Research Lead, Planetary Healthcare Lab

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Job Profile

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Department

Compensation Range

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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 Research Lead for the Planetary Healthcare Lab (PHcL) ensures the seamless overall administration of the research and education aspects of the PHcL to enable it to achieve its long-term strategic goals and short-term objectives. The incumbent oversees two of the PHcLs three organizational pillars (Research Education and Implementation).

The incumbent is responsible for the overall planning management and facilitation of both the Research and Education pillars. This includes leading all aspects of medical trainee supervision and mentorship research project management partnership development funding procurement and knowledge mobilization activities including but not limited to peer-reviewed publications. Within the Education pillar the Research Lead prepares plans and delivers seminars tutorials and workshops to surgical trainees to help operationalize planetary health principles within their specialty areas and provides individual mentorship as appropriate. The Research Lead provides subject matter expertise in the field of sustainable healthcare to the PHcL team collaborators and trainees. A continuous review of scientific literature is required to stay current with new developments and practices in the area of planetary health and sustainable healthcare.

The Research Lead advances strategic priorities around planetary health for the Department of Surgery and other Surgical Departments with an initial focus on the Department of Orthopaedics. . These efforts are undertaken with a view to eventual expansion to other Departments within the Faculty of Medicine. The incumbent represents the PHcL within the global sustainable healthcare community including via existing partnerships with the Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthcare the World Health Organizations Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health CASCADES Canada and the associated pan-Canadian Practice Network and the BC Provincial Sustainable Clinical Services Working addition to these existing partnerships the incumbent seeks out develops and nurtures new and effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders in B.C. Canada and internationally.

Organizational Status
The UBC Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery educates students at the undergraduate graduate and postgraduate levels and pursues research to make innovative advancements in knowledge and practice to improve health. The Department consists of more than 600 physicians surgeons scientists and educators and over 70 administrative research and technical staff in nine divisions distributed across British Columbia. Specialty training programs are offered in Cardiac Surgery Colorectal Surgery General Surgery Neurosurgery Otolaryngology Pediatric Surgery Plastic Surgery Radiation Oncology Surgical Oncology Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. The Department is also home to the Branch for Global Surgical Care (BGSC).

The UBC Planetary Healthcare Lab is an interdisciplinary research collaborative within the Department of Surgery that brings together experts from environmental engineering health economics public health and behavioural psychology with clinical and operational leaders to define data-driven best practices in sustainable healthcare and to inform policy and behavioural solutions.

The Research Lead reports to the Director of the PHcL. The incumbent collaborates and works with medical trainees healthcare workers hospital staff UBC Department of Surgery staff and other staff and faculty at UBC. Additionally they work with provincial national and international collaborators and clinicians as well as partners in government industry and regulatory agencies.

Work Performed

• Lead the development of a PHcL strategic plan for 2026-2031 working with relevant stakeholders to optimize alignment with related local provincial national and international initiatives.

• Develop a workplan to ensure achievement of deliverables to the Department of Surgery for 2026-2029.

• Develop educational content for surgical trainees to advance familiarity with planetary healthcare principles and guide their application to surgical specialties.

• Mentor surgical trainees in research and quality improvement initiatives applying planetary healthcare principles to clinical processes. This includes creating and managing research project plans and deadlines and monitoring processes towards completion.

• Provide oversight to medical students and medical/surgical residents and fellows on a project-to-project basis.

• Provide expert guidance to medical trainees on all phases of research projects including concept development study design protocol creation ethics submissions data collection and analysis plans and manuscript preparation.

• Provide expertise in the preparation of grant proposals including concept refinement methodological support budget development and submission coordination.

• Develop and deliver workshops seminars and oneonone coaching focused on research skills scholarly productivity and academic writing.

• Advise residents in navigating UBC and health authority research processes including REB applications operational approvals and grant submissions.

• Oversee progress tracking for resident research projects to ensure timely completion of scholarly requirements.

• Manage multiple concurrent research projects setting priorities establishing timelines and resolving methodological or operational challenges.

• Manage the development amendment maintenance and completion of ethics approvals and study protocols as appropriate.

• Oversee the development of research tools protocols and documentation to support consistent high-quality project execution.

• Support knowledge translation efforts including preparation of abstracts presentations and peerreviewed manuscripts.

• Advise faculty on integrating planetary health and sustainable healthcare frameworks into research programs proposals curricula and clinical innovation projects.

• Lead create monitor and evaluate policies processes and activities of the PHcL making amendments as necessary to optimize overall PHcL function and impact and alignment with the Department of Surgery strategic plan.

• Critically review current literature and conduct environmental scans.

• Create implement and refine policies and guidelines for research data requests collection storage and use. Manage data information requests from third parties and outside sources.

• Analyze and interpret data and coordinate presentations of complex data for meetings conferences and publications and/or support trainees in these activities.

• Oversee budget development for PHcL research initiatives; develop or adhere to budgetary and reporting procedures.

• Identify suitable funding mechanisms prepare and submit funding proposals under the direction of the Director ensure timely and accurate financial and research progress reporting to funders as required.

• Explore opportunities to integrate the PHcL into the broader UBC academic ecosystem especially as it relates to environmental sustainability.

• Represent the PHcL in collaborative efforts at local provincial national and international levels including via existing partnerships and new linkages.

• Develop manage and oversee communication with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including writing and editing communications for a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders including website marketing documents press releases and briefing notes.

• Maintain continuous familiarity and content expertise in climate change/pollution health and healthcare.

• Perform other responsibilities as required.
  

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in judgment lack of appropriate consultation with the Director and non-adherence to project timelines will adversely affect the credibility of the PHcL and continuity of funding to support the position from the Department of Surgery. Poor communication and facilitation skills could negatively impact the success of research collaborations. Financial accountability to all stakeholders is imperative. A high degree of accuracy and initiative is required and relied upon for effective execution of PHcL strategic priorities operational management problem resolution and in addressing unique situations and opportunities.

Supervision Received
The Research Lead reports to the PHcL Director. Work will be reviewed periodically by the Director to assess the achievement of defined goals within each project. The incumbent is expected to work with wide latitude and exercise considerable judgment and initiative in duties and responsibilities.

Supervision Given
Provides functional direction and technical knowledge to faculty members medical trainees research team members and researchers.

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

• Experience in managing research projects including the knowledge and ability to conduct needs analyses plan organize manage monitor complete and evaluate research projects within allocated time and resources.

• Experience in budget creation research budget management grant writing and literature reviews.

• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures.

• Ability to identify key results from scientific statistical and quantitative research findings

• Proven ability to write scientific papers and effective grant applications.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver engaging educational sessions workshops and oneonone coaching for learners at varying levels of research experience.

• Ability to translate complex research concepts into clear accessible learning materials for diverse audiences.

• Experience mentoring residents fellows or earlycareer researchers through project development ethics applications and scholarly dissemination.

• Highly articulate communicator verbally and in composing professional documents and effective in interpersonal analytical problem-solving and organizational skills.

• Excellent time management and project management skills and ability to work accurately and under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Experience in and knowledge of word processing spreadsheet and database applications and a proven ability to learn new software related to health care research or lab management.

• Interpersonal skills along with the ability to work in a team environment and independently.

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

• Sound judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality tact and discretion.

• Highly effective in analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Education knowledge or work experience in environmental sustainability policy-making or administration of non-profit organizations.

• Ability to accommodate a flexible schedule occasionally including additional hours in evenings and early mornings as required.

• A graduate degree is an asset.