Program Manager, CMPT

Job Summary

The Program Manager of the Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing (CMPT) Program provides senior leadership and management of the CMPT technical operations and programming. CMPT is a public- facing, fee for service program operated from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the UBC Hospital, Koerner Pavilion.

CMPT is an ISO 17043:2023- accredited national proficiency testing program offering >20 microbiology-related quality assurance schemes in clinical, industrial and environmental microbiology. CMPT develops simulated samples and ships them to approximately 350 participating diagnostic testing locations across Canada and globally as part of their quality assessment requirements for ISO 15189 and ISO 17025 compliance.

The CMPT Program Manager position is responsible for the overall management of the proficiency testing schemes and supervises the technical operations of the program, and building strategic partnerships. This position requires the exercising of significant professional judgement and initiative in the overall management of the program’s unique public service functions.

Organizational Status
The Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing (CMPT) Program operates within the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine of the University of British Columbia. The Program Manager reports to the CMPT Chair and Principal Investigator, Dr. Lucy Perrone. Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at UBC is a hybrid, academically intensive unit whose activities span a broad spectrum of teaching, research, and academic service, often performed in the milieu of clinical practice, and are ultimately devoted to improving the care, treatment, and well-being of patients.

The Program Manager role engages regularly with stakeholders such as scheme participants, CMPT committee members, reference laboratories, quality partners and clinical partners. The Program Manager role collaborates with the PI in program reporting to internal UBC stakeholders such as Finance and HR.

Work Performed
· Manages all aspects of CMPT’s proficiency testing schemes and program work, including informing: CMPT’s approach to external quality assessment, critical partnerships, scheme optimization for diagnostic relevancy and quality improvement impact, appropriate organism selection for samples challenges, and sustainable sample production and formulation approaches among other technical leadership tasks

· Develops and manages partnership agreements and MTAs

· Provides strategic advice with regard to annual activity and resource planning, goal setting and risk analysis

· Evaluates program performance to inform critical decision making such as discontinuing underperforming schemes and/or promoting those schemes with high impact value;

· Oversees program costs and resource utilization at the program level, identifies financial risks and recommends mitigation strategies

· Develops and continually improves management systems and processes for program operations. Is expected to identify and apply effective industrial management theory, approaches and frameworks such as Agile Delivery Methods in the program to improve team coordination and efficiencies, quality, and program impact.

· Develops new partnerships by shaping proposals and service contract bids, and facilitating the necessary approvals through UBC units including the Faculty of Medicine and University industry Liaison Office

· Identifies and leads continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing, refining, and enhancing program processes in alignment with program goals. Uses initiative to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative procedures, practices, standards, specifications, services, or projects.

· Researches and oversees data management. Specifically, manages and analyzes performance data across >20 proficiency testing schemes and communicate results to key stakeholders

· Oversees effective technical committee function, advises committee members with survey reviews and critique writing, and ensures the timely delivery of information and documentation required for survey review.

· Supervises the CMPT Laboratory Team and provides technical guidance in the production of complex microbiology samples and design of complex microbiology experiments

· Develops CMPT partnership maps, formal partnership agreements, MTAs, and other formal and technical agreements with external partners.

· Promotes effective team coordination within a fast-paced environment

· Conducts and plays a key role in staff workload planning and annual performance evaluations

· Leads the team in error investigation across administrative and technical domains of the program including quarterly reviewing of recorded OFIs, and recommends appropriate actions for improvements.

· Ensures program compliance to ISO 17043:2023 by reviewing OFIs, overseeing document processes in CMPT’s quality management system and plan the annual internal and external audit process and external assessment by an accrediting body (e.g. A2LA)

· Reviews and discusses relevant program information with the PI/CMPT Chair and Department including program impact data, revenue and resource allocation.

· Performs other duties as requested by the PI/ CMPT Chair

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Consistent with the philosophy and context of quality management, the Program Manager is expected to learn from mistakes through a process of continuous improvement. The Program Manager is expected to be capable of senior level decisions consistent with CMPT goals, with the expectation that the PI/CMPT Chair of the program is informed. Executive decisions are made by the PI/CMPT Chair. Finding one has made an error in activity or judgment is an understandable consequence of senior positions. Not reporting, or not addressing error through a process of remedial, corrective and preventive action is unacceptable.

Supervision Received
Reporting to the Chair of CMPT/Principal Investigator, the Program Manager exercises considerable independent judgement and initiative in the planning and management of program activities. The Program Manager works independently under general direction by the PI.

Supervision Given
The Program Manager manages a team of 3 laboratory technologists including a Senior Technologist 5, Technologist 3 and Technologist 2, and liaises closely with the CMPT Administrative Coordinator. Participates in the training and occasional supervision of students and volunteers.

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

• MSc in clinical or environmental microbiology

• 10+ years work experience working in a proficiency testing program

• Demonstrated competency in the principles and practices laboratory quality management in accordance with ISO standards.

• Demonstrated ability to lead people, programs, take initiative, prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Ability to negotiate to gain best value, or to gain agreement in hostile, emotional, or controversial situations.

• Ability to provide training and/or instruction of a complex nature in areas of expertise.

• Ability to recognize and acknowledge error and to learn from the experience.

• Ability to work effectively and tactfully with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Mastery of English grammar and punctuation is essential, with the ability to read and understand microbiology publications critically, and make substantive editorial recommendations to improve readability, clarity and impact.

• Demonstrated skills with technical writing and effective translation of complex scientific information is essential.

• Creative problem solving and decision-making; mentorship abilities.

• Computer competency with knowledge of spreadsheet, database, and word processing applications.

• Ability to represent the CMPT program, gaining and maintaining the respect of partners and UBC senior administration

• Ability to work with stakeholders in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building.

• Ability to be comfortable, credible and persuasive within academic, government or business environments; ability to initiate, build and nurture partnerships.

• Demonstrated effective leadership, motivational and planning abilities.

• Proven ability to analyze, prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Proven judgment and decision-making skills, particularly in areas where there are no established policies or guidelines.

• Ability to take initiative, manage effectively and meet goals in a complex environment.

• Ability to foresee, prevent and resolve conflicts and other problems.