First Nations Biobank Research Manager

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

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.

Posting End Date

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

Job End Date

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 Northern BC and First Nations Biobank Research Manager works in close collaboration with the Northern Biobank Initiative (NBI) and the Northern BC First Nations Biobank Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Nadine Caron and her team to oversee and provide strategic and operational guidance for the Northern BC Biobank and Northern BC First Nations Biobank research project. This position is integral in this research projects success part of which relies on excellence in engaging with Indigenous organizations leadership and communities as well as Northern BC general public and stakeholders. The incumbent may lead other (as required or requested) regional level initiatives pertaining to biobanking and genomic research. This position is responsible for leading the full scope of the Northern BC First Nations Biobank project in a collaborative respectful working relationship with First Nations leadership. The incumbent will obtain priority feedback from First Nations communities leaders and individuals to enable this project to proceed in a culturally safe and respectful manner. This includes the planning implementation and monitoring of all responsibilities related to the research project and any others which are required to be undertaken. Key responsibilities include engagement communication knowledge translation and participant activities/outputs with communities key stakeholders and partners. The incumbent may participate in knowledge translation and exchange with other interested First Nations Indigenous rural and Northern groups and regions who express interest in First Nations-led biobanking community hospital biobanking engaging in rural and northern communities within the province of BC in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Northern region and other partners. This position will lead and direct all research management tasks related to the Northern BC and Northern BC First Nations Biobank and will be an integral team member regarding the NBI regional initiative(s) pertaining to biobanking.

Organizational Status

Housed within the Faculty of Medicine the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit that encompasses many of the health-related groupings at UBC as a collaborative venture. The School is structured around four divisions: Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations. The resulting mix of professions and disciplines is seen as a means of connecting individuals and learners to galvanize the relationship between health research public health and health services and to enhance learning. This position is part of the portfolio of the First Nations Health Authority Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC which is part of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health which is housed at SPPH.

The Biobank Research Manager reports to the PI Dr. Caron and works closely with the Research Manager for FNHA Chair in Cancer and Wellness Dr. Andrew. This position works in close collaboration with the Northern Biobank Initiative (NBI) Principal Investigator and team. The incumbent will be an integral part of the NBI team and will work to create and implement the Northern BC First Nations Governance Biobank Council (the structure of which has been approved by Northern BC Chiefs). They will also work pending outcomes of consultations to create and implement the processes for the launch of the Northern BC Biobank and the Northern BC First Nations Biobank with the rest of the NBI team. The incumbent will be liaising with a wide range of stakeholders and is expected to exercise cultural safety and humility tact and diplomacy in their stakeholders include (but are not limited to) federal and provincial First Nations government health authorities and agencies (First Nations Health Authority Provincial Health Services Authority Northern Health BC Cancer Genome BC Genome Canada Marathon of Hope Terry Fox Research Institute Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and more); First Nations Chiefs and community members; national and international academic partners; research granting agencies; researchers and students (from a wide range of disciplines from UBC UNBC and others). Working with communication teams from stakeholders will be an additional mode of outreach to communities leaders and stakeholders.

This position has the option of a hybrid work arrangement. The main office location will be at room 9-353 in the Division of Medical Sciences (3333 University Way University of Northern British Columbia). There is a potential option to work at other UBC sites but priority will be given to applicants living/willing to move to Prince George.

Work Performed

• Provides strategic research management and leads the management of the research project in accordance with project management approaches and within defined timelines and budgets to ensure all project milestones and objects are achieved.

• Defines the project framework for the entire project (i.e. log framework) and ensures that all project outputs align with research objectives.

• Works with the FNHA Northern Health (NH) and Biobank team to establish the defined Governance for the proposed Northern BC First Nations Biobank (Governance structure is defined and voted on by Northern First Nations Chiefs) and works with the Northern Biobank team to help facilitate and be part of the team that establishes the Scientific Oversight Committee and launches the Northern Biobank.

• Creates and manages budgets budget forecasting and generates financial reporting documents for the Northern BC First Nations Biobank project and works in collaboration with Northern BC Biobank team to assist in similar process.

• Develops project charters corresponding work plans and schedules provides regular project feedback and updates and takes full ownership for the community engagement arm of the project from planning implementation/execution and monitoring of projects.

• Develops and maintains a stakeholder and partnership register including (not limited to) the following groups: community leadership community health teams community members health partners (including the Divisions of Family Practice primary care providers and specialists nurses and other allied health care providers in the Northern Health FNHA and BC Cancer) in addition to researchers who may contribute/use one or both of the Northern Biobanks.

• Develops a stakeholder and partnership engagement and communication plan to ensure knowledge sharing translation and dissemination are widespread in the region. This is critical for Indigenous research to be done in a safe relational reciprocal and respectful manner.

• Provides strategic input to the development and implementation of culturally informed safe and appropriate participation consent processes and procedures for the Northern Biobank and the Northern BC First Nations Biobank.

• Serves as the key NBI contact member responsible for developing consent process for First Nations individuals and ultimately obtaining and documenting informed consent. This individual will lead the discussion on consent and its strong connection with cultural safety while engaging with First Nations leadership community members and organizations that work in Northern BC and within the First Nations health domain.

• Leads develops implements and evaluates the stakeholder and partnership engagement and communication plans to ensure knowledge sharing translation and dissemination are widespread in the region.

• Serves as the key contact person for all public and community contact inquiries planning discussion and engagement pertaining to the Northern BC First Nations Biobank and assists with similar connections for Northern BC Biobank.

• Leads develops and implements the detailed communications plan including different media sources and marketing methodology (inclusive of webpages video radio print advertisement) based on community engagement need and level working in consultation with FNHA communications and NH communications.

• Works with key stakeholders and partners to develop and implement a provincial level knowledge sharing translation and dissemination model. This can help to guide future national and international models based on Northern BC biobank and Northern BC First Nations Biobank.

• Documents and supports project scope objectives deliverables monitoring and reporting criteria for all the Northern BC First Nations Biobank Governance Committee (NBCFNBGC) engagement activities (with draft Terms of Reference reviewed by FNHA leadership and inaugural NBCFNBGC members)

• Develops and implements resource management plans to oversee and monitor efficiency and effectiveness of project teams (this includes a pool of volunteers and students - medical and undergraduate - dedicated to community engagement and knowledge translation work).

• Builds and maintains open accessible and transparent relationships with communities partner organizations and the general public regarding the Northern BC First Nations Biobank and works in partnership with NBI team within Northern Health Authority for the Northern BC biobank.

• Manages the full spectrum of research data on community engagement from data collection analysis to dissemination. Activities include (but are not limited to) conducting literature reviews developing PowerPoint presentations monitoring data collection performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis and drafting communication pieces for academic and non-academic audiences.

• Provides leadership in managing Research Ethics Board (REB) proposals amendments and approvals for NBCFNB in collaboration with full NBI team. Assists in REB proposals and amendments for other biobank related activities.

• Develops a monitoring and evaluation plan for expense tracking and subsequently works in partnership with the finance team other project counterparts and funding partners to prepare financial reports.

• Travels throughout BCs Northern Health Authority and may also periodically represent the team in other provincial/national/international events for increasing knowledge translation and optimizing networking opportunities.

• Contributes to a respectful inclusive working environment.

• Performs other responsibilities as required for the Biobank team and FNHA Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position requires in-depth knowledge of issues involved in First Nations Community engagement biobanking obtaining and documenting informed consent discussing research and politically and culturally sensitive material and in particular Indigenous healthcare issues. A lack of familiarity with the issues could result in dysfunctional ineffective or harmful approaches which could create or perpetuate problematic situations and negatively impact the Indigenous communities for whom this work is essentially designed for. Errors or oversights in judgement could compromise the integrity of the project work thereby impacting a wide range of stakeholders that fall within the projects circle of influence (e.g. undergraduate students graduate students medical students researchers academic partners health authority partners funding agencies and federal and provincial partners). Errors in judgment may have negative consequences on the quality and quantity of project deliverables and could risk creating distrust for future research beyond the scope of this project.

This position also requires familiarity with necessary respectful communication and consultation processes with Indigenous community members for moving forward with sensitive research data collection in First Nations communities. A lack of familiarity with these processes could alienate community members First Nations groups and others and could discredit the project. Trust is a critical component of this project and any breach of confidentiality or trust due to errors in judgement will have a severe impact on moving the project work forward.

The incumbent is expected to have an in depth understanding of Research Ethics Board approval for human subjects research particularly with a First Nations lens and will ensure that ethical procedures are followed. Failure to do so could leave the School of Population and Public Health and UBC open to litigation.

Supervision Received

The incumbent reports directly to the PI Dr. Nadine Caron (the FNHA Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC). The Biobank Research Manager will also work closely with the Chair Research Manager. The Chair also has an established team that provides input on all Chair projects as requested which includes the the partnership with the FNHA in this project the FNHA leadership at a Northern Regional level and/or Provincial level may also provide guidance as the Northern First Nations work in close partnership with them. With this in mind the incumbent is expected to work independently and required to make independent decisions.

Supervision Given

There may be multiple students that work with the NBI and participate in community engagement and knowledge translation. Up to six active students (including undergraduate and medical students) will work with and be supervised by the incumbent. When working with Indigenous organizations and communities what may sometimes appear as supervision in the Western context is considered collaboration and partnership in this role and must be honoured as building of trust and creation of the Northern First Nations Biobank Governance Council and subsequent creation of this First Nations Biobank with the northern First Nations is an exceptional responsibility.

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

• Strong cultural competencies to respectfully engage with and consult Indigenous groups and communities.

• Experience using qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies.

• Experience and knowledge of project management processes and protocols.

• Experience and knowledge of MS Office and NVIVO and willingness to learn additional software as needed.

• Experience or understanding of biobanking consent processes for genomic research and options for governance of such research tools is considered an asset.

• Experience in knowledge of or strong connection to First Nations communities in Northern BC is an asset. Strong written and oral communication skills including professional and academic writing skills and community-facing communications development and knowledge translation.

• Highly effective analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Resourceful highly organized and self-directed.

• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work in a team environment and independently and receive and seek guidance effectively.

• Ability to contribute to a respectful cooperative and supportive work environment.

• Ability to work flexible hours and in diverse working environments.

• Possess a valid Drivers License.

• Must be willing to travel for in-person visits to First Nations communities and attend the bi-annual FNHA sub-regional meetings (3 sub-regions in Northern BC) and bi-annual Regional meetings in Northern BC (dates and locations to be set by the FNHA).

• Valid passport/document for travel to international locations is considered an asset.