunities. Poor judgment or lack of tact, diplomacy or sensitivity could potentially result in lost opportunities for researchers, staff and partners, and cause reputational risks for the University.

Supervision Received
This position works independently and establishes priorities, taking into account the goals and needs of UBC researchers and other clients. Advises on the best methods for achieving these goals by applying the appropriate scientific principles. This position makes his/her/their own decisions on both scientific and technical aspects of the work and is responsible for monitoring use of funds and resources and making financial decisions in consultation with the EOAS Head of Department and academic steering committee. The Director's work is reviewed annually by Department Head and academic steering committee.

Supervision Given

Directly responsible for the full scope of managing the research scientists working in the facility including hiring, supervision, performance management including appraisals, discipline and termination.

Oversees numerous graduate students, PDFs and Departmental visitors when using equipment in the facility as part of their research projects.

Minimum Qualifications
For research project leadership, a post-graduate degree or an equivalent professional designation is required with a minimum of five years of related experience, including experience in a field of specialization, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of seven 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

Ph.D. degree (preferred) in Geological Sciences or related disciplines and demonstrated productivity in the appropriate fields, or an M.Sc. degree combined with extensive experience in mineralogy, mineral composition and geology expertise pertinent to the position.

Seven years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience if not responsible for a research project. Five years experience in a field of specialization or equivalent combination of education and experience if responsible for a research project. Experience in the operation of EPMA, XRD, SEM, including basic maintenance would be an asset.

Demonstrated ability to provide leadership excellence in managing a team of highly specialized analytical staff, ensuring operational continuity, and maintaining a positive work environment.

Demonstrated ability to provide strong, effective and supportive management of staff, effective team building and conflict resolution with experience managing a team.

Experience in being able to integrate and interpret analytical data, and assist internal and external facility users with interpretation of results.

Experience with writing scientific publications and professional reports would be an asset.

Excellent interpersonal skills along with the ability to effectively train others.

Effective oral and written communication, with scientific writing skills to prepare internal and external reports, correspondence and grant applications.

Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills with interpersonal and leadership skills to successfully interact with research groups at UBC, other universities and industry.