Research Impact Facilitator, Wildfire, Research and Facilitation

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Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

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.

In alignment with UBC Okanagan's Faculty of Science Strategic Plan, the Research Impact Facilitator plays a pivotal role in advancing the University's wildland fire research agenda by bridging the gap between academic innovation and real-world application. The incumbent is responsible for cultivating and managing complex, multi-sectoral partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, government agencies, industry leaders, and international academic institutions. By identifying strategic opportunities for knowledge mobilization, the Facilitator ensures that emerging wildland fire science and technology are translated into practical tools, evidence-based policies, and collaborative programs that enhance wildfire resilience across Canada and globally. Working across administrative and academic units within the Faculty, the Facilitator provides expert support for partnership development, interdisciplinary collaboration, funding proposals, strategic communications, and training programs, ultimately ensuring that UBC Okanagan's research delivers measurable benefits to society and the environment

Job Summary

The Research Impact Facilitator, Wildland Fire serves as a strategic liaison and collaborative bridge between academic research and practical application. The Facilitator fosters a dynamic, two-way flow of knowledge where insights from industry, government, and community are valued and can inform research directions.

This role is deeply rooted in co-production. The Facilitator actively listens to and learns from resource managers, community partners, and industry stakeholders to identify emerging trends, systemic challenges, and real-world information needs. By bridging these insights with academic capabilities, the Facilitator co-creates practical, collaborative solutions to complex problems, ensuring that research is both informed by community realities and mobilized effectively for maximum societal impact.

Organizational Status

Reporting to the Associate Dean, Research, the Facilitator plays a central role in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science’s mission to move beyond discovery, actively mobilizing scientific results to generate tangible social, environmental, and/or economic impacts across British Columbia and beyond.

Work Performed

Liaison & Outreach:

• Acts as a primary point of contact between the University and external entitiles, including First Nations, NGOs, private industry, and government organizations.
• Liases with researchers, internal UBC teams (Development, Vice Principal Research and Innovation, Office of Research Services etc.) to coordinate/assist partner relationships.
• Cultivates and maintains long-term relationships with diverse interested and affected partiesensuring meaningful engagement of those with lived experience relevant to the research.
• Co-designs, coordinates, and implements comprehensive extension programs and tactical plans with knowledge users and community partners.
• Identifies partner interests and align with research opportunities.
• Interprets and translates complex scientific data into accessible materials, such as technical notes, policy briefs, decision-support tools, and multimedia products.
• Identifies opportunities for, and supports development and management of, Continuing Professional Education programs to address knowledge gaps and needs, and foster innovation. May identify funding, develop proposals, and manage budgets related to continuing professional education.
• Plans and hosts workshops, seminars, field tours, and in-person gatherings to facilitate knowledge exchange.
• Identifies research funding opportunities and collaborate with faculty to prepare, and design knowledge mobilization strategies for grant proposals May include the management of knowledge mobilization-related grants and budgets.
• Monitors and evaluates the uptake of research activities, collects data and supporting documentation (e.g. letters of support, in-kind contributions, policy briefs, etc.) for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and prepares impact reports.
• Identifies emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities for new, long-term relational research partnerships.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position is key to building and maintaining UBC’s reputation with external partners. Errors in the development of tools or failure to identify critical partnership opportunities may have significant financial, legal, and reputational implications for the Faculty and the University.

Supervision Received

Works independently, collaborating with the Associate Dean of Research, Centre Director(s), and PIs.

Supervision Given

May be responsible for hiring, onboarding, and supervising staff, students, and/or volunteers in knowledge mobilization activities.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (eg. Ecology, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Biology, Natural Reource Management. Science Writing and/or Communications, Social Sciences). Minimum of two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional oral and written communication, presentation, conflict resolution, problem-solving, facilitation, management, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Research literacy to understand complex scientific information and identify what matters to different audiences.
• Research synthesis (extracting, integrating, interpreting and summarizing evidence from diverse sources).
• Knowledge translation and communication (adapting research into formats that different audiences can understand and use).
• Partnership development, facilitation, engagement, collaborative leadership, conflict resolution and consensus building.
• Respect for diverse perspectives, including those in conflict with one's own.
• Ability to creatively interface and facilitate collaboration between diverse groups.
• Demonstrated commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
• Strategic thinking and project management (planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluating, and risk management).
• Graduate degree in a relevant field.
• Adaptable, targeted writing and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to make knowledge accessible to non-academic audiences.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders in multiple fields.
• Knowledge Mobilization experience in a university setting is considered an asset
• Experience building reciprocal relationships with Indigenous partners and knowledge keepers, guided by principles of data sovereignty and meaningful collaboration.
• Teaching, training, presentation, and technical writing experience.
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Highly organized and able to coordinate different projects, events, and partnerships simultaneously.
• Ability to exercise initiative, judgement, tact, and confidentiality; strong problem-solving skills; accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Proficiency with digital media platforms, content management systems, and collaborative tools (e.g., Canva, Microsoft 365).
• Understanding local, provincial, national, and international issues, challenges and opportunities within related research field(s).