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Director, UBC Centre for Disease Control (UBC CDC)

By nicole bell | March 7, 2023

The Faculty of Medicine (FoM) at The University of British Columbia (UBC), and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) invite applications for the position of Director, UBC Centre for Disease Control (UBC CDC). The appointment is for an initial term of five (5) years with the possibility of renewal, subject to satisfactory review. The position is expected to be filled by a candidate internal to UBC who currently holds a faculty appointment at UBC or is eligible to hold an adjunct, partner or clinical faculty position. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2024, or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

This position is located within a health-care facility. Therefore, this position requires successful verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by the provincial health mandate.

The UBC CDC is a Senate approved Centre within FOM that is strategically integrated into the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) to conduct and coordinate research, education, knowledge translation and policy development in support of provincial, national and international programs for public health control and prevention. Programs span many areas of infectious and chronic disease, as well as environmental hazards. UBC CDC’s mandate is to advance health research, teaching and public health policy by linking the academic and research expertise of UBC with the expertise and experience of public health professionals at BCCDC.

As the provincial centre of excellence in research on the surveillance, control and prevention of infectious diseases and other public health threats, UBC CDC effectively links academia, governments, health organizations and the public in understanding and combating communicable, chronic and environment-related diseases.

The unique integrated structure of BCCDC and UBC CDC – one that combines service delivery, policy advice and research – contributes greatly to identifying and responding to emerging public health threats. Embedding research within service allows the formulation of key research questions in response to problems discovered through service roles, and continually leads to innovative changes in public health policies and practice.

The Centre’s collaborative trans-disciplinary research programs span all service lines, linking together infectious diseases, chronic diseases and environmental hazards using a range of innovative technologies and methodologies such as genomics, mathematical modeling and novel epidemiological and statistical tools.

Reporting jointly to the Vice-Dean, Research, FoM at UBC and the Executive Vice President, Provincial Clinical Policy, Planning and Partnerships or their designate, PHSA, the Director, UBC CDC, is responsible for implementing the research strategy, supporting the research of investigators and research scientists in the Centre, developing and maintaining partnerships to ensure faculty/research scientists are supported by the organization and host institutions to effectively conduct their scholarly activities. The Director oversees the activities of the UBC CDC including grants, research contracts, and compliance with UBC research policies. The incumbent will be a member of relevant research committees of the UBC FoM, BCCDC and PHSA.

Candidates should hold a MD and/or PhD in a relevant discipline with a minimum of five years’ experience in a research environment as an independent investigator including experience in the development, delivery, and implementation of collaborative research programs. Candidates should have a demonstrated track record of significant research achievement, commitment to multi-institute collaborations and ability to value the diversity of contributions from partners. Candidates should possess collaborative leadership skills and ability to work effectively with learners, trainees, faculty and administrative leadership.

A more detailed job description is available in the Vice-Dean, Research’s Office, FoM, for those who wish to review it. Please enquire at the email address below.

Please submit a letter of application accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae, names of four references, vision document (1-2-page) outlining a plan to enhance the vision and leadership of the research centre, up to five recent publications that you would consider representative of how your research relates to the research centre, and a brief statement (1-2 pages) that describes any current or planned engagements and contributions made to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic (research/scholarship, teaching/learning), professional (non-academic or clinical work), or community (local, national, international community-based) contexts to:

W. Robert McMaster, D. Phil
Vice-Dean, Research
c/o Meredith Ladner
Room 317, IRC, UBC
2194 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3

Email: Meredith.Ladner@ubc.ca with subject line: Director, UBC CDC

Review of applications will begin on September 15, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.

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, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. 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.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed. Please contact Meredith Ladner via email at Meredith.Ladner@ubc.ca.

To learn more about UBC’s Center for Workplace Accessibility, visit the website here https://hr.ubc.ca/CWA.

PHSA works in partnership with the province’s health authorities and health-care professionals to improve access to evidence-informed practice closer to where people live and to effectively promote health, manage chronic conditions and reduce the burden of illness.

From conducting ground-breaking research to training tomorrow’s professionals, to setting province-wide standards, to providing top-notch, compassionate patient care, their leaders, health professionals and staff consistently seek system-wide improvements with an emphasis on prevention, health promotion and protection.

PHSA provides specialized health care services to communities across British Columbia, on the territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured the lands and waters around us for all time, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) on whose unceded and ancestral territory our head office is located.

The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of thexʷm əθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.

UBC — One of the World's Leading Universities. As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty — comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members — is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualifies persons are encouraged to apply. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.