Project Manager, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Archaeology Centre

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

Job End Date

This position is primarily an on-campus role at UBC Vancouver (Point Grey campus). The position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, however, may be subject to change due to operational requirements.

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 xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Archaeology Centre (xʷAC) at UBC has recently been funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to advance xʷməθkʷəy̓əm-led scholarship (to develop best practices in new technologies), training (for Indigenous and professional capacity), and research deployment teams and services (with the Musqueam Archaeology Office – the archaeological division at xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) to create a sharable model of heritage data sovereignty and management and to act as a service provided for advanced methods. xʷməθkʷəy̓əm values and priorities are at the center of the development of new technologies and data platforms to provide scholarship (development of best practice principles and guidance), research (deployability for data collection and assessment of representation in data), and training (capacity-building) for xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and for other Indigenous communities, to help assert jurisdiction over their heritage, including the legacies of Canada's residential schools.

The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Archaeology Centre Project Manager plays a key role in realizing the vision of the xʷAC. The Project Manager works with research project team, UBC entities, and external vendors and contractors to support the building project for the centre, manage and support the research and policy projects, and to further relationships within and beyond the centre including with members of the

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community, at UBC and in the broader community. This position acts as a facilitator, supporting existing relationships and project goals and needs. Decisions regarding the direction for the Centre will be made by and with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and this position functions to support the implementation of those decisions.  Important functions of this position include: managing the CFI grant and budget, including liaising with project team members and other partners on the major construction project for the centre, planning and developing new grant applications, managing multiple research projects, providing outreach to and collaboration with faculty, students and units across UBC and with the Centre’s institutional partners, communicating with partners, policymakers and the broader community, and supporting strategic planning and performance tracking and the long-term success of the Centre.

 
Organizational Status
The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Archaeology Centre Project Manager reports directly to the Faculty of Arts Director, Research Development and works closely with receiving high-level direction from and providing support to the xʷAC Project Co-Leads – Dr. Andrew Martindale and Leona Sparrow. The Project Manager, in conjunction with the Co-Leads, will work with the Faculty of Arts Research Centre Administrator on matters related to human resources and finance. The incumbent will interact with faculty members, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community members, students, staff, other Indigenous communities, non-profit and government sectors, vendors, and the general public, as well as UBC leadership at central and Faculty levels, Human Resources, project services, ISIT, and Finance.
Work Performed
Strategic Planning and Organization Building

• Works with Co-Leads and project team to develop and implement a strategic plan, set and review annual benchmarks and create milestones and manages operational planning process and associated engagement activities.

• Cultivates and manages respectful, accountable relationships with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and other community members, organizations, academic, and industry partners, especially for Centre-level projects, alongside Co-Leads and project team members. Takes initiative to communicate openly and provide updates to the community in a variety of ways including formal reports, conversation, and attending events in the community as appropriate.

• Acts as a main point of contact for the Centre construction project responsible for liaising with the project team - including xʷməθkʷəy̓əm archaeology staff and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community members, UBC entities including Project Services, external consultants and vendors, and the Faculty of Arts.

• Develops, implements and reviews research priorities, goals and work plans both short and long term, manages all aspects of the research program to ensure milestones are being achieved according to schedule and that the research objectives are met.

• Identifies and develops research strategies based on the interests of the program/projects and community partners. Proposes new research directions through community engagement activities, attending relevant events and trainings.

• Designs and develops governance processes, organizational structure, and related materials for approval by Co-Leads and Executive Committee.

Grant Management and Research Facilitation

•  Oversees grant proposals and funding applications in collaboration with Co-Leads, Project Team members, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community members/staff including identifying key internal and external funding opportunities, developing and preparing funding applications and fulfilling reporting requirements for successful applications. 

• Drafts, reviews, and ensures accountability for formal and informal agreements with external partners, in consultation with partners and projects leads, UBC Innovation, the Office of University Counsel (OUC), the Indigenous Research Support Initiative (IRSI), and other relevant university offices/officers.

•  Manages research project budgets, including forecasting, implementing, monitoring and ensuring compliance with funding sources. 

• Manages onboarding of and support for independent contractors/vendors, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Archaeology staff and community members, visiting scholars and other external guests as needed.

•  Liaises with faculty, graduate students, researchers, internal and external University Departments, funding agencies or organizations, and the private sector. 

• Works with faculty and the University’s development offices to seek target opportunities for grants and outside funding.

Centre Operations and Finance

•  Acts as a central point of contact for Centre members and affiliates, and for others interested in the Centre within and outside UBC.

• Is responsible for and directs purchasing, and installation of highly valuable and complex equipment and technical services, sources vendors, negotiates best prices and oversees purchase and service contracts.  Consults with project team on scientific and technical specifics throughout the purchasing process.

• Oversees software development work software programming to combine the existing platforms into a new heritage management and object management digital tool for Indigenous communities in coordination with the Reciprocal Research Network.

• Develops and maintains program and project budgets including forecasting, analyzing expenditures, directing reconciliation processes, reviewing expenditures to ensure compliance with university and grant guidelines, and providing regular expenditure updates to Co-Leads and Executive Committee.

• Manages annual and project financial reporting in collaboration with the Arts Research Centre Administrator, the Arts Service Centre (ASC) Finance Team, and the Institutional Programs Office (for CFI/BCKDF project reporting).

•  Participates in and prepares meetings for Co-Leads, Executive Committee, Research Leads, and University administrators. 

• Evaluates and makes recommendations on Centre initiatives on an ongoing basis to support planning and decision-making.
•  Manages students, staff, including overseeing the recruitment, training and mentorship, and performance evaluation. 
• Manages and assesses team workloads to maintain a sustainable workload for each team member; sets weekly/monthly/yearly priorities and workplans; anticipates staffing needs.

•  Fosters a positive, collaborative, and psychologically safe culture within the Centre’s team.undefined

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position is critical to the establishment and growth of the new xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Archaeology Centre as well as to the health of the existing joint relationship between xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and UBC. The ability to exercise diplomacy, humility, discretion, and cultural awareness in working with all partners (faculty, staff, student, and community and external partners) is essential to uphold xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and UBC’s values. Makes professional decisions and recommendations on all aspects of centre activities. Errors in performance of the above-related duties could have a significant impact on the effectiveness, reputation, collaboration, relationships, and financial status of the research centre. Inappropriate judgment could result in fundamental flaws in the research results, in funding shortfalls for research grants or contracts, loss of research partnerships, and reputational damage to the centre, faculty, and university as a whole as well as adverse impacts to the relationship between xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and UBC.
Supervision Received
The successful candidate will work independently with discretionary latitude as agreed upon by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and UBC and is expected to use a high level of initiative. Reports directly to the Faculty of Arts Director, Research Development and receives high-level direction from the xʷAC Project Co-Leads.
Supervision Given
Supervises CUPE 2950 staff, graduate and undergraduate student assistants, Work Study students and temporary staff as needed. Will be responsible for supervision of projects and further staff as the Centre expands.
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

• Graduate training in a relevant discipline and knowledge of and experience navigating Indigenous community traditions and protocols are preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to or experience in advancing a culture of equity and inclusion is required. Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities or in Indigenous-focused contexts, especially with BC First Nations, in a culturally sensitive and culturally aware way is strongly preferred.
• Ability to navigate complex and diverse Indigenous community organizations and politics strongly preferred.
• Experience in and knowledge of conducting community-based research with Indigenous communities through participation in research and/or research implementation is strongly preferred.
• Experience with managing complex budget processes including research grants and operational funds is strongly preferred.
• Experience with and knowledge of UBC and funding agency policies and procedures an asset.
• Ability to establish effective relationships with a variety of partners within the centre and beyond, particularly Indigenous community members, students, and Indigenous-led organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively liaise with faculty and research organizations across campus.
• Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thoroughly-considered decisions.
• Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide reports and recommendations to Centre leadership, stakeholders, and staff.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.
• Ability to think conceptually. (i.e., use creative, conceptual, or inductive reasoning or thought processes to identify patterns in complex data, and identify key or underlying issues in complex situations).
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft office software at an intermediate level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel). Ability to input and extract data, and compile data reports from a variety of analytical programs an asset.