Managing Director - UBC, Vancouver

About this Opportunity

The Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (QMI) at UBC is an internationally recognized centre for research and discoveries in quantum structures, materials, computing algorithms, and device applications. With over $200 million in investment, including significant funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), QMI continues its development of world-class capabilities.

As Managing Director, you will play a pivotal role in setting strategic directions and overseeing the implementation of organizational priorities. Collaborating with the QMI Scientific Director and Executive Committee, you will strengthen QMI’s position as a global leader in quantum material science and technology research and commercialization. This senior leadership role ensures the Institute operates effectively, fostering a culture of integrity, collegiality, and agility.

What You'll Do

The Managing Director provides strategic leadership for the operation of multi-user facilities and all administrative functions of the Institute. This includes driving the overarching operational vision and ensuring QMI achieves its ambitious goals. Key responsibilities for this administration jobs UBC Vancouver Campus - Vancouver role include:

• Responsible for the development and implementation of the overarching operational vision for the Institute, adapting priorities and strategies as circumstances change.
• As a member of the Executive leadership team, accountable for the development, revision, and implementation of the strategic plan for the Institute, advising on operational, financial, and administrative needs.
• Sets objectives, establishes priorities, and directs resources with the Executive Committee to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Institute.
• Collaborates with governing and advisory bodies of UBC and QMI to define funding criteria and leads the development of plans to meet these criteria.
• Contributes to the development and execution of QMI’s fundraising initiatives in partnership with Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE), including planning, tracking, and execution of goals.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with donors and prospects, ensuring coordinated engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Supports DAE-led solicitation and proposal development efforts by providing content expertise and participating in donor engagement activities.
• Responsible for the continuous oversight and implementation of the risk management strategy for the Institute, including ongoing identification of risks and development of mitigation plans.
• Collaborates with the Scientific Director in strategizing and conducting negotiations with external stakeholders such as granting agencies, commercial partners, government, and academic institutions.
• Provides direction to professional staff of the Institute, ensuring appropriate resources are directed to managers of QMI's functional areas for building and retaining a strong operational team.
• Oversees the activities of the Manager, Research Operations & Reporting, to ensure effective recruitment and management of people across all functional areas of QMI.
• Ensures student learning initiatives and programs are aligned to QMI's strategic goals regarding student recruitment, engagement, training, and career development, including equity, diversity, and inclusion goals.
• Ensures programs are designed and implemented to train the next generation of entrepreneurial researchers and innovators with essential skills in research, innovation, commercialization, and leadership.
• Facilitates the development of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate educational initiatives and ensures development of programs to maintain QMI alumni engagement.
• Develops short- and long-range financial plans to meet the strategic goals of the Institute, ensuring funds are properly allocated and decision processes are transparent and equitable.
• Coaches and mentors both direct reports and Institute management staff, supporting their growth and development.
• Conducts regular performance reviews with direct reports and provides constructive feedback.
• Works cooperatively with all staff, faculty, and students to coordinate and create opportunities.
• Ensures that appropriate programs, courses, and training opportunities are available to QMI faculty, as well as technical, scientific, operations, and administrative staff.
• Ensures the right resources are available to support research activities, leveraging strengths and research interests of the team efficiently.
• Champions equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) by working with faculty, researchers, students, and staff to establish strategy and to design and implement programs, initiatives, policies, and procedures related to recruiting, training, and culture.

Skills and Experience

To excel in this Managing Director role at UBC, candidates should possess a strong blend of academic background, extensive experience in research environments, and proven leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent professional designation.
• Minimum of seven years of related experience with extensive experience in method development, research, facility management, ethical and other legal and regulatory requirements.
• Internationally recognized level of specialist expertise.
• 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: Postgraduate University degree in business, science or relevant field.
• Preferred: Minimum 7 years' experience as a senior manager in a research-oriented environment with leadership of a large team.
• Preferred: Expertise in developing strategy, leading implementation and spearheading an annual planning / priority setting process.
• Preferred: Accountability for performance of at least one department including developing annual objectives and overseeing budgets, policies and procedures, hiring, performance evaluation, and coaching.
• Preferred: Expertise in managing and evaluating large scale initiatives in a research environment.
• Preferred: Leadership in successful negotiations with external stakeholders such as granting agencies, commercial partners, government and academic institutions.
• Preferred: Ability to apply in-depth knowledge and experience, both technical and managerial, in identifying and resolving complex, multi-faceted problems.
• Preferred: Ability to look beyond existing methodologies and own discipline to anticipate, define, and resolve unique, complex problems.

Who You'll Work With

Reporting directly to the QMI Scientific Director, the Managing Director is a key member of the QMI Executive Committee. This role involves significant interaction with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, crucial for the continued success and development of the Institute.

Internally, you will regularly communicate with the UBC Research and Innovation Council (RIC), the QMI International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), the Vice President Research and Innovation (VPRI) office, and UBC Research Support Services. You will oversee QMI’s operations team, providing strategic direction and management to professional and administrative staff. Externally, engagement includes donors, granting agencies, and government officials.

The Managing Director operates with a high degree of initiative and independence, resolving senior-level issues without direct supervision. You will supervise the work of direct and indirect reports across all QMI operational and administrative functions, including HR, Communications, IT, finance, and student programming.