Research Manager

Job Summary

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is seeking a full-time Research Manager to help coordinate and support an interdisciplinary research program applying artificial intelligence to psychiatry and supportive cancer care. The program, led by Dr. John-Jose Nunez (a dual-trained psychiatrist and computer scientist) in collaboration with BC Cancer and the UBC Mood Disorders Centre, spans patient navigation tools, clinical guideline chatbots, and predictive models for psychosocial and psychiatric needs.

The Research Manager will manage the lab's day-to-day research operations and lead project execution across several concurrent studies, including writing grant and funding applications, manuscripts, and ethics submissions; leading and managing research projects, including those focused on the evaluation and implementation of the AI tools the lab is developing; recruiting and running studies; and onboarding/supervising junior trainees, all under the general direction of the Principal Investigator. This role suits someone with research management experience, or who has completed a PhD or postdoctoral fellowship and is interested in research management.

Reports to: Dr. John-Jose Nunez, Principal Investigator

FTE: Full-time (35 hrs/week)

Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with in-person days at both BC Cancer (Vancouver) and the UBC Vancouver campus.

Start date: As soon as possible

Organizational Status

The Research Manager receives direction from and reports to the Principal Investigator (Dr. John-Jose Nunez), who is cross-appointed with the Department of Computer Science. They will interact with co-investigators, patient partners, and collaborators across BC Cancer and the Departments of Computer Science and Psychiatry. They will coordinate with senior lab members (data scientists, postdoctoral fellows, developers) on shared project work, and will supervise and mentor research assistants, medical (FLEX) students, and undergraduate trainees.

Work Performed

· Lead the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, and scientific reports, deciding how results are presented and recommending target venues, and consulting the PI on scientific claims and authorship.

· Design and lead research projects, including evaluations of the lab's AI tools and implementation-focused research on how they are adopted in clinical care, making professional decisions on study design and analysis, and bringing completed work to the PI for review.

· Lead the development of grant proposals and funding applications, identifying suitable funding opportunities, determining proposal positioning and scientific framing, developing research budgets and justifications, and directing the integration of co-investigator contributions.

· Lead research ethics, regulatory, and data-governance activities across the lab's project portfolio (UBC RISe), interpreting requirements, determining submission and amendment strategies, identifying compliance risks, and recommending substantive protocol changes to the PI.

· Develop and oversee participant-recruitment and study-implementation strategies across multiple projects, assessing recruitment feasibility, participant eligibility, protocol compliance, and emerging risks, and directing operational changes required to achieve study objectives.

· Establish and govern the content, structure, validation methodology, and quality standards for resource databases supporting the lab's AI navigation tools, assessing the implications of database decisions for research validity, clinical implementation, and tool performance.

· Manage the lab's research-support workforce, determining staffing requirements and deployment across projects, establishing work priorities and performance expectations, evaluating staff effectiveness, addressing performance concerns, and recommending hiring and staffing decisions to the PI.

· Develop and lead the lab's patient-partner engagement strategy, facilitating the Patient and Caregiver Advisory Council and establishing processes to incorporate lived-experience perspectives into research priorities, study design, implementation, and knowledge translation.

· Develop and lead the research program's knowledge-translation strategy, identifying priority audiences and dissemination approaches, translating complex findings for clinical, technical, academic, and patient audiences, and representing the program at national and international forums.

· Assess project staffing requirements, develop role profiles and selection criteria, lead candidate-assessment and interview processes, and provide recommendations to the PI regarding the recruitment and deployment of research personnel.

· Lead research-portfolio and operational planning meetings, establishing agendas based on emerging priorities and risks, facilitating decisions across project teams, and ensuring accountability for resulting actions and deliverables.

· Establish and manage integrated project plans, timelines, dependencies, and milestones across multiple concurrent studies, assessing variances and emerging risks and directing corrective actions to maintain scientific, regulatory, and funding deliverables.

· Lead working relationships with clinical, technical, and academic collaborators, negotiating project requirements, resolving complex methodological and implementation issues, and developing solutions where partner priorities, research requirements, or operational constraints conflict.

· Undertake complex research-development and implementation initiatives on behalf of the PI, independently assessing requirements, developing approaches, coordinating stakeholders, and providing recommendations on matters affecting the lab's research portfolio.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Research Manager makes independent professional decisions in planning and running research activities, managing studies, and supervising trainees, presenting completed work to the Principal Investigator for review and escalating major decisions on project scope, budget, authorship, and substantive protocol changes. Errors in accuracy, judgment, tact, or follow-through could delay project timelines, set back participant recruitment, or jeopardize ethics approvals and funding applications. The Principal Investigator provides overall direction and reviews major outputs.

Supervision Received

Works under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, setting day-to-day priorities and carrying out work with a high degree of latitude and independence, then bringing completed work to the Principal Investigator for review. Major decisions on scope, budget, and authorship are made in consultation with the Principal Investigator.

Supervision Given

Supervises and mentors research assistants, undergraduate students, and medical (FLEX) students, including onboarding, day-to-day guidance, project assignment, and progress feedback. Coordinates with senior lab members such as data scientists and postdoctoral fellows.

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

· Bachelor's degree in psychology, health sciences, public health, or a related field plus 3+ years of research coordination or management experience, OR a graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in a related field.

· Applied or clinical research experience in cancer and/or mental health care, such as psychosocial, health services, or patient-facing research on how patients access care and supportive resources.

· Experience preparing research ethics submissions and amendments.

· Experience supervising or mentoring students or junior research staff.

· Experience writing grant applications and academic manuscripts.

· Skills in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

· Strong organizational, writing, and communication skills; personable and quick to learn.

· Eagerness to learn in a fast-paced environment, including learning how to use AI tools the lab has deployed to help with administrative tasks.

· Experience coordinating patient or community partners in research.

· Experience with knowledge translation activities (posters, conference presentations).

· Experience evaluating digital health tools or conducting implementation-focused research.

· Experience with REDCap or similar research data capture platforms.

· Familiarity with digital health or health AI (technical/programming experience is not required; you will collaborate with technical experts in the lab).

· Experience safely using AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cowork).