University of Northern British Columbia

 Posting #21-005EM

 Operations Manager, Quesnel River Research Centre (QRRC)

Permanent, Full-Time

Location: Likely, British Columbia

Purpose: The University of Northern British Columbia seeks an outstanding and innovative research centre operations manager to help maintain and continue to develop the Quesnel River Research Centre (QRRC), a vibrant field station in a resource-rich, active community situated ~300 km southeast of the main campus. The QRRC is located near Likely, British Columbia, a small (<300 residents) resource-based community situated in the Quesnel River basin (QRB) within the Cariboo Mountains. QRRC emphasizes landscape and watershed ecology as its research foci. The response of watersheds to climate change and anthropogenic impacts is currently being investigated in the QRB by a range of UNBC faculty and graduate students. The Quesnel River watershed, including Quesnel Lake (~12,000 km²), comprises an extremely varied, wild and productive landscape. The watershed incorporates eight biogeoclimatic zones (BGCZ) ranging from sub-boreal spruce to interior cedar hemlock to alpine-tundra. BGCZ changes in this region occur over short elevational distances and longer latitudinal transects allowing for unique opportunities to study temporal and spatial transitions in climate, soils, hydrology and vegetation. The watershed incorporates one of the deepest lakes in North America (>510 m) which is an interior nursery lake for five species of salmon, for which the tributaries provide excellent spawning grounds. The QRRC facilities include an environmental wet and dry lab (including analytical instruments), a series of unique outdoor flumes, fish hatchery capabilities, a number of boats and vehicles, as well as residential space located on the banks of the Quesnel River. For additional information, please visit https://www.unbc.ca/quesnel-river-research-centre We are seeking a full time, on-site manager to live within the local community, who has strong communication and management skills. The manager will work with our academic researchers and community partners to facilitate a robust community-based research and environmental monitoring program, as well as supporting the centre’s watershed research.

Accountabilities: Reporting to the Director, Office of Research (UNBC, Prince George campus), and working closely with the Research Chairs in Landscape Ecology and QRRC researchers, the Manager will support the vision of the QRRC to be an international leader in watershed ecology research and learning by:

• ·Ensuring the safe, effective operation of the facility including overseeing the safety (including training) of QRRC staff, visiting scientists and students and other on-site personnel
• ·Maintaining and building an active culture of communication, knowledge transfer and outreach to highlight the scientific and social importance of QRRC programs and research
• ·Maintaining and building beneficial partnerships to link science to the community including local First Nations

• ·Maintaining frequent communication with the Landscape Ecology chairs who will provide direction on duties in consultation with the VP Research
• ·Maintaining and facilitating the development of research programs which link UNBC faculty, visiting researchers, students and the community
• ·Maintaining and developing monitoring programs and equipment (field and lab)
• ·Facilitating the development and delivery of field courses based out of the Centre
• ·Pursuing grants and funding opportunities to develop the QRRC facility and to support research, teaching and outreach
• ·Managing financial matters relating to QRRC activities (e.g. accommodation bookings, equipment rentals) with support from main campus departments (Finance, Purchasing, etc)
• ·Managing research databases and websites
• ·On-site supervision of support personnel (QRRC Maintenance and Research Support -full-time employee, and summer students for maintenance and research support)
• ·Assisting QRRC and UNBC staff with care and maintenance activities (e.g. infrastructure and equipment repairs, ordering items)
• ·Assisting with physical labour relating to maintenance of the centre and research activities including operation of heavy equipment (e.g. Bobcat, snow plow equipment)
• ·Residing in the local community in order to maintain relationships with community members and to respond to off-hour emergencies related to the operations of the centre and its occupants

Qualifications and Experience: An advanced Degree (MSc) in a related aquatic/watershed science with a diversity of experience in scientific research, teaching, administration and development, typically obtained through five or more years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The ideal candidate must have a strong work ethic, ability to problem solve along with demonstrated communication and quantitative capabilities. Experience with lab equipment, sample analysis, environmental sensors, and environmental datasets (e.g., in R or MATLAB) is desired.

Salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Normal hours of work may vary, and some flexibility may be required for travel and other activities. UNBC offers employee tuition waivers (includes spouse and dependents), excellent benefit and pension packages, employee training and development opportunities, as well as relocation assistance. For more details please see:

• ·http://www.unbc.ca/human-resources/employee-benefits
• ·http://www.unbc.ca/human-resources/unbc-pension-plan

Hours of work will be between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Hours of work may vary during peak times.

About the Community: Since its founding in 1990, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has emerged as one of Canada’s best small research-intensive universities, with a passion for teaching, discovery, people, and the North. The main campus in Prince George is located in the spectacular landscape near the geographic centre of beautiful British Columbia, UNBC’s excellence is derived from community-inspired research, hands-on learning, and alumni who are leading change around the world. For the past 10 years, UNBC has placed in the top three in its category in the annual Maclean’s university rankings, the only University of its size to achieve that feat. UNBC also recently placed among the top four per cent of higher education institutions worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. With a diverse student population, the University is friendly, inclusive, and supportive. UNBC is committed to non-discrimination and employment equity for the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples) as well as the LGBTQ2+ communities and individuals with intersectional identities.

To Apply: Please forward your resume and proof of education quoting competition #21-005EM to: Human Resources, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9

Email submissions: [email protected]

Inquiries:(250) 960-5521

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Northern British Columbia is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. We thank all applicants for their interest in UNBC however, only those applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received by February 15, 2021

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) seeks to hire a year round Analytical Chemist to manage a full-service analytical chemistry laboratory facility at our Douglas Lake facility in Pellston, Michigan.  The Analytical Chemist Lab Manager plays an important role within the Biological Station community by providing year-round quality analyses and advice and ensuring the safety of the analytical laboratory for hundreds of students and researchers. 

Responsibilities

Provide analytical support for on-site students, faculty and researchers.  Sample matrices include soils, plants, water and animal tissue.  Provide critical evaluation of methods and implement new methods as needed.  Prepare and run samples and standards following established protocols.  Manage quality control records of all laboratory procedures.  Ensure all analytical instrumentation is functioning properly and repair as needed.

Serve as an advisor and consultant to students and research community regarding experimental design, sample collection and chemical analysis.  Collaborate with UMBS investigators to design and conduct research projects.  Train students to use lab equipment and supervise a summer laboratory assistant.

Work directly with University of Michigan Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) to ensure compliance with safety and health inspection of Biological Station laboratory facilities.  This annual inspection focuses on operational and personnel safety practices, general safety, waste disposal, training and equipment use.  Serve as the designated Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) for the unit.  Manage and document the safety training program for all researchers and students who use the facilities.

Departmental Qualifications

Must have a Master’s Degree in chemistry or one of the environmental sciences or Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry and 2-3 years related experience.  Experience operating and maintaining flow analyzers, combustion analyzers and stable isotope mass specs is required.  NOTE: This year-round position is based in Pellston, Michigan.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have strong analytical chemistry skills, be detail oriented, and able to communicate clearly. Have master-level experience operating and maintaining the following instruments:  LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, IRMS, ICP/MS, autoanalyzer, HPLC and ion chromatograph.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply through the UM Jobs website at www.umjobs.org to job posting 193672.  Contact Karie Slavik, UMBS Associate Director with any questions ([email protected]).

The Classen Ecosystem Ecology group seeks a laboratory and field manager, and we aim to make our work relevant to both the scientific community and society. We spend a lot of time at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) as well as lots of other field sites around the US and world. This is a term-limited position, which runs through August 2025. The contingent start date in Ann Arbor, Michigan is January 2021. We use a combination of observations, experiments, and models to answer ecological questions. We are a diverse and international group of community and ecosystem ecologists who work across scales from the micro (soil food webs) to the macro (regional carbon fluxes).  This is a term limited position scheduled to end August 2025.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining a lab culture of respect, safety, and collaboration;
• Maintaining ongoing and establishing new field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments;
• Collect data from field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments using routine methods, as well as develop new sampling techniques as appropriate; 
• Travel to field sites to collect data (may include international travel);
• Run and Maintain field and laboratory equipment. For example, using, troubleshooting, and maintaining ecosystem laboratory equipment to analyze soil, plant and gas samples;
• Build, troubleshoot and maintain ecological sensors;
• Coordinate and communicate with international collaborators;
• Help to coordinate student field and laboratory activities; 
• Data entry, preliminary analysis, and interpretation; 
• General laboratory coordination and maintenance, including ordering and organizing equipment and supplies and maintaining laboratory databases.

Required Qualifications

M.S. (or equivalent experience post BA/BS) in ecology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry or a closely related field. Applicants should show they can work independently and cooperatively with other researchers. The ideal candidate must have a strong work ethic, ability to problem solve, demonstrated communication and quantitative capabilities, and a record of leadership. Experience with lab equipment, sample analysis, in-situ sensors, and environmental datasets (e.g., in R or MATLAB) is desired.  Travel within the US is part of the position.

How to Apply

Wednesday, July 1, 11am-12pm PST/2pm-3pm EST

Register Here for a Zoom link 

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