Senior Manager: Clinical Genomics Research Group

Job Summary:
This position provides leadership and oversight for multiple research activities of BC’s major clinical genomic research group, and its associated projects, which are focused on novel genome-based diagnostics for children with developmental disabilities. This group is a partnership between many associated labs, researchers, clinical departments, provincial facilities, and networks in BC and across Canada. The position oversees the group’s scientific, human resource, ethical, and financial responsibilities for a suite of projects, and fosters excellence in clinical genetic and genomic research in British Columbia.

This senior position will be integral to strategic planning, decision-making, and recommendations to further the central purpose of this clinical genomics research group: The group’s primary aim is to identify the causes of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders by applying cutting-edge genomic technology, and to translate this into Provincial health policy.

The position provides the leadership that enables effective collaboration between clinicians, clinician-scientists, genomic scientists and bioinformaticians associated with UBC, Children’s and Women’s Hospital, the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, and the Bioinformatics Technology Lab. These collaborations are central to identification, analysis, and diagnostic efforts.

A significant branch of this group’s efforts encompasses projects to determine the value of genomic testing. There are two major aspects to this: The first includes involvement in substantial local research as well as national collaboration with SickKids Hospital (Toronto) to measure the value to patients and their families of genomic sequencing. The second are the complex health economics assessments required to understand the cost-benefit to the healthcare system of introducing these new technologies. This position oversees the health economic aspects of the project by supervising
data provision, and by providing critical analyses of pathways-to-care costs for researchers associated with BC’s Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHEOS).

Central to the group’s aims is the need to demonstrate efficacy and disseminate knowledge of innovative technologies within Canada and beyond. Integral to this position is therefore oversight of work in implementation science, some of which is sub-contracted to collaborating researchers at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. The position will also lead and provide robust knowledge-translation (KT) efforts including: healthcare provider education via a variety of mechanisms such as in-service and grand rounds for clinicians within hospitals; teaching medical students, medical residents, genetic
counselling students, graduate students and others; writing, supervising, and editing academic papers, presentations, and other communications. Oversight of creation and testing of patient-facing educational material is a significant responsibility, as is providing lay educational opportunities to ensure that the group’s research efforts remain patient oriented.

Finally, as the face of public relations activities, the position represents the group for all communications with funders and for fund-raising activities.

Organizational Status
Reports to Dr. Jan Friedman, Lab Director; works with various department heads and clinical leaders in BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital, including NICU, Medical Genetics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and other units and hospitals within BC. Collaborates and consults with senior leadership at external institutions and laboratories such as the BC Genome Science Centre, CHEOS, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), in addition to commercial laboratories Negotiates and discusses challenging work-flow and protocols with complex units at the highest Provincial level.
Communicates with all stakeholders. Please also see the attached diagram for some of the associated research and clinical units.

Major Responsibilities

1. Research oversight

Oversees and directs major projects associated with the research group including the development, design, evaluation and management of projects. Develops detailed project plans, including setting priorities and goals, establishing project timelines and ensuring key deliverables are in place; and establishes a system of evaluating the partnerships outcomes. Collaborates in strategic and operational planning and lead resulting projects and initiatives. Initiates and oversees contracts with external agencies such as LifeLabs and PHSA. Develops and manages protocols for all aspects of research projects. Collaborates with external units such as the BC Genome Science Centre, The Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, and SickKids (Toronto), to establish and optimize mutual protocols. Oversees research ethics board applications and renewals for the group. Oversees the collection, storage, and organization of clinical and scientific data for all projects within the group. Ensures the integrity of data across all projects. Advises research assistants, research genetic counsellors and others regarding ethic policies and practices.

2. Human resources

Develops strategic human resources plans across programs of research; designs and implements recruitment strategies to fulfill human resources requirements. Directs work to meet the groups changing requirements Consults on, and makes staff hiring decisions in collaboration with PI, Dr. Jan Friedman, and the Department of Medical Genetics senior HR manager. Manages a large team that includes research genetic counsellors, research assistants, and research scientists Establishes a culture of well-being characterized by high employee engagement and Exceeds the University’s mandate and perspectives relating to EDI

3. Financial Responsibilities

Designs and develops long range financial and business plans; implements and monitors these plans. Provides financial forecasting for the research group, considering current and future projects’ direction and finances. Directs resource planning and project management for collaborative projects by Partnership core institutions and collaborators in coordination with stakeholders. Develops, writes, and submits grant applications, proposals and other fundraising initiatives. Develops multi-million-dollar budgets for major research grants. Negotiates with funding agencies and develops final budgets, contracts and subcontracts. Oversees the regular financial reporting to the University and outside agencies

4. Scientific Reporting

Oversees data collection and analysis for projects within the group and develops/supervises on scientific reports and manuscripts Develops strategies for research dissemination that contribute to the long-term success and growth of the group. Presents at major scientific meetings that represent the research group. Maintains knowledge of emerging genomic technologies necessary to advance group’s progress in the context of international research. Initiates and maintains relationships with collaborating UBC and hospital departments, hospital foundations, and external agencies. Advances expertise of clinical and scientific colleagues via educational initiatives and in-service events relating to genomics Ensures all independent research under the group’s umbrella follows strict clinical and ethical protocols Serves as the representative of the research group in meetings with potential donors and foundations, both at the faculty, university, provincial, and international levels. Advises graduate students, medical students, and other trainees within and peripheral to the group in their research projects.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The decisions and recommendations of the Senior Manager may have medical, scientific, ethical, financial and contractual implications for the group, Department, University and for the Province’s future healthcare directions. Inappropriate or careless decisions could have serious implications for the lives of patients and their families. Lack of judgement or foresight could negatively impact the reputation and trust towards the group and its associates, to the Department of Medical Genetics, the University, and the discipline of medical genetics.

Supervision Received
The position works with wide latitude. Reports to the PI.

Supervision Given
Oversees, directs, and assigns the work of a varied team. This includes research and facilitation level C staff; genetic counsellor level A staff; research assistants, union and non-union technicians and staff, students at all levels, volunteers, and patient-partners. Please also see the attached diagram.

Minimum Qualifications
For research project leadership, a post-graduate degree or an equivalent professional designation is required with a minimum of five years of related experience, including experience in a field of specialization, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Otherwise, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline is required with a minimum of seven years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications
Education/Work Experience

• Genetic counsellor with extensive years of clinical research
• Significant experience in leading clinical genomics projects
• Recent relevant expertise in genetic and genomic diagnoses of pediatric rare disease
• Recent relevant expertise in genetic and genomic disorders in the prenatal period
• Supervisory experience is essential including leadership and oversight of multiple research projects, preferably at the national level
• Experience managing large budgets and budgetary reporting to a variety of funding agencies, including budgetary negotiation
• Experience managing large data sets and overseeing their security
• Strong record of effective oral and written communication is essential, including publication of academic papers in
  medical genetics and genomics, and presentations at major international meetings
• Experience teaching healthcare providers, academics and students, including those at the post-graduate level
• Demonstrated ability with problem-solving, including conflict resolution skills, and the ability to exercise tact when
  liaising with employees, colleagues, and collaborators at all levels.
• Facility with standard Microsoft office tools, particularly Excel, is assumed
• Graduate degree in genetic counselling AND professional genetic counselling certification in either Canada or the USA
• Meets eligibility criteria in the UBC Department of Medical Genetics for clinical assistant professor status
• In-depth understanding of the University’s research ethics requirements
• Familiarity with the Workday
• Experience with clinical research within the BC Children’s and Women’s Hospitals
• Experience working with external commercial laboratories is an asset

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