Director, Operations and Planning Administration

Job Summary

The Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation (OVPRI) provides leadership, strategic planning, and support for research, innovation, and creative activity on the Okanagan campus. This diverse Research & Innovation portfolio includes teams focused on strategic initiatives; internal and external research grants; sponsored research, technology transfer, entrepreneurship (Innovation UBC); partnerships; inter- and cross-disciplinary research; financial planning; and communications. This position is a senior leadership role and will be pivotal in realizing the OVPRI’s purpose. The position is responsible for overseeing operational effectiveness, workforce strategy, and supporting key strategic initiatives including Shared Research Platforms within the Research & Innovation portfolio. This position provides high-level leadership across staffing, organizational design, and workforce planning, ensuring that the portfolio is resourced effectively and operating collaboratively to achieve institutional priorities.

Working closely with the Vice-Principal and Associate Vice-Principal Research and Innovation as well as other senior academic and administrative leaders, this position ensures strategic alignment between people, processes, and strategy within the portfolio to enable a high-performing and future-ready research enterprise.

Organizational Status

Under broad direction, the position reports to the Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation/Associate Vice-Principal Research and Innovation and works collaboratively with leadership within the portfolio and across the institution, including administrative units such as Human Resources, Finance, and Institutional Planning.

The position serves as a key liaison between the Research & Innovation portfolio and central administrative units, ensuring alignment of operational and people strategies with institutional goals.

Work Performed

Strategic Leadership, Planning & Organizational Effectiveness

• Provides senior leadership for the planning, integration, and continuous improvement of operations across the Research & Innovation portfolio, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and the evolving research and innovation landscape.

• Leads the development and execution of multi-year, values-driven internal strategic operational plans, translating institutional direction into clear portfolio priorities, implementation roadmaps, and measurable outcomes.

• Establishes governance structures, decision-making frameworks, and performance measurement systems to enable effective, data-informed management and accountability.

• Acts as a strategic advisor to the VPRI/AVPRI, identifying internal risks, opportunities, and emerging issues, and recommending solutions that advance portfolio and institutional objectives.

• Leads annual planning processes, including the development of portfolio plans, reporting, and performance updates.

Integrated Business Planning, Operations & Administrative Leadership

• Directs integrated business and operational planning, including resource allocation, financial oversight, and forecasting across administrative, Shared Research Platforms, and communications functions.

• Oversees administrative operations to ensure efficient, effective, and client-focused service delivery, including financial administration, office operations, and operational support systems.

• Identifies and leads initiatives to improve operational efficiency, enhance service delivery, and optimize processes across the portfolio.

• Ensures effective coordination with central administrative units to support seamless service delivery and operational continuity.

• Ensures compliance with institutional policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements across all operational areas.

• Manages the administrative activities of OVPRI governance structures and helps to coordinate and facilitate advisory committees and working groups; oversees meeting materials, responsible/accountable for updates and deliverables

Communications & Engagement

• Provides strategic direction and oversight for portfolio communications and engagement activities, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and the Research & Innovation mandate.

• Manages and guides the Communications team in setting priorities, reviewing outputs, and ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with strategic objectives and institutional standards.

• Advises senior leadership on communications strategy, issues management, reputational risk, and engagement approaches

Facilities & Infrastructure Oversight

• Provides strategic oversight of office planning, space use, and workplace strategy to ensure alignment with current and future operational needs.

• Ensures planning supports program growth, organizational effectiveness, and institutional space planning frameworks.

• Identifies opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of physical space use and related operational infrastructure.

Staff Management & Team Leadership

• Provides direct supervision to managers and professional staff, including recruitment, onboarding, goal setting, performance management, and career development.

• Leads, coaches, and develops a team of leaders, building management capability and supporting succession planning.

• Leads workforce planning and organizational design, aligning structure, roles, and capabilities with institutional priorities, advising senior leadership, and overseeing implementation of workforce changes in collaboration with Human Resources.

• Establishes clear performance expectations and ensures consistent application of performance management practices.

• Supports managers in addressing complex employee relations matters, including performance issues, conflict resolution, and workplace investigations, in collaboration with Human Resources.

• Fosters a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative work environment grounded in accountability, respect and engagement.

• Ensures compliance with collective agreements, employment legislation, and institutional policies in all people management practices.

Leadership & Accountability

• Provides overall leadership and integration across communications, space, administrative operations, and workforce strategy functions.

• Ensures alignment of all functional areas with portfolio strategy and institutional priorities, including shared research platforms.

Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position operates in a complex and highly visible environment where decisions have significant operational, financial, and reputational implications.

Errors in judgment could result in misaligned workforce strategies, ineffective use of resources, or delays in critical initiatives. Poor decision-making may negatively impact partner relationships, employee engagement, and the successful execution of strategic priorities.

Supervision Received

Works under broad direction from the Vice-Principal / Associate Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation, with significant autonomy and decision-making authority.

Supervision Given

Provides leadership to managers, project leads, and professional staff. May oversee cross-functional teams and project-based resources.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of seven 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

• A degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Higher Education Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Senior leadership experience in a complex environment, preferably within a post-secondary or research-intensive institution.

• Understanding of research and innovation agendas within the context of a complex, research-intensive university is an asset.

• Demonstrated experience in values-based leadership of organizational operations, strategic planning, and enterprise-level administrative functions.

• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and their cultures, histories, and traditions. Ability to lead and make decisions informed by awareness of historical and contemporary Indigenous norms and standards relevant to the promotion and protection of Indigenous rights.

• Advanced understanding of workforce planning, organizational design, and human resource management practices at both strategic and operational levels.

• Demonstrated ability to align practices, policies and procedures with institutional priorities

• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and guiding organizational change in a large and matrixed environment.

• Experience supervising managers and/or professional staff, including responsibility for performance management, coaching, and team development.

• Experience working directly with senior leadership and contributing to executive-level decision-making and planning processes.

• Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships across diverse groups, including faculty, staff, and central administrative units.

• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate effectively in complex and ambiguous environments.

• Ability to analyze and interpret various forms of data, determine implications, and implement recommendations.

• alignment with institutional priorities

• Exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship management skills, with the ability to build consensus and foster a collaborative, collegial working environment.

• Experience supporting or working within senior leadership portfolios in a research-intensive or higher education setting is considered an asset.

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