Description
The Advancing Canadian Water Assets Team in the Office of VP Research invites applications for a Program Manager. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) is a $38.5m facility focused on supporting research, development, piloting, demonstration and de-risking of leading-edge wastewater treatment technology, plus evaluation of associated receiving environment effects. Its mandate is to facilitate the transformation of today's wastewater treatment into tomorrow's innovative technologies for sustainable resource recovery and enhanced environmental performance. ACWA is a partnership between the University and The City of Calgary.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Manager is responsible for the engagement and ultimate delivery of client projects, including providing technical planning and guidance as needed. As a member of the ACWA team, to envision water and wastewater management of the future and provide insights into how ACWA can position itself for prominence in this field. The Program Manager will support the Executive Director in providing value to all stakeholders of the University water program. This role supports the Executive Director in the areas of Industrial Engagement and Business Development as required. As such, the Program Manager will need to juggle tasks for multiple projects and priorities effectively.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- Ensure familiarity with projects to enable decision making regarding which project accounts should be charged for day-to-day ordering versus operations and maintenance review invoices from The City of Calgary to ensure compliance with budgetary and CFI reporting requirements.
- Familiarity with ACWA's projects, their deliverables, and reporting requirements.
- Assist the ACWA ED in compiling reports (financial reporting).
- Report on scientific updates as required by different granting agencies such as CFI, NSERC, liaise and effectively communicate with colleagues in the U of C Research Services Office, e.g., at year end, based on different funding agency requirements.
- Obtain (maintain) all required facility licenses.
- Order from and interface with vendors (equipment, consumables, warranties).
- Track shipments, receive deliveries (with associated record keeping), raise purchase orders, pay invoices.
- Provide overall familiarity and guidance with U of C rules and norms; navigate different possibilities with university administration when unconventional situations or questions arise, maintain effective communication with The City of Calgary Operations and Maintenance staff, particularly regarding maintenance issues at ACWA.
- As member of leadership team, regular and efficient communication.
- Member of 2 governance committees.
- Maintain clear and regular channels for communication with ACWA labs and their users.
- Get to know all ACWA research members who use the ACWA infrastructure, plus the Microbiology, Aquatic and Stable Isotope laboratories on the UofC campus.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Graduate degree in Engineering, Science or related technical field.
- In-depth knowledge of the wastewater sector (municipal and industrial) preferred.
- 7 plus years experience and knowledge of other disciplines, including water sciences and /or environmental practice and management, laboratory chemical analyses technology de-risking and/or innovation.
- Have strong computer skills, interact comfortably with collaborators (including colleagues from utilities, industry and government), be people-oriented and enjoy working with graduate students and early / late career scientists.
- Ability to act decisively and to exercise a high degree of independence, initiative and judgment.
- Exercise good judgment and possess excellent attention to detail to ensure compliance with regulatory and granting council requirements.
- Have managed personnel, successfully met demanding timelines, given scientific presentations, and have excellent familiarity with the scientific process (including grant writing, funding, management of grants).
- The PM may represent the university in interactions with The City of Calgary, regulators and industrial partners, and therefore must have the highest level of integrity.
Application Deadline: July 14, 2025
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
