Operations Manager, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program

Operations Manager, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program

The purpose of this position is to lead the management and delivery of the first Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program (the Program). Housed at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus (UBCO), the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program will be the first of its kind in Canada and will develop the foundational framework required for a nationally recognized program to facilitate the safe and effective application of prescribed fire contributing to measurable improvements in biodiversity, ecological resilience, and community safety. The Program will involve the development of curriculum and regional hubs across Canada which will provide region-specific and hands-on prescribed fire training.

This position will be responsible for developing and implementing this national-scale training program in coordination with the Director, Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, and the Prescribed Fire Program Manager (Prescribed Fire Manager). This position will develop comprehensive policies and procedures related to Program administration and delivery. They will be responsible for developing administrative and human resource structures for a team of nine staff, and provide direct supervision for a Communications Coordinator. This position will act as an advisor to the Director and provide additional oversight for the Research and Extension team in support of the Prescribed Fire Manager. The Operations Manager and the Prescribed Fire Manager will work collaboratively to develop and implement the core infrastructure of the Program and ensure Program success.

This position will be responsible for the management of the Program at UBCO which will include liaising with other university units and granting agencies, coordinating contracts with provincial and federal governments, management of Program learners (intake, tracking, and online curriculum), finance and financial planning, procurement, human resources, developing administrative policies and systems, project proposals, and fulfilling reporting requirements for the Program.

This position will also work with the Director and the Prescribed Fire Manager on integration of the Program in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESC), which will be the academic home of the Program at UBCO.

Organizational Status: This position reports to Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (PI) and works in the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UBC's Okanagan campus.

Work Performed:

• Leads the development and implementation of university operations for the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program.
• Builds and implements workplans, timelines, and evaluation tasks for key Program objectives, tracks progress against key milestones and recommends changes to mitigate risks as needed.
• Supports delivery and expansion of the Program through new training partnerships across Canada.
• Negotiates contracts with provincial and federal governments to enable in-person prescribed fire training components.
• Manages, develops, and identifies new relationships to support Program objectives, tracks engagement activities to ensure timely and consistent communications.
• Maintains communication with all program collaborators including internal UBC teams, and external partners including provincial and national government bodies, NGOs, First Nations, community-based organizations and others.
• Leads meetings with partners and committees and track and follow-up from identified action-items and objectives from consultation activities and recommend changes as needed.
• Collaborates with the Prescribed Fire Manager to support outreach activities for the Research and Extension Team.
• Works with the Communications Coordinator to develop a communications plan and makes recommendations on communications activities including approaches to community engagement and partnerships.
• Oversees learner registration, and supports learners throughout the Program, including tracking learner competencies nationally, and providing administrative support as needed.
• Oversees and manages budgets, including financial and bi-annual Program progress reports.
• Support the Director with recruiting, selecting, evaluating, supervising, and if necessary, terminating staff and contractors.
• Perform other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement: Errors or incorrect decisions of this position could seriously compromise the timing and quality of training and knowledge extension projects of the Program. In addition, inaccurate reporting, lack of grant facilitation, and failure in communications could result in lost funding and jeopardized relationships with collaborators and communities. Poor judgement or poor relationship management may harm the reputation of UBCO and may result in lost research partnership opportunities. Inaccurate or incomplete information regarding partnership opportunities or sponsor regulations could result in a loss of funding or may commit the University to unacceptable award conditions. Mismanagement of partnerships could result in the return of funds, loss of future funds and/or inability to collect funds owed to the University. Incorrect interpretation of Sponsoring Agency and University policy could result in non-compliance with sponsoring agency terms.

Supervision Received: This position will work autonomously with considerable latitude. This position is expected to be able to independently perform duties and consult regularly with the Director. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of specific goals.

Supervision Given: Manages staff, and is responsible for hiring, discipline, evaluation, and termination. This role will have one direct report and supports management of a Research and Extension Team.

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:

• Demonstrated post-secondary academic administration experience.
• Project Management Certification is considered an asset.
• Experience in academic program administration, development, and management.
• Experience managing diverse teams.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with minimal direction and exercise sound judgement and decision-making.
• Effective oral and written communication skills including presentations, grant applications, reports, etc.;
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of fire ecology and prescribed and culturally-informed prescribed fire is considered an asset.
• Computer and data analysis skills (eg. Word processing, Excel, citation/reference management software)