Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Administration, Level E

Job Title

Senior Manager, Strategic Research Engagement

Department

Administrative Leadership | VP Research and Innovation

Compensation Range

$9,859.25 - $15,380.75 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 7, 2026

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

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks

Job End Date

Ongoing

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

The Vice President Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio provides strategic leadership to advance UBC’s research and innovation priorities and strengthen the University’s position as a leading global research institution.

The Senior Manager, Strategic Research Engagement leads the development of institutional strategies to position UBC for success in major mission driven research initiatives and national and international funding opportunities aligned with university priorities. The role provides strategic advice and decision support to the Vice President Research & Innovation.

Working across the VPRI portfolio, Faculties, and central administrative units, the Senior Manager is accountable for institutional research related analysis, executive briefing materials, and external engagement to advance UBC’s research priorities. The role leads the development of institutional responses to major mission driven research related opportunities and issues, and manages key relationships with government, funding agency, and international partners to strengthen UBC’s competitiveness in major research initiatives and collaborative programs, including international opportunities such as the European Union’s Horizon Europe framework.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Assistant Vice President, Research. Works closely with the Vice President Research & Innovation, VPRI senior leadership, Faculty research leadership, and central university portfolios including Vice President External Relations. Provides strategic coordination across the VPRI portfolio and convenes contributions from Faculties and central administrative units on institution wide research priorities and opportunities. Collaborates with the VPRI communications team, data analyst, and other specialists within the VPRI portfolio to support institutional research strategy and engagement.

Work Performed

• Leads the development of institutional strategies and coordinated approaches for UBC’s participation in major mission driven provincial, federal, and international research funding opportunities, ensuring alignment with UBC’s research priorities.
• Independently assesses strategic fit, institutional readiness, and competitive positioning for major research initiatives, and develops recommendations, briefing materials, and response plans for the Vice President Research & Innovation and senior leadership.
• Leads and coordinates university wide institutional responses to government consultations, federal policy initiatives, and requests for information on research related issues, convening and directing input from Faculties and central portfolios, including Vice President External Relations.
• Develops and is accountable for the quality of strategic research related documents prepared on behalf of the VPRI, including reports, white papers, briefing notes, executive correspondence, and responses to government, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and messaging in collaboration with VPRI Communications.
• Develops executive ready presentations, briefing materials, and strategic analyses for the Vice President Research & Innovation in advance of meetings and engagements with key external partners and stakeholders on research related matters, including provincial and federal governments.
• Leads and manages strategic relationships on behalf of the VPRI with key provincial, federal, and international stakeholders, identifying and advancing opportunities that enhance UBC’s ability to secure major research funding and participate in high value collaborative initiatives.
• Leads strategies to support and strengthen the success of UBC researchers in mission driven federal and international funding opportunities, partnerships, and consortia, including UBC’s participation in the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.
• Leads the identification and mapping of UBC’s research strengths to strategic research opportunities in order to inform institutional positioning, external engagement, and coordinated pursuit of major initiatives.
• Collaborates with the VPRI data analyst to interpret data and develop strategic insights, analyses, and recommendations that inform institutional priorities, opportunity assessment, and external engagement strategies.
• Proactively monitors and maintains expert knowledge of emerging provincial, national, and international research opportunities, funding directions, and policy developments, and advises the Vice President Research & Innovation on implications for UBC’s research strategy and positioning.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position provides strategic leadership and advice to senior university leadership on research funding opportunities and external engagement with government and international partners, and plays a key role in shaping institutional research strategy. Decisions and recommendations made in this role influence UBC’s institutional positioning for major provincial, national and international research initiatives and funding opportunities.

Errors in judgment or inaccurate advice may negatively affect UBC’s ability to compete for strategic research funding, undermine institutional relationships with key government and funding partners, and result in reputational risk for the university and its researchers. Sound judgment, strategic insight, and a high degree of professionalism are required when representing UBC’s research priorities and capabilities.

Supervision Received

Works under broad senior administrative and policy direction within broad objectives.

Supervision Given

Manages activities through colleagues, professional, and support staff as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Master’s degree preferred. Minimum of eight 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

• Experience supporting strategic research initiatives, or major research funding proposals within a large research intensive university or comparable environment.

• Demonstrated experience engaging with government, funding agencies, faculty and external partners on strategic research initiatives including involvement in the development of large scale funding applications.

• Demonstrated success navigating complicated or contentious issues with stakeholder groups who may have competing or conflicting priorities

• Comfortable in an ambiguous environment where diplomacy, discretion, and tact are paramount;

• Impeccable judgement in handling matters of a sensitive or non routine nature

• Strong understanding of provincial, federal, and international research funding landscapes.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and develop strategic briefings, reports, and presentations for senior leadership.

• Excellent written, communication, and presentation skills.

• Experience coordinating institutional responses to government consultations or strategic policy initiatives.

• Experience interpreting research related data and translating insights into strategic recommendations.

About Us

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.