Manager, Digital Transformation Lab

About the Position:

This is a full time administration role, reporting to the Director of Research, working 35 hours per week.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the supervision of the Digital Transformation Lab internal team, management of the centre operations, contract facilitation, marketing, outreach, industry liaison activities, financial reporting and project management.

In addition, they will be responsible for running Dev Shop; and will ensure the overall vision of the DTL TAC is carried out.

Specific Accountabilities:

Leadership
•Provide leadership in developing and promoting DTL TAC’s identity and capacity in applied research services, related training and technical services.
•Act as leader in positioning DTL TAC as an innovation, applied research and service hub for locally, provincially and nationally.
•Assemble and work with DTL TAC Advisory Board, Director of Research and Senior Executive to develop, implement and continually improve DTL TAC’s strategic directions focused on its priorities and
strengths.
•Identify gaps and build DTL TAC’s applied research and service infrastructure (facility, human resource, administrative) to support Centre’s activities.
•Pro-actively identify and encourage applied research services & activities through leadership on relevant committees and in organizations.
•Represent DTL TAC in the network of Technology Access Centres in Canada: Tech-Access Canada.

Project Services and Business Development
•Develop contract (fee-for-services) projects, training opportunities, and collaborative applied research projects – in conjunction with the DTL TAC Team – consistent with DTL TAC’s strengths, infrastructure, and strategic priorities in the area of AI development, Information technology, cleantech and manufacturing. This includes Dev Shop projects and regular fee for service.
•Liaise with private sector partners to identify industry innovation needs in areas supporting the IT, cleantech and manufacturing sector, with a focus on the local sectors, and if appropriate, secure support for contract projects and collaborative applied research projects.
•Identify suitable funding programs to support projects, determine and recommend proposal strategy, content and structure, and support researchers and DTL TAC staff with detailed proposals, project plans,
funding applications and financial budgets
•Assist the Research and Innovation Office in planning, setting of priorities for applied research.
•Coordinate activities including scheduling, finance and reporting of contract (fee-for-services) projects.
•Lead and/or participate in the negotiation of research contracts, work plans.
•Develop/ review appropriate pricing strategies for the new and improved services as well as marketing and business development strategies.

Operation Management
•Manage DTL TAC employees and ensure they are making solid contributions to the fulfilment of the TAC’s and the College’s vision.
•Supervise and advise DTL TAC staff on effective administrative procedures to ensure the efficient operation of DTL TAC and its services and projects.
•Recruit, direct, motivate, train and evaluate DTL TAC staff, researchers, engineers, and students.
•Supervise technical aspects of DTL TAC’s services and projects including progress, deviations, requirement, and intellectual property management.
•Manage financial aspects of DTL TAC, DTL TAC contracts and projects with the support of the Research and Innovation Department as well as Lambton College’s Financial Department.
•Monitor the DTL TAC budgets as well as all contract and project budgets, identify expenditure trends, reconcile financial records and resolve discrepancies, if required with the assistance of the Research
and innovation Department and the College’s Finance Office.
•Manage all reporting requirements (KPIs, budgets, financial reporting, progress reporting) and interactions with the DTL TAC Advisory Board and the NSERC TAC representative.
•Develop required technical and financial reporting for various stakeholders including the DTL TAC Advisory Board, funding agencies, the Research and innovation Department, and Lambton College senior management. At contract/project completion, reconcile financial reports for contract/projects.
•Ensure contracts, services and projects are completed on time, within budget and with acceptable quality.
•Report regularly on contract/project status and completion to the Research and Innovation Department.
•Assist the Research and Innovation Department in the annual budgeting process by compiling information related to DTL TAC and provide quarterly and annual financial statements.
•Manage the ongoing operational needs of DTL TAC.
•Develop and improve tools and processes to monitor service, contract, training and project activities and advise on effective administrative procedures to ensure the efficient operation of DTL TAC.
•Conduct evaluation and is accountable for all DTL TAC contract, service, training and research projects.
•Facilitate and authorize recordkeeping for contract employees and students.
•Manage intellectual property (IP) agreement issues with regard to DTL TAC and DTL TAC contracts/projects, with the assistance of the Dean of Research and Innovation, if required.

Community Outreach Management
•Develop outreach/communication vision and strategic plans to enhance awareness about DTL TAC capacity amongst local industry, business, community, and Lambton College students, faculty, staff,
management, community, funders and local (economic) organizations and business.
•Supervise the design and development of marketing and promotional material to promote DTL TAC capacities and activities.
•Support outreach events to promote DTL TAC and its specific capabilities and support knowledge dissemination initiatives:
o Internal: tours, industry meetings, research day(s), symposia
and other similar events
o External: tradeshows, conferences, seminars and meetings
•Develop communication documents and tools including annual reports, newsletters, online content, public media connections, social media to promote DTL TAC’s capacity, services and researchers in conjunction with the Research and Innovation Department.
•Promote of DTL TAC’s technical areas of competence and services to industry through visits and reports.
•Manage the DTL TAC website with the support from the Marketing, IT and the Research and Innovation Department personnel.
•Represent DTL TAC at external events to demonstrate its capacity to serve industry, its services and projects carried out at DTL TAC.
•Assist DTL TAC researchers to prepare publication documents and disseminate project results.

Research Execution
•Act as researcher for limited number of projects and conduct research activities including literature review, data analysis, and experimentation in collaboration with industry partners in the area of IT, digital technology, clean tech and manufacturing.

Other Duties as Required

Qualifications:

•A four-year degree in a related field is required (Digital technology or IT degree)
•5 years experience in Partnership development, project management, research development and execution
•The Manager must have demonstrated strong project development and project management abilities; skill and experience in research design and methodology, assessing ethical issues in research, proposal writing; solid knowledge of research funding sources; and experience working with individuals and groups from the College system, government, and the private sector
•Staff management will be an asset
•Applied projects experience would be considered an asset
•Masters or Ph.D. degree in the related field would be considered an asset