Research Project Manager

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

Note: Only the Full Time Compensation Range is displayed on the job posting details advertised on the UBC Career sites.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff, and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

JOB SUMMARY

The Research Project Manager will support the Lunken Lab ) and Jacobson Lab at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute ) in organizing and overseeing multiple clinical trials, including multi-site studies across Canada. These trials focus on nutrition and the gut microbiome in both adult and pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The successful candidate will lead and manage a portfolio of clinical research projects, including single-site studies based in BC and a national clinical trial with UBC as the lead location. They will be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and execution of these projects, and ensuring alignment with study protocols, timeline, budgets and regulatory requirements. The role includes overseeing study teams, coordinating activities across sites, managing data collection and reporting, monitoring project milestones and risks, and ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. The Project Manager will provide strategic leadership, support decision-making, facilitate communication among stakeholders, and contribute to the scientific and operational success of the projects.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The successful candidate will report directly to the Principal Investigators, Dr. Genelle Lunken and Dr. Kevan Jacobson, and work closely with Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators across multiple clinical trials. They will have a supervisory role overseeing clinical research coordinators and assistants, undergraduate students, and volunteers.

This role involves extensive collaboration and stakeholder engagement with members of the Lunken and Jacobson Labs, research staff at BC Children's Hospital, the IBD Centre of BC and the GI Research Institute, funding agencies (including the Canadian IBD Research Consortium), CIDsCaNN, biotech partners, patient advocate groups, nurses, administrative staff, dietitians, contractors, and IBD patients. The Project Manager will also work closely with internal and external collaborators, UBC University-Industry Liaison office, UBC finance teams, and research ethics boards to support effective project delivery and compliance. Office space will be provided at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. Flexibility in work hours may be required to meet project and stakeholder needs.

WORK PERFORMED

Tasks include:

Scientific Project Management & Leadership

• Lead the design, planning, and execution of single-site and multi-centre clinical studies, including national trials with up to 8 Canadian research sites.

• Develop study protocols and operational plans based on funded grant proposals, demonstrating strong scientific judgment and critical thinking.

• Support Principal Investigators in assessing feasibility, resourcing, and timelines for new research projects.

• Lead study start-up activities, including site readiness, documentation, investigator coordination, and regulatory approvals.

• Identify project risks, operational challenges, and opportunities across the study lifecycle; propose mitigation strategies and escalate issues to PIs as appropriate.

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the lead site, participating sites, sponsors, and key stakeholders.

• Chair and lead steering committees, investigator meetings, and regular research, laboratory, and progress meetings.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of a biobank project.

Clinical Trial Operations & Regulatory Oversight

• Lead and coordinate ethics submissions, renewals, amendments, and hospital research approvals with UBC, BC Children's Hospital, and PHC Research Ethics Boards.

• Ensure all studies are conducted in compliance with ICH-GCP, Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS), institutional policies, and study-specific SOPs.

• Develop, oversee, or supervise the development of study protocols, operational manuals, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Oversee recruitment, enrollment, and retention strategies; monitor performance metrics and troubleshoot recruitment challenges.

• Monitor study progress, data quality, and protocol adherence across all participating sites.

• Coordinate study start-up, conduct, and close-out activities at each site, including final reporting and regulatory documentation.

• Liaise with investigators, site coordinators, research assistants, dietitians, ethics boards, sponsors, and institutional partners.

Data Management & Scientific Oversight

• Design and oversee study data collection tools, including REDCap data databases and electronic case report forms.

• Oversee the maintenance and quality of databases capturing clinical, microbiome, and dietary intake data from IBD patients.

• Coordinate with data management and statistical teams at CIDsCaNN and BC Children's Hospital to support data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation.

• Monitor data completeness, consistency, and integrity across sites.

• Participate in data interpretation and contribute scientifically to study outputs.

Financial Management & Resource Planning

• Develop and manage detailed budgets for multi-centre clinical trials.

• Oversee funding allocations and financial tracking across participating sites in collaboration with CIDsCaNN and institutional finance teams.

• Set up and manage contractor agreements and external service providers.

• Prepare scientific and financial reports for funding agencies and sponsors.

Team Leadership, Training & Capacity

• Supervise, train, and mentor clinical research coordinators, research assistants, trainees, fellows, volunteers, and students.

• Lead hiring processes, including job description development, candidate screening, interviews, and in-basket testing.

• Provide ongoing training and support to site teams on study procedures, regulatory requirements, data entry, and data management.

• Organize and deliver training sessions for staff across 7–8 recruitment sites nationally.

• Support undergraduate co-op students and summer students, including supervision and preparation of scholarship applications.

Knowledge Translation & Dissemination

• Lead and coordinate knowledge translation (KT) activities, including content for websites, newsletters, and public-facing materials.

• Identify and support dissemination opportunities (e.g., podcasts, stakeholder events).

• Coordinate and contribute to abstracts, manuscripts, posters, and conference presentations.

• Organize lessons-learned and best-practice initiatives to inform future multi-site clinical studies.

• Prepare research findings for diverse audiences, including clinicians, funders, patient partners, and the public.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

The successful candidate will exercise a considerable amount of judgment, responsibility, and initiative. The incumbent is required to conduct all research activities in an ethical manner, suited to the proper activities of the University of British Columbia and to the professional organizations governing his or herself and those governing the activities of the institution and all other investigators. Strict confidentiality of all study participants must be adhered to. All activities involving participants are accountable to the Principal Investigator, the Department Head, and the candidate's governing professional organization. Consequences of error are high and this is a position with significant responsibility. The data submitted impacts the direction of future studies. Errors could impact upon the reputation of the program as a whole and jeopardize the options for collaborative participation with industry, government and other centers.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The individual will work independently under the direction of Dr. Lunken.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The individual will provide supervision and guidance to research assistants, clinical research coordinators and fellows, graduate students, undergraduate co-op or directed studies students, volunteers, and other members of the research team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience, or an 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

PhD or Master's degree in a health discipline (e.g., nutrition, dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, pharmacy, health sciences or equivalent). Experience in clinical research, as a research coordinator or the equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Recent experience in a university or clinical research environment is preferred. Certification with Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) or Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA) is an asset. Completion of relevant clinical research courses or tutorials (i.e., TCPS 2, GCP, UBC REB) is also an asset.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and the ability to participate in a collegial manner with the team.

• Ability to perform scientific writing and editing duties.

• Ability to develop and work with large clinical (e. g. registry data), research or administrative databases.

• Ability to effectively use MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet searches at an advanced level; experience with REDCap and with statistical software.

• Effective critical thinking skills and understanding of complex data management principles.

• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments.

• Ability to determine the nature and urgency of inquiries and issues, and triage appropriately.

• Ability to supervise/mentor undergraduate and graduate students.