Project Manager, Operations and Genomic Research, Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME) Core

Job Summary
Reporting to the Director of the Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME) and the Associate Directors of TIME, the incumbent will be located at the Translational Institute of Medicine Core Facility and responsible for providing procurement and planning support for a new large scale Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) project called TIME Core, as well as providing scientific support for daily operations of the new genomics laboratory. TIME Core has expanded on core facility services and infrastructure, and increase the facility’s footprint to approximately 9,000sq ft. Since its establishment in 2018, the core facility has served approximately 120 internal and external research groups, providing a wide range of state-of-the-art infrastructure, expertise and training to dozens of different fields of scientific research, including (but not limited to) cardiopulmonary, cancer, inflammation and neurodegenerative. The incumbent will join a dedicated and growing team of expert scientists who aim to elevate research at Queen’s, at levels ranging from basic and animal science to clinical trials and population research.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
•Responsible for overseeing the coordination and preparation of all required documentation for infrastructure purchases and renovation projects related to TIME Core operations, tracking timelines, managing project deliverables, and mitigating risks to ensure compliance with institutional and funding requirements.
•The incumbent will act as the point of contact for all external vendors and internal departments such as environmental health and safety, IT, facilities and procurement services to coordinate the establishment, maintenance and operation of TIME facilities.
•Provide technical expertise in the operation of molecular biology equipment, including but not limited to next sequencing platforms, Oxford Nanopore sequencers, Agilent Bioanalyzer, and Bio-Rad Opus RT/qPCR instruments, and support researchers in developing effective experimental designs and workflows.
•Observe, record, analyze and prepare results for presentation and publication.
•Assist with and contribute to, co-authoring or authoring of scientific papers as required.
•Develop operating schedule for the relevant equipment and maintain laboratory data.
•Provide the senior leadership team with assistance and analysis in reporting, metric tracking and grant preparation in relation to the ongoing TIME projects.
• Coordinate and deliver health and safety training to students and staff, ensuring adherence to established safety protocols.
• Ensure the TIME Core project complies with all funding agency policies, guidelines, rules, conditions and deadlines.
• Ensure smooth acquisition, and installation of the research infrastructure.
• Assist in the management of facility operations in consultation with senior staff, including oversight of physical space, equipment, and infrastructure, coordinate maintenance activities and support the implementation of system upgrades to ensure efficient and reliable operations.
• Participate in the development of TIME’s annual and long-range infrastructure and project planning to ensure TIME research deliverables are met.
• Develop and review policies and procedures, ensuring that the facility is operated in an effective, safe and efficient manner. Identifying and reporting the need for staff resources.
• Develop and contribute to the development of oral presentations, grants, website and social media communication.
• Undertake other duties and special projects assigned in support of the department.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
•Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) to develop and maintain strong relationships with researchers, university and vendors.
•Excellent time-management and organizational skills as well as the capacity to take initiative, solve problems and suggest solutions, including ability to manage large projects.
•Personal judgment and initiative are used in creating, testing and adapting protocols to meet the needs of the project and to test new hypotheses.
•Ability to coordinate workflow.
•Ability to synthesize information from a wide variety of sources. Ability to conceptualize creative plans and workable solutions for dealing with a wide array of management problems.
•Strong team player who works well under pressure, with the ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility and initiative. This includes the ability to respond to tight deadlines and conflicting priorities.
•Excellent skills with budget recording, reporting and management
•Expertise with computer programs including Excel, PowerPoint, MS Office.
•Ability to motivate and to create an efficient and collaborative work environment.
•Sound judgment, maturity, tact, and discretion.
•Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and make accommodations.
•Some independent judgement is required in decision making.

DECISION MAKING:
•Prioritize time and resource use to coordinate workflow on project.
•Determine appropriate action to handle emergencies (e.g. loss of power to major refrigeration systems, water leaks on to sensitive equipment etc.). The incumbent must be able to recognize potential biohazard or chemical risk and take appropriate preventative measures.
•Determine how to deal with problems. Decide if problem can be resolved personally or if Associate Directors or Director should be involved.
•Direct research enquiries to the proper person or supply the answer if appropriate.
•Determine appropriate experimental workflows and sequencing approaches by providing guidance to researchers.
•Assess data quality and analytical methods before results are presented or prepared for publication.
•Decide on timelines and coordination strategies with facilities, IT, procurement, and external vendors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
•A master’s degree in a related Health Sciences field is required.
•A PhD in a related field would be considered an asset.
• A minimum of 3 years experience in an academic research laboratory setting, and familiarity with health and safety compliance standards is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in molecular biology techniques especially next-generation sequencing applications is required.
• Experience in procurement of scientific equipment is an asset.
•Advanced knowledge and experience of university administration structure, includingfinancial and administrative systems, is an asset.
•Familiarity with Queen’s HR, TRAQ and Financial system is an asset.
•A combination of equivalent experience and education may be considered.

Please apply on the Queen's University website - click here!