Antibody Characterization Core Platform Manager

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Job Profile

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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

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

Over 200 commercial antibody manufacturers have brought over 1.6 million antibodies targeting human proteins to market. However work from our group and others has revealed that to 60% of the antibodies available commercially do not work as recommended by manufacturers. To address this issue we have partnered with colleagues at McGill University and the University of Toronto to establish a UBC antibody characterization core (UBC-ACC) using a rigorous antibody validation strategy to systematically evaluate commercially available antibodies. Fifteen major antibody suppliers recognize that there is a crucial need for an unbiased antibody testing platform and are collaborating with us on this effort.

The UBC-ACC Platform Manager will establish the UBC-ACC at UBC Okanagan. The Platform Manager will be responsible for coordinating with external companies partner universities and funding agencies to organize this new effort and deliver antibody characterization studies focused on protein targets relevant to cancer biology. These initiatives will include a breadth of activities that include identifying gaps in commercial antibody availability coordinating workflow and travelling between the UBC-ACC and partner universities (McGill U Toronto others) and partner organizations including but not limited to the Terry Fox Research Institute and BC Cancer to engage clinical and research staff and identify priority targets for analysis. The Platform Manager will supervise the development of rigorous in-house antibody methodologies create and implement standard operating procedures recruit staff perform employee appraisals and act on performance evaluations. The Platform Manager will develop and implement communication tools and take responsibility for ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and engaged. This is a highly collaborative position that will involve sensitive discussions around industry needs and deficiencies gaps in research knowledge and the development of new tools.

WORK PERFORMED

External partner engagement and communication (50%)

• Participates in the development implementation and ongoing growth of the UBC-ACC working closely with external companies partner universities and funding agencies.

• Participates in defining strategic plans for platform development sustainability and partner engagement.

• Serves as the primary liaison with external companies partner universities and funding agencies to organize coordination and delivery of antibody characterization studies focused on protein targets relevant to cancer biology. This will include travel to partner organization to coordinate strategy and workflow technology.

• Coordinate complex reagent acquisitions from partner organizations.

• Develops and manages a communication strategy ensuring stakeholders are informed aligned and engaged.

• Oversees preparation translation and dissemination of study reports; supports publication and knowledge mobilization.

Platform Management (25%)

• Provides leadership and expertise related to the planning and implementation of multiple characterization studies.

• Plan and prioritize studies based on consultation with external partners.

• Recruit train and onboard new staff perform employee appraisals and take appropriate measures to follow up performance evaluations.

• Manages resource planning procurement and equipment oversight ensures cost-effective and timely acquisitions of research reagents and materials.

• Develops and implements strategies to maintain rigorous records and databases of all activities including those required to meet reporting requirements from funding

• Develops and maintains inventories of antibodies cells and animal stocks required for ongoing research.

Experimental activities (25%)

• Contributes to the execution of antibody validation work conducted by staff and collaborators.

• Demonstrate operational expertise and problem-solving ability with the scientific equipment required for this project including new antibody-based applications.

• Develops and optimizes protocols for new antibody-based applications.

• Conducts data analysis interpretation and presentation of experimental data.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

This project has involvement from numerous stakeholders who are expecting the UBC-ACC to deliver rigorous antibody validation studies that will affect stakeholder project decisions budgets and impact the quality of future research. Errors in the management and delivery of the UBC-ACC will negatively affect financial and operational decisions of our stakeholders and severely compromise our legitimacy as a trusted validation platform. This will imperil the ability of the UBC-ACC to garner funds and thwart platform sustainability.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position will report to Dr. Phil Barker under general direction within established policies.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

This position will supervise up to 3 Research Assistant / Technicians with responsibility for recruiting training and onboarding as well as performing employee appraisals and taking appropriate measures to follow up on and act on performance evaluations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two 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

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Advanced degree in biomedical science preferred;

• Strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated expertise in authoring submitting and successfully publishing scientific manuscripts;

• Demonstrated expertise in project management and coordination;

• Demonstrated ability to build active working relationships with multiple partners and collaborators;

• Supervisory experience;

• Demonstrated organizational skills attention to detail and priority setting;

• Demonstrated ability to work independently.

• Experience leading efforts or projects with independence;

• Familiarity with HR processes and procedures;

• Familiarity with UBC Workday;

• Experience working on multidisciplinary teams;

• Multiple portfolio and project management experience.