Lead, Green Labs & Strategic Sustainability Programs

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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

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 Lead Green Labs & Strategic Sustainability Programs plays a critical role in managing and advancing UBCs research and operational sustainability goals with a primary focus on reducing the environmental footprint of UBCs laboratory infrastructure and associated practices. With over 400 research and teaching labs across campus which together consume 49% of campus energy 24% of campus water and generate 96% of campus hazardous waste this position leads the design delivery and evaluation of cross-departmental programs that target reductions in energy water emissions and waste.

This role serves as the operational lead for UBCs Green Labs Program an interdepartmental collaboration involving Sustainability & Engineering Energy & Water Services Financial Services and Risk Management Services (UBCV and UBCO). The program has evolved from a pilot green innovation fund developed in recognition of the highly resource-intensive nature of research laboratories into a robust and collaborative initiative providing support to both UBC campuses. It works directly to implement Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP2030) Zero Waste Action Plan (ZWAP) and Water Action Plan (WAP) targets aligning laboratory operations with UBCs institutional sustainability and climate action goals.

Internationally recognized the Green Labs Program was most recently awarded the Pioneer Green Labs Program Award in 2023 by the International Institute for Sustainable Labs and has become a flagship model replicated by institutions across North America and beyond.

This role requires a high degree of autonomy strategic insight and strong stakeholder engagement to integrate sustainable practices into UBCs research environment while contributing meaningfully to university-wide climate action priorities.

Organizational Status

The position is housed within Sustainability and Engineering (S&E) and under the leadership of the Senior Planning and Sustainability Engineer on the Sustainability Planning and Engagement (SPE) team. The S&E team supports UBCs climate and sustainability goals through program delivery engagement infrastructure planning and performance measurement.

While the Green Labs Program is situated within a complex institutional structure the Lead is responsible for its overall management and strategic execution in alignment with institutional goals. This includes ongoing coordination with both operational units and the academic community and participation in integrated planning tables across UBC.

Work Performed

Strategic Program Leadership

• Lead and manage the Green Labs Program exercising autonomy in strategic direction and execution. Oversee the programs broader scope integrating sustainability targets into all aspects of campus operations and research priorities.

• Participate in high-level strategic planning ensuring the Green Labs program aligns with UBCs long-term sustainability goals (CAP2030 Zero Waste Action Plan 2030).

• Lead the development of laboratory-specific actions and engagement strategies tied to institutional sustainability targets.

• Lead cross-departmental collaborations and negotiations with academic and operational units. Provide leadership and guidance on sustainable practices in lab infrastructure across multiple teams while driving institutional change.

• Support strategic planning and contribute subject matter expertise to high-priority sustainability initiatives led by CCP.

Program Design Implementation & Evaluation

• Oversee the design and implementation of large-scale multi-faceted initiatives targeting energy water emissions and waste reductions in research labs. Manage the execution of these programs and ensure their alignment with institutional sustainability targets.

• Oversee pilot projects campaigns and operational behaviour change interventions from concept to execution.

• Monitor evaluate and report on program outcomes using performance baselines indicators and data-driven insights.

• Develop business cases toolkits and technical documentation to support and scale best practices across faculties and departments.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Manage ongoing relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders including faculty staff senior administrators external vendors and sustainability partners ensuring alignment across academic operational and financial departments.

• Develop and lead efforts in staff management including recruitment training and professional development of team members and external contractors involved in sustainability projects.

• Facilitate coordination with departments like Energy & Water Services Financial Services and Risk Management Services to ensure successful program implementation.

Technical Reporting & Analytics

• Utilize tools like SkySpark and energy modeling software to monitor utility data and evaluate lab performance.

• Benchmark building and equipment performance; recommend and track improvements.

• Support data analysis related to carbon accounting (Scope 1 2 3) GHG emission reductions and lab operations.

• Produce internal reports presentations case studies and external reports that communicate findings and support transparency.

Team Leadership & Resource Management

• Manage the Green Labs Program budget including procurement and contractor oversight.

• Manage internal funding programs including adjudication processes and post-award reporting.

• Provide formal guidance and mentorship to student staff consultants or short-term hires involved in lab sustainability initiatives and other strategic initiatives. Informal guidance across SPE team on hiring decisions and staff onboarding.

• Lead cross-functional teams to implement sustainable practices in UBCs research and teaching laboratories with a focus on reducing resource consumption waste and emissions.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure that sustainability projects comply with university regulations industry standards and environmental safety guidelines. Manage operational risks related to lab systems sustainability projects and compliance.

• Identify and manage operational risks related to lab energy and waste systems with input from Risk Management Services and EWS.

• Complete required UBC Lab Safety training and support labs in integrating safe and sustainable practices.

Supervision Received

Works autonomously with limited managerial direction. Work is reviewed in terms of sound management practices and achievement of specific objectives.

Supervision Given

Provide leadership guidance and mentorship to staff and student employees involved in sustainability projects. Manages staff performance including hiring training evaluating and providing professional development opportunities.

Foster a collaborative inclusive work environment that promotes engagement innovation and accountability.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Decisions made by the Lead Green Labs & Strategic Sustainability Programs have significant impact on the safety of laboratory environments the continuity of teaching and research and the achievement of UBCs climate and sustainability commitments. Errors in judgement may result in safety risks operational disruptions missed institutional targets inefficient use of resources and reputational or financial impacts for the University.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience or the 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

• Undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies Applied Science Engineering Sustainability or related field required.

• Graduate degree preferred.

• Minimum of 3 years of related experience in sustainability program management including at least 1 year in a leadership capacity.

• Experience in research-intensive environments especially laboratories or academic institutions strongly preferred.

• Proven success managing cross-functional projects campaigns and technical programs with measurable impact.

• Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking in complex multi-stakeholder environments.

• Strong technical skills in energy systems water conservation waste management and lab operations.

• Proficiency in data analysis performance reporting and tools such as SkySpark or energy modeling software.

• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills; able to engage diverse stakeholders from operational to academic units.

• Familiarity with behaviour change theory and engagement best practices.

• Highly organized self-directed and capable of managing multiple priorities concurrently.

• Knowledge of carbon accounting methodologies and climate action frameworks (e.g. CAP2030) an asset.

• This role exercises a high level of autonomy in designing managing and evaluating strategic sustainability initiatives. The incumbent makes independent decisions related to program direction budget use partnership management and stakeholder engagement in alignment with broader strategic direction set by the Manager and SPE leadership.