Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
This position provides support for the Applied Behaviour Change Lab which is located in the Centre for Health Behaviour Change in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences. Specifically, the position supports the Principal Investigator, Dr. Heather Gainforth, in managing multiple grants, trainees (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral), and diverse internal and external partners.
This role plays an integrative function across the lab, supporting financial accountability, project coordination, scheduling, compliance, and communication. This position works closely with the Principal Investigator to help ensure that research activities are well organized, deadlines are tracked, systems are maintained, and communication with partners is clear, responsive, and accessible.
This position provides operational, administrative, and communications support for research projects and activities within the Applied Behaviour Change Lab. The Lab’s research focuses on knowledge mobilization and translation, behavioural science, and integrated knowledge translation research partnerships (see www.IKTprinciples.com), with a specific emphasis on working with people with physical disabilities, particularly people with spinal cord injury.
This position reports to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Heather Gainforth or her designate. The incumbent will work closely with members of the research team, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, project partners, and other internal and external collaborators, to support the effective coordination and delivery of research activities.
Leads and supports financial and administrative tasks related to research activities.
Ensures financial protocols are implemented accurately and in compliance with institutional and funder requirements.
Assists with the preparation, administration, and tracking of grant applications, budgets, and strategic work plans in collaboration with the Principal Investigator.
Assists with writing grant proposals and liaises with granting agencies and institutional offices on a variety of administrative and reporting matters.
Supports preparation of financial and narrative components of grant reports and annual reports as required.
Ensures timely notification of the Principal Investigator and research team regarding financial issues, risks, or required follow‑up.
Research Operations & Project Support
Leads and supports day‑to‑day administrative and operational functions of the lab.
Oversees project coordination and monitors workflow to ensure alignment between project plans, timelines, and execution.
Tracks project progress, deliverables, and dependencies; follows up and recommends action as needed to support timely completion of project targets.
Coordinates and participates in research team meetings, including preparation, documentation, and follow‑up.
Supports recruitment of trainees and hiring of research assistants, including drafting position descriptions, posting positions, and screening applicants.
Coordinates onboarding and offboarding of research assistants, trainees, and undergraduate students, including leading orientation and training related to onboarding, daily activities, and off‑boarding processes.
Ensures research ethics, research data management, and compliance protocols are appropriately established, implemented, monitored, and maintained.
Monitors workflows to support high‑quality data collection, tracking, management, and archiving.
Arranges and coordinates equipment or technology maintenance as required.
Ensures timely notification of the Principal Investigator and research team of operational issues, risks, or emerging concerns.
Performs other related duties consistent with the scope of the position as required.
Coordinates and facilitates internal and external communications related to the research program.
Prepares, composes, edits, and proofreads reports and documents for publication, academic proposals, grant applications, annual reports, and presentations.
Provides support and expertise to design, write, proof, disseminate, and maintain internal and external communications, including:
Website content
Community and partnership updates
Posters, letters, and memos
Social media content
Video, podcast, and other multimedia materials
Coordinates communications and engagement activities across platforms and formats (e.g., website, graphic design, social media, video, podcasts, in‑person events).
Responds to inquiries from research participants, partners, and community or government groups related to ongoing research.
Builds and maintains effective working relationships within and outside the lab, including with students, trainees, researchers, staff, partners, and community members.
Applies accessibility‑informed and respectful communication practices when working with all partners including diverse disability communities.
The Project Director associated with this research project will monitor the work of this position. Errors or incorrect decisions could seriously compromise the quality of the research and result in delays in completing projects. Additionally, serious compromises to the quality of the research will jeopardize future funding opportunities. Failure to clearly represent and communicate the work of the research team could result in severed relationships with the funding agency and collaborators. The work in this position must be completed at a high level of accuracy and efficiency.
Supervision Received
This position works under the general direction of the Principal Investigator (Dr. Heather Gainforth). The position operates with a high degree of independence and is expected to work collaboratively with minimal day‑to‑day supervision. This position exercises judgment in carrying out defined responsibilities based on broad objectives and priorities, and is responsible for proactively identifying, communicating, and escalating issues, risks, or unusual situations to the Principal Investigator as they arise or are anticipated.
Supervision Given
This position provides functional guidance and day‑to‑day support to approximately 1–4 research assistants, trainees, and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes providing direction related to assigned tasks, supporting onboarding and training processes, and ensuring work is completed in alignment with project requirements and timelines, under the overall supervision of the Principal Investigator.
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education.
Demonstrated willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives that may differ from one’s own.
Demonstrated commitment to enhancing one’s awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, particularly in collaborative or community‑engaged contexts.
Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (or nearing completion) would be considered an asset.
Experience supporting administrative, operational, coordination, or communications functions in a research, academic, or related professional environment.
Experience or training in administration, partnership development, and/or communications.
Experience in project management, including coordination of multi‑phase and/or multi‑method research projects.
Experience supporting the preparation and submission of research grants, including familiarity with grant portals such as ResearchNet and Common CV.
Experience using project management and workflow‑tracking tools (e.g., monday.com, Asana, Trello, MS Planner, or similar platforms).
Experience working in research partnerships involving researchers, trainees, community partners, and/or research users.
Knowledge of or interest in knowledge translation and mobilization, behaviour change, implementation science, and/or partnered research approaches.
Experience supporting research ethics submissions, amendments, renewals, and ongoing compliance with Research Ethics Board requirements.
Experience with research data management, including data tracking, organization, documentation, storage, and archiving.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience drafting and editing research reports, grant materials, newsletters, website content, blog posts, and presentations.
Experience coordinating and maintaining internal and external communications, including websites, newsletters, social media, and partner updates.
Familiarity with social media platforms, digital engagement strategies, and basic analytics (e.g., Google Analytics or platform‑based metrics).
Basic understanding of graphic design principles and experience using tools such as Canva, Adobe Acrobat, and/or Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop).
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, SharePoint).
Experience using data‑related and reference‑management tools such as Excel, NVivo, SPSS, Qualtrics, FluidSurveys, Zotero, or other reference managers.
Familiarity with the appropriate and ethical use of AI‑supported tools (e.g., for drafting, editing, organizing, summarizing, or workflow support), with an understanding of confidentiality, accessibility, and responsible use in research and administrative contexts.
Demonstrated understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, particularly in research or community‑engaged contexts.
Strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Ability to exercise initiative, apply sound judgment, and contribute to continuous improvement of systems and workflows.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Demonstrated organizational skills.
Ability to work proactively in a dynamic research environment.