Operations Manager

**Job Summary**:
Reporting to the Operations Director and supported by other members of the Operations team, the Operations Manager provides day to day operational leadership of the activities within RHPCS. The Operations Manager plays an integral role within RHPCS, with responsibilities that include budget development, the management of human and physical resources, client-relationships, and financial and administrative matters.

In this role, you will be tasked with ensuring the efficient and smooth operation of RHPCS and the various discrete teams within. As this role requires collaboration with several units across campus, you are a strong communicator with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and with diverse groups.

You have a broad understanding of university-level policies, the various McMaster units’ processes, and an ability to interpret policies, procedures and guidelines. You critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources to make informed decisions, and draft policies and procedures.

Given that RHPCS is a research support unit that focuses on the specialized computing support that researchers need, you have an aptitude for technology and understand university research environments. You are a systems thinker who can design, implement, and refine internal operational systems while leading others in adapting to change and challenges.

**Key Accountabilities**:
**Strategic Planning and Management**:

- Participates in the development and implementation of both strategic planning and operational management activities.
- Provides input and expertise on issues relating to the operations of the Unit, interprets the impact of the University policies and procedures.
- Provides critical analysis of the Department’s needs related to planning, resourcing and proposal development using detailed data analytics.

**Budget Development and Financial Management**:

- Manages the financial resources (operating, research, services, cost-recovery) of the Unit.
- Develops and monitors financial policies and procedures and ensures compliance with University policies.
- Develops and manages the Unit’s budget and budget narrative in conjunction with the Directors in accordance with the University’s Budget Guidelines to ensure financial accountability and informed decision making.

**Human Resources**:

- Manages the Human Resources component within the Unit in accordance with relevant Human Resources policies and procedures. This includes recruitment and compensation, performance evaluation, career development, health & safety; liaises with central HR staff as needed.
- In conjunction with Unit Directors, manages employee/labour relations activities and the coordination of staff, ensuring balanced workloads.
- Implements and manages all staff records which contain confidential material, including health and safety training, vacation, flexible work guidelines, workplace accommodation.

**Physical Resources & Facilities Management**:

- Maintains office equipment and space inventory, interacts with other departments on behalf of RHPCS for required services to the buildings such as renovations, security, emergency responses, etc.
- Manage office space, office space assignments, office keys and security access to RHPCS administrative offices and machine room.
- Ensures the maintenance of a fixed asset and space inventory and creates asset replacement plans to accompany the budget each year.

**Administration**:

- Responds to inquiries regarding research computing support and connect requests to appropriate RHPCS staff and / or other units on campus.
- Gathers data and information from various internal sources (e.g. Harvest, JIRA tickets, BI Dashboard, Mosaic), codes and analyzes data; uses data to make informed strategic and operational policy and process decisions.
- Manages the Service Level Agreements by arranging billing, monitoring usage of labour hours and creating and negotiating new agreements with clients.

**Operational Management**:

- Responsible for ensuring that the Unit is managed in an effective and efficient manner.
- Create and recommend new and revised policies, procedures and operational practices to address current and anticipated issues to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Determine best systems (e.g. software, technology, processes), in consultation with staff, to ensure the efficient operation of the Unit. Implement and maintain these systems including ticketing systems, client-relations manager, internal wiki site, internal communications.

**Relationship Management**:

- Maintain close and effective relationships with key units within McMaster including the Office of the VPR, UTS, Advancement, Faculty, other Research Offices and other IT Units across campus.
- Develop and facilitate relationships with researchers, RHPCS clients and other stakeholders.
- Create communications plans with RHPCS clients; provide content and layout ideas for Un