Laboratory Manager

at  Western University

ABOUT US

The Faculty of Science’s mission is to be a cornerstone of society’s development through the education of students, the creation and dissemination of knowledge, and the establishment of innovative partnerships with industry, government and other educational institutions in the global community.
The goal of the Western Financial Wellness Lab is to develop quantitative finance and data analytics tools that will enable Canadian households to enhance their financial resilience. Combining state of the art actuarial and financial models and comprehensive proprietary datasets provided by our corporate partners, we will provide financial tools for Canadians to help facilitate data driven financial decision making. Our industrial partners are committed to making these tools broadly available at the workplace or in the home.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• University Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management/Administration or relevant discipline
• Chartered Professional Accountant designation
• Master’s Degree preferred

Experience:

• 5 years of working experience in financial planning, wealth management or insurance in a financial institution environment
• Experience providing financial, operational and human resources support including managing staff and projects
• Experience with strategy implementation and operationalization preferred
• Experience working in an academic research environment preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of best practices in building a strong collaborative team and leading people
• Knowledge of financial budgeting and principles with proven ability in financial planning, wealth management and insurance practices
• Familiarity with established and emerging data analytics methodologies and with intellectual property management, including copyrights and patents
• Analytical skills in the areas of financial and business management to draft proposals, forecast expenses and monitor other relevant outcomes
• Familiarity with best practices for assessing, developing and implementing new business processes and procedures in both a corporate and academic setting would be an asset
• Familiarity with Human Resources principles and practices with the ability to organize and effectively manage human resources needed to achieve results
• Familiarity with University research and research ethics protocols and scientific methods would be an asset
• Proven ability and natural inclination to develop relationships by interacting with people in a professional, respectful and diplomatic manner
• A well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation and conflict resolution skills in both a corporate and academic setting
• Ability to foster collaboration and respect among team members and stakeholders
• Ability to establish effective routines for excellent communication with all members of the team to maximize productivity
• Ability to quickly re-allocate resources and adjust priorities in response to unexpected events or changing circumstances
• Ability to effectively drive and manage change initiatives that align with organizational strategies and provide opportunities to increase efficiency
• Project management skills to ensure team roles are clear, milestones are communicated and deadlines are met
• Ability to apply creativity, innovation and resourcefulness to programs, projects and daily work
• Customer service skills with a desire to achieve results in a professional and timely manner
• Ability to delegate work and provide team members with clear direction and support in meeting their objectives
• Ability to promote individual growth by encouraging others to learn new skills and develop themselves
• Ability to provide guidance, support and feedback in a way that is positively received
• Computer skills in software and applications related to the research
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiarity with University policies and procedures preferred

The Laboratory Manager is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of Western Financial Wellness Laboratory in the Faculty of Science. Regularly acting on behalf of the Principal Investigator, Financial Wellness Laboratory, this role is expected to engage with leaders across the organization and beyond to meet the growing needs of this multi-site project. The role will provide effective and efficient management of the laboratory by putting high level systems in place and ensuring compliance of facility including providing day-to-day supervision to research staff, managing projects, setting priorities, reviewing processes and resolving issues, and acting as a point person for the research and health and safety issues, conducting inspections to ensure ethics protocols are satisfied and sensitive data is appropriately safeguarded.
The Laboratory Manager will carry out and oversee original and independent research, facilitate budget development and management, participate in report and grant writing, the development of data safety and research ethics protocols, perform laboratory techniques, and train staff, students and other users of the facility. The role will manage and develop relationships with external corporate partners and other stakeholders and will support the commercialization and mobilization of Intellectual Property created at the laboratory.