Project Manager, xʷməkʷəyəm Archaeology Centre

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 the normal course employees will be hired transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

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 xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam) Archaeology Centre (xʷAC) at UBC has recently been funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to advance xʷməθkʷəyəm-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 xʷməθkʷəyəm) to create a sharable model of heritage data sovereignty and management and to act as a service provided for advanced methods. xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm and for other Indigenous communities to help assert jurisdiction over their heritage including the legacies of Canadas residential schools.

The xʷməθkʷəyəm 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

xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 Centres 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm archaeology staff and xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 Universitys 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 Centres

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position is critical to the establishment and growth of the new xʷməθkʷəyəm Archaeology Centre as well as to the health of the existing joint relationship between xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm and UBCs 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 xʷməθkʷəyəm and UBC.


Supervision Received
The successful candidate will work independently with discretionary latitude as agreed upon by xʷməθkʷəyəm 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 ones own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones 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.