Posted: June 26, 2026
Research Platform Manager - UBC, Vancouver is listed at UBC in Vancouver, BC. The Beaver Board aggregates this opening from the employer's career page — apply using the button below to reach the official application. Browse more jobs at UBC.
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is seeking a dedicated Research Platform Manager to provide operational leadership and day-to-day management for FINDER, a vital shared research platform. This unique facility, located on the UBC Vancouver Campus, includes both Containment Level 3 (CL3) and adjacent Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratories, essential for work involving Risk Group 3 (RG3) pathogens. The incumbent will be instrumental in overseeing the facility's annual certification, managing diverse research projects, and ensuring the highest standards of biosafety and compliance. This position offers a significant opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge scientific research in a highly specialized environment, working closely with UBC Safety and Risk Services, UBC Animal Care Services, and the FINDER Scientific Advisor. The successful manager will play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of this critical research facility.
As the Research Platform Manager, you will be responsible for a broad range of duties, ensuring the smooth and compliant operation of the FINDER facility. This includes developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures for client services, conducting comprehensive research-training sessions on biosafety procedures, animal handling, and the use of scientific equipment required for a CL3 facility. You will forecast future capability needs by assessing equipment requirements, overseeing simultaneous experiments, and collaborating on grant proposals and research reports, providing expertise in methods for scientific and biosafety requirements. Managing relationships with stakeholders and clients is crucial, as is supporting users with animal research requirements in partnership with Animal Care Services. The manager will also oversee maintenance, upgrades, and renovation plans for all equipment and infrastructure, manage the shipping and receiving of RG3 agents and animals, and ensure compliance with Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) policies for research animals within FINDER. This role also encompasses human resources management for up to four technicians, including mentorship and performance management, and meticulous budget planning and financial oversight for the facility.
To excel in this Research Platform Manager role, candidates must possess a post-graduate degree or equivalent professional designation with a minimum of four years of related experience, or an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline with at least six years of related experience. Crucially, extensive experience working in and managing a CL3 facility, including staff management and oversight of facility operations, is required. The position demands a willingness and ability to work under CL3 conditions, which includes enrolment in medical surveillance due to inherent risks associated with experiments using RG3 agents. Preferred qualifications include an undergraduate degree in Microbiology, Virology, or a related biomedical field, along with demonstrated knowledge of CL2 biosafety principles and the ability to meet medical fitness requirements for CL3 work. Animal husbandry experience is highly preferred, as is experience in microbiology and tissue culture techniques, preparing and analysing DNA, RNA, and protein samples. The ideal candidate will demonstrate prudent judgement under pressure, excellent technical skills, and the ability to organize and complete assignments autonomously, ensuring the continued excellence and safety of the FINDER scientific research platform.
