Respiratory Research Program Manager

The Pediatric Respiratory Research Program (PRRP) Manager is responsible for providing leadership and promoting and advancing excellence in clinical research in the division of respiratory medicine, department of pediatrics. The PRRP Manager will be responsible and accountable for the development, implementation and achievement of strategic priorities related to this portfolio and will contribute actively to the implementation of the divisional strategic plan.

Organizational Status

The division of respiratory medicine has an international reputation for excellence in teaching, research and patient care. Our vision is: “Better breathing for kids, for life”. Our mission is to conduct clinically impactful research that will improve the lives of people with breathing disorders. Clinical research is integrated with the clinical care of children and youth with breathing disorders at BC Children’s Hospital. The division comprises of 7+ academic and clinical faculty, who conduct clinical research in the areas of cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, interstitial lung disease, asthma, home ventilation services and sleep disordered breathing. The division participates in many industry sponsored and peer-reviewed grant funded clinical trials, as well as multi-center research networks. This focus allows the division to be at the forefront of exciting new developments in the area of new drug therapies, novel lung health outcome measures (eg. multiple breath washout tests, hyperpolarized magnetic resonance lung imaging, cilia immunofluorescent antibody diagnostic testing), home sleep monitoring devices and personalized medicine for children with rare genetic and other breathing disorders.

Position to whom this person reports: Respiratory Division Head, Dr Sharon Dell (for overall function), individual investigators within the Division (for specific research studies).

Positions with whom this person works: All PRRP members, including research staff (tech II-IV and M&P level A), trainees (graduate, post-graduate, co-op, flex and summer students) and principal investigators (7+). Also various research staff from other departments who are integral to the conduct of clinical trials and other research studies (eg. pharmacist, allied health professionals, computer programming specialist and statistician)

Contacts (internal and external to the University): Institutional Review Board (UBC) and Hospital Research Review Committee (C&W), finance offices at UBC, BCCHRI, CRSU, and PHSA, other individuals who are working in equivalent research positions either in the institution or in other institutions who are research collaborators, patients and parents of patients involved in research studies.

Shared office space in the Division of Respirology, Ambulatory Care Building, BC Children s Hospital. Desktop computer and telephone access available. Flexibility in work hours may be required.

Work Performed

• Manage the clinical research activities of the Pediatric Respiratory Research Program (PRRP), Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. This includes developing a plan to implement all studies conducted within the Division of Respiratory Medicine, as well as national and international collaborative network studies in which Division members are involved.

• Provide overall program supervision to ensure that the team achieves accurate and timely data collection for studies, which may involve participation in the clinical setting to recruit subjects (children and parents) for clinical research projects, and assisting with logistical organization in the clinical setting.

• Manage PRRP team members, including: hiring, onboarding and mentoring of research staff and trainees, and supervising activities of all team members

• Conduct performance evaluations and advise PRRP Executive Committee on staff performance and work distribution; manage team relationships and participate in conflict resolution if necessary.

• Create, promote and foster a respectful work environment that is conducive to optimal research and clinical care, where mutual respect, integrity, diversity and inclusion are valued and central to all encounters. Ensure that the highest level of professionalism is practiced in all interactions with patients, peers, supervisors, staff and other disciplines.

• Take a leadership role in enhancing and advancing clinical research activities within the PRRP. This includes developing an understanding of the clinical research programs, identifying programs that would benefit most from advice and support, and working with the division head and PRRP research executive to identify key stakeholders and building relationships with them.

• Allocation of office and research space and curation of equipment, furniture, computer hardware and software and other equipment as needed.

• Work closely with the division head and PRRP executive to integrate clinical research initiatives into the division’s overall research strategic goals and priorities

• Advise PIs on resources available related to clinical research; maintains up-to-date understanding of clinical research funding and opportunities

• Supervise completion of funding/grant applications to support PRRP projects. This includes surveying for possible sources of industry and academic funding, communicating this information to PRRP members, and assisting with completing the feasibility and budgeting processes for applications (including lay-language documentation)

• Create an annual report highlighting research achievements for the PRRP

• Develop a communication strategy for ongoing project communications systems and for the dissemination of study findings (knowledge translation); this includes supervising the development and maintenance of a BCCHR/UBC PRRP website.

• Oversee and manage PRRP research budget and ensure appropriate expenditures, reconciling statements, resolving discrepancies, forecasting budgets, and arranging contracts and fund transfers as needed in coordination with PHSA and BCCHRI financial administrators

• Supervise timely reconciliation of accounts payable and receivable for all studies. This includes working with Department of Pediatrics finance to allocate salary payments.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Accuracy, timeliness, and sound judgment are required to maximize effectiveness of the research program. The individual will need to exercise independent judgment, and feel comfortable working with a large and diverse team including research staff, physicians, nurses, allied health personnel, trainees, and secretaries.

Errors in judgment would result in a decrease in productivity of the Divisional research program, and might lead to concerns about research credibility.

Supervision Received
The individual reports to the Division Head, Dr Sharon Dell and to the individual investigators within the Division for specific projects.

Supervision Given

The individual supervises research staff (tech II-IV and M&P level A)and students (graduate, co-op, flex and summer students) relating to Divisional research activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
Candidates holding a graduate degree in science or health field are preferred. Experience with team/financial management is preferred. Minimum 3 years of experience in clinical research, as investigator, coordinator, administrator, or research assistant. Additional Word processing, data management, basic (or advanced) statistical skills, excellent communicator, writing skills, excellent organizational skills. Must be able to work independently, and participate and lead in a collegial manner with a clinical team. Position requires ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously, with ability to prioritize workload.