Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Engagement

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Posting End Date

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.

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 Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Engagement provides senior-level leadership and management of strategic initiatives, major external partnerships, and institutional projects that advance the mission and priorities of the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH). This include developing large multi-investigator funding opportunities; leading the development, negotiation, and extension of partnerships with senior leaders in health authorities, governments, universities, and industry; strengthening and expanding global health infrastructure at SPPH and across UBC and advancing new revenue-generating academic offerings. Reporting to the School Director, the role leads the planning, implementation, and management of complex, high-impact strategic initiatives and cultivates enduring partnerships across academic, government, health system, industry, community, and international sectors.

The position is responsible for advancing major initiatives that strengthen SPPH’s competitiveness, sustainability, and institutional profile in population and public health research, education, and service. This includes leading the operationalization of cross-unit/Faculty and university-wide initiatives, providing strategic analysis and recommendations to leadership, enabling interdisciplinary collaborations, identifying and advancing funding opportunities to support strategic priorities, grant development and writing, and furthering other innovative opportunities aligned with SPPH, Faculty of Medicine and University strategic plans.

The Senior Manager operates with a high degree of autonomy and independent judgment. The role navigates complex and often ambiguous environments, aligning diverse stakeholders, working with senior leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, and supporting the advancement of collaborative initiatives and funding opportunities, including major research, federal, provincial, philanthropic, and/or international grants and programs.

Organizational Status
Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit that encompasses many of the health-related groupings at UBC as a collaborative venture. The School is structured around four divisions: Global and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations. The resulting mix of professions and disciplines is seen as a means of connecting individuals and learners to galvanize the relationship between health research, public health and health services and to enhance learning.

The Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Engagement reports to the Director, School of Population and Public Health, and works in close collaboration with Associate Directors, faculty members, research leaders, and administrative leadership within the School, Faculty of Medicine, and across the University.

The role acts as a key liaison between SPPH and internal and external partners, including Faculty of Medicine units, central UBC offices (e.g., Office of Global Engagement, Vice-President Research and Innovation, University Counsel, Development and Alumni Engagement, Government Relations etc.), health authorities, government agencies, research institutes, non-governmental organizations, and international partners.

The position provides functional leadership to project teams, committees, and working groups as needed and may supervise or mentor staff, students, or project personnel in support of strategic initiatives.

The incumbent works independently within established strategic priorities and initiatives, exercising professional judgment and initiative in managing initiatives of substantial scope, complexity, and institutional importance.

Work Performed
1. Strategic initiative leadership and management

• Leads the planning, implementation, and management of major strategic initiatives aligned with the School, Faculty, and University’s strategic priorities;
• Provides advisory support to the School Director and senior leadership on emerging opportunities, risks, and priorities;
• Oversees strategic projects of considerable size and complexity involving multiple stakeholders across academic units, the Faculty, the University, and external organizations;
• Conducts environmental scans, strategic analyses, and consultations to support School priorities and inform strategic decision-making;
• Develops strategic plans, business cases, implementation frameworks, policies, processes, and evaluation metrics to support initiatives;
• Prepares strategic briefings, reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership
• Represents SPPH on committees, advisory groups, and task forces at various University governance levels as they relate to strategic priorities;
• Collaborates with other academic units to ensure initiatives are effectively implemented and integrated into the School and broader institutional environment.

2. Strategic partnership development and external engagement

• Leads the development, cultivation, and stewardship of strategic partnerships with academic institutions, government ministries, health authorities, research institutes, Indigenous organizations, community partners, industry, and international agencies etc. with the goal of advancing SPPH’s research, education, and societal impact;
• Develops partnership frameworks, agreements, and collaboration models that support mutual goals and institutional priorities;
• Identifies and advances collaborative initiatives involving external partners, including joint research programs, academic initiatives, policy collaborations, and training programs;
• Represents SPPH in high-level discussions, partnership negotiations, and institutional engagements locally, nationally, and internationally;
• Strengthens SPPH’s profile and influence through coordinated partnership and engagement initiatives;
• Facilitates meaningful engagement with partners to advance equity, public health impact, and global health priorities.

3. Strategic funding opportunity development and sustainability

• Identifies, assesses, and advances major funding opportunities aligned with SPPH strategic priorities, including research funding (e.g. identifying grant funding opportunities), federal and provincial programs, and/or global funding initiatives;
• Leads the development of institutional proposals, concept notes, grand funding documents, and other strategy-oriented submissions involving multiple investigators, partners, or institutions;
• Supports leadership and faculty on planning and implementation of strategies to position SPPH competitively for large-scale and multi-institutional funding opportunities;
• Facilitates collaboration among faculty, partners, and administrative units to support successful grant and funding applications;
• Works closely with senior leadership to discover and advance funding sources for strategic initiatives and partnerships;

4. Leadership, Influence, and Organizational Impact

• Facilitates collaboration across organizational units, influencing and aligning stakeholders who may not have direct reporting relationships;
• Establishes and facilitates cross-functional teams, committees, working groups, and/or task forces to advance strategic initiatives;
• Provides mentorship, guidance, and functional leadership to project staff;
• Exercises a considerable level of diplomacy, political acuity, and judgment in navigating complex institutional environments;
• Promotes a culture of collaboration, innovation, and strategic thinking within the School.

5. Financial and Resource Stewardship

• Contributes to financial planning and stewardship related to strategic initiatives and partnerships within the portfolio, ensuring alignment with School, Faculty, and University priorities and sustainability;
• Works in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Executive and Grant Operations to develop grants budgets and financial accountability and risk management frameworks;
• Reviews funding allocations, partnership commitments, and resource requirements to support strategic priorities;
• Works in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Executive and Grant Operations and the administrative team to advise leadership on financial risks, opportunities, and sustainability considerations related to major initiatives;
• Collaborates with administrative and finance teams to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This Senior Manager operates at a senior strategic level with broad impact and must exercise considerable judgment and initiative to advance this portfolio. The incumbent is key to developing and implementing strategic initiatives aligned with SPPH’s mission, with decisions, recommendations, and execution directly impacting the School’s funding opportunities, partnerships, and reputation.

The incumbent must identify and manage potential conflicts, relationships, and financial risks, and is expected to demonstrate considerable personal initiative with wide latitude in decision-making. Errors in judgment, planning, or execution could impede strategic initiatives, cost SPPH, the Faculty of Medicine, and the University of British Columbia funding opportunities, and cause reputational damage.

Supervision Received
The Senior Manager will work independently under broad direction from the Director, School of Population and Public Health and will administratively report to the Director of Administration. The incumbent will work closely with the Associate Directors and other senior leadership. The incumbent will receive detailed instructions on the assignment of new duties and thereafter, only on new or unusual problems.

Supervision Given
The Senior Manager will be responsible for supervising project staff who are assigned/dedicated to support strategic initiatives and/or engagement, and in addition, may oversee and direct the work of temporary staff or employees (as needed) and is responsible for the accuracy of the work produced.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five 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

• Master's degree in Health Administration or a relevant discipline preferred.
• Experience in a university or academic environment preferred. Knowledge of UBC policies, procedures and systems is considered an asset.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to show initiative.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty and staff, and the ability to liaise with diverse partners from faculties, institutions and organizations.
• Ability to establish and maintain supportive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively facilitate groups to achieve appropriate outcomes.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise diplomacy and good judgment.
• Ability to strategically plan, analyze, develop, facilitate discussion, present and implement a variety of goals, initiatives and projects.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic business plans.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide recommendations.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion and sound judgment at all times.
• Computer experience required (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, experience with databases).