Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ

Number of positions: 4
Location: Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ
Reports to: ACET Partnerships Manager
Salary: $89,541 - $111,800
Deadline for application: May 21, 2025

Position Summary

The Strategic Research Area (SRA) Manager position is a hybrid research and project/people management role reporting to the ACET Partnerships Manager.

Each SRA Manager will be responsible for leading coordination of activities for one of the following ACET SRAs:

• SRA1: Low-Carbon and Offshore Renewable Technologies (1 Position)
• SRA5: Integrated Energy Systems
  • Technical systems (1 position)
  • Policy/place-based/economic development (1 position)
  • Indigenous community energy systems (1 position)*

A primary component of the SRA Manager’s role is to support the delivery of ACET research projects within the SRA. This includes ideating and co-designing transdisciplinary research projects, establishing project work plans, preparing budgets, developing communications plans, pursuing potential funding and developing research partnership opportunities.

Within the ACET project lifecycle, there will be close collaboration with the ACET core team to translate engagement with partners into research projects. The SRA Managers will also regularly coordinate with other SRA Managers, including those based at other institutions (e.g. Yukon University, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and Cascade Institute/Royal Roads University) and SRA Leads in the ACET SRA Council, to identify synergies that will help develop innovative, impact-oriented research. They will then help to coordinate and carry out the research activities during the course of project execution and close-out.

Each SRA Manager will have an understanding of both scientific and technical stages of their respective SRA and be able to support the mobilization of key partners from government, industry, First Nations, public organizations and NGOs, both nationally and internationally. They will provide some research oversight and mentoring to research associates, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and will build research partnerships within and beyond the Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ and collaborating academic institutions.

These roles require demonstration of leadership, prioritization and collaboration, and fluidity of internal and external communications. 

General responsibilities

• Road-mapping activities within role-specific SRA and coordinating activities together with the SRA Council, ACET Executive Director and broader ACET core team
• Leading ACET project co-design with members of the ACET core team, researchers, SRA Leads, and project partners with a focus on interdisciplinarity, EDI, knowledge mobilization and other project criteria for eventual funding approval by SRA Council
• Managing multiple research projects including budgets, timelines, and KPIs
• Collaborating across the SRA Manager and core teams to support strategic project development and interdisciplinarity
• Working with SRA Leads, ACET core team and institutional partners to recruit researchers as necessary
• Initiating and maintaining relationships with partners in communities
• Supporting ACET project publicity and storytelling in collaboration with ACET’s Communications Strategist
• Participating in ACET engagement events (e.g. conferences, seminars, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization
• Upholding ACET values related to EDI and safe and healthy workplaces

Key responsibilities & expectations

Strategic planning

• Work with ACET Executive Director, SRA Leads, Partnerships Manager and other ACET leaders to carry out strategic planning within and across ACET SRAs
• Work within the ACET core team to ensure activities align with ACET’s overall strategic priorities
• Develop new strategic partnership opportunities for ACET

Project co-design and curation

• Lead ACET project development through co-design, wherein multiple perspectives are present and community-goals and aspirations are centered. This requires nuanced communications skills and subject-matter expertise
• Help manage ongoing research projects, including the management of project timelines, deliverables, budgets, funder relationships, collaborator relationships and project evaluation
• Evaluate the impact of changes to project scope, schedule and budget.
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Lead People & Culture, ensure that Projects apply an equity lens and follow best-practices in project team management throughout their lifecycles
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Advisor Indigenous, ensure that researchers are properly trained and screened prior to working with Indigenous communities
• Help to maintain a CRM, tracking instruments and partnership opportunities to curate and prioritize project development and ongoing execution

Communications, knowledge mobilization and reporting

• Ensure that communications and knowledge mobilization is embedded in project design and tracking
• Contribute to the tracking of project evaluation metrics and help to fulfill project reporting requirements
• Ensure formal on-boarding of personnel and researchers onto ACET Projects is completed in a timely fashion
• Contribute to ACET reporting to CFREF
• Help to plan for and facilitate communications, publicity and storytelling opportunities as they arise within projects in close collaboration with the Communications Strategist

Preferred qualifications

The SRA Manager position requires a graduate degree in a field related to the specific SRA, plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in research management and development.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Demonstrated expertise within the relevant Strategic Research Area (e.g. writing, publications and/or other research/analysis outputs)
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively while managing a wide range of relationships
• Experience in project management, including project timelines, deliverables, and budgets
• Experience managing funder relationships and relationships with project collaborators
• Experience tracking project evaluation metrics and meeting project reporting requirements
• Demonstrated ability to write with exceptional analytical clarity
• Demonstrated ability to effectively tailor outputs for different types of knowledge users
• Experience communicating research/analysis findings beyond journal articles and academic conferences
• Demonstrated ability to present research/analysis findings orally in a clear and compelling manner—and to engage critically and constructively with other experts in a meeting/workshop/webinar setting
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain broad networks of other experts and practitioners
• Demonstrated ability to leverage networks to improve the quality of research/analysis outputs and maximize the impact of knowledge mobilization
• Agility to move between disciplinary boundaries in service of comprehensive solutions and to work in an integrated manner
• Demonstrated commitment to impact-oriented research bridging between academia and organization and individuals outside academic to create real-world impact
• Understanding and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, in particular implementing equitable processes and developing effective working relationships with anyone regardless of background or discipline

Assets or preferences

• Experience working at a university, research institute, think tank, or research-focused NGO
• Background in research skills, methodologies, program evaluation and academic disciplines
• Understanding and experience working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and leadership

Accessibility and Equity Statements

Information about our accessibility and equity policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left.

How to Apply

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV to contactacet@uvic.ca with subject line "ACET SRA Manager [X]" (where X is the specific SRA for which you would like to apply) by May 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM.

 * Note:

In accordance with the university’s equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, preference for the SRA Manager: Indigenous Community Energy Systems position will be given to Indigenous Peoples. Candidates from this group who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify in their cover letter.

The Office of the Vice-President Indigenous (OVPI) is in the early phases of drafting a policy and developing a process to affirm declarations of Indigenous identity, citizenship and membership at UVic where these claims result in material advantages, such as employment in an Indigenous-specific position. While the forthcoming policy cannot be retroactively applied to this opportunity, the successful candidate(s) will be required to complete the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) process should they apply for, or access, future opportunities resulting in material gain. 

Location: Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ
Reports to: ACET Corporate Operations Officer
Direct reports: 5
Indirect reports: 4
Salary: $98,387 - $122,854
Deadline for application: May 21, 2025

Position Summary

The ACET Partnerships Manager will be responsible for leading the Strategic Research Area (SRA) Managers and coordinating activities across all ACET SRAs, which are as follows:

• SRA 1: Low-carbon and offshore renewable technologies
• SRA 2: Microgrids
• SRA 3: Hydrogen and e-fuels
• SRA 4: Business & finance innovation
• SRA 5: Integrated Energy Systems
  • 5a Complex systems
  • 5b Place-based transitions
  • 5c Worldviews
  • 5d Policy interactions
  • SRA 6: Scale-up and acceleration.

The SRA Managers, who are based in partnering institutions across Canada, are responsible for leading the coordination of activities for their respective SRA.

The ACET Partnerships Manager will directly supervise the UVic-based SRA Managers and ensure integration and coordination with SRA Managers based at, and formally reporting through, partnering institutions.

The ACET Partnerships Manager will have an understanding of both scientific and technical stages of ACET SRAs and be able to support the mobilization of essential partners from government, industry, First Nations, public organizations and NGOs, both nationally and internationally.

This role requires demonstration of leadership, prioritization, collaboration and fluidity of internal and external communications.

A primary component of the ACET Partnerships Manager role is to support the SRA Managers and delivery of ACET research Projects across the different SRAs.  Within the ACET Project Lifecycle, there will be close collaboration with the ACET core team to translate engagement with partners into research projects.

The ACET Partnerships Manager will identify synergies that will help develop innovative, impact-oriented research, including development of new strategic partnerships for future projects towards ACET continuation funding.

Key responsibilities

• Leading the team of SRA Managers, providing support and guidance within each area of research, and fostering collaboration
• Identifying and road-mapping activities across the SRAs and coordinating activities together with the SRA Managers, ACET Executive Director, SRA academic leads and the ACET core team
• Leading ACET project co-design with members of the ACET core team, SRA Managers, SRA leads and project partners, with a focus on interdisciplinarity, EDI, knowledge mobilization and other project criteria to approval by SRA Council
• Managing and curating new strategic partnership opportunities
• Managing multiple research projects including budgets, timelines, and KPIs
• Collaborating with broad ACET Research Manager team to support strategic project development and interdisciplinarity
• Working with SRA Leads, ACET core team, and institutional partners to recruit student researchers as necessary
• Initiating and maintaining relationships with partners in communities
• Supporting ACET project publicity and storytelling in collaboration with ACET’s Communications Strategist
• Participating in ACET engagement events (e.g. conferences, seminars, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization
• Upholding ACET values related to EDI and safe and healthy workplaces

Additional responsibilities and expectations

The position involves ideating and co-designing transdisciplinary research projects, establishing project work plans, preparing budgets, developing communications plans, pursuing potential funding, and developing research partnership opportunities.

 Strategic planning

• Work with ACET Executive Director, SRA Leads, and other ACET leaders to carry out strategic planning within and across ACET SRAs by coordinating inputs from SRA Managers
• Work within the ACET core team to ensure activities align with ACET’s overall strategic priorities
• Develop and help prioritize new strategic partnership opportunities for ACET

Project co-design and curation

• Coordinate the activities of the SRA Managers, including identifying and fostering interdisciplinary and cross-project opportunities to maximize research potential and impact
• Lead ACET project development through co-design where multiple perspectives are present, and community-goals and aspirations are centered. This requires nuanced communications skills and subject-matter expertise
• Help to manage ongoing research projects, including the management of project timelines, deliverables, budgets, funder relationships, collaborator relationships and project evaluation
• Evaluate the impact of changes to project scope, schedule and budget
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Lead People & Culture, ensure that projects apply an equity lens and follow best-practices in project team management throughout their lifecycles
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Advisor Indigenous, ensure that researchers are properly trained and screened prior to working with Indigenous communities
• Help to maintain a CRM, project tracking instruments and partnership opportunities to curate and prioritize project development and ongoing execution

 Communications, knowledge mobilization and reporting

• Ensure that communications and knowledge mobilization is embedded in project design and tracking and in particular coordination across projects
• Contribute to the tracking of project evaluation metrics and help to fulfill project reporting requirements
• Ensure formal on-boarding of personnel and researchers onto ACET Projects is completed in a timely fashion
• Contribute to ACET reporting to CFREF
• Help to plan for and facilitate communications, publicity and storytelling opportunities as they arise within projects in close collaboration with the Communications Strategist

Qualifications

This position requires a graduate degree in a field related to at least one SRA, plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in research management and development.

 Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Demonstrated expertise within a Strategic Research Area (e.g., writing, publications, other research/analysis outputs)
• Experience managing a direct- and in-direct reporting team to ensure coordinated activities within an organization
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively while managing a wide range of relationships
• Experience in project management across multiple projects
• Experience managing project timelines, deliverables, and budgets
• Experience managing funder relationships and relationships with project collaborators
• Experience tracking project evaluation metrics and meeting project reporting requirements
• Demonstrated ability to write with exceptional analytical clarity
• Demonstrated ability to effectively tailor outputs for different types of knowledge users
• Experience communicating research/analysis findings beyond journal articles and academic conferences
• Demonstrated ability to present research/analysis findings orally in a clear and compelling manner—and to engage critically and constructively with other experts in a meeting/workshop/webinar setting
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain broad networks of other experts and practitioners
• Demonstrated ability to leverage networks to improve the quality of research/analysis outputs and maximize the impact of knowledge mobilization
• Agility to move between disciplinary boundaries in service of comprehensive solutions, and an ability to work in an integrated manner
• Demonstrated commitment to impact-oriented research bridging between academia and organization and individuals outside academic to create real-world impact
• Understanding and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, in particular implementing equitable processes and developing effective working relationships with anyone regardless of background or discipline.

 Assets or preferences

• Experience working at a university, research institute, think tank, or research-focused NGO
• Background in research skills, methodologies, program evaluation and academic disciplines.
• Understanding and experience working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and leadership

Accessibility and Equity Statements

Information about our accessibility and equity policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left.

How to Apply

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV, with subject line “ACET Partnerships Manager” to contactacet@uvic.ca by May 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Number of positions: 2
Location: Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ (hybrid)
Salary: $35,000 - $100,000
Deadline for application: May 26, 2025

About the project 

The First Nations Utility (FNU) Study is a community-led initiative designed to support participating First Nations in exploring the long-term financial sustainability of different FNU business models in B.C. This project is grounded in the principle that all research and analysis will incorporate the priorities and needs identified by participating First Nations. 

The project’s goal is to assess the financial sustainability of multiple FNU models, defined as the utility’s ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service to its customers over the long term while achieving a reasonable rate of return (i.e., comparable to other utilities in B.C.). One important output is to identify the key factors that could determine financial sustainability of the utility business models proposed by the First Nations. 

The scope of work includes examining various ownership structures, operational models, and governance approaches, which will be shaped by the unique contexts of each participating community. The output of the project will be a tailored business case analysis for each participating First Nation, which they may use to inform the future development of their particular utility model/proposal. 

In December 2024, the Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunities initiative requested an Expression of Interest (EOI) from First Nations interested in forming a utility that would be regulated by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) as a public utility. A Steering Committee made up representatives from ACET, the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, and First Nations members of Clean Energy BC, will select participating communities from among those who submitted EOIs. These communities will contribute to guiding the direction and scope of research based on their priorities and interests. 

About the research team approach

These roles offer an opportunity to make real-world impacts by supporting First Nations communities in BC to achieve energy sovereignty and build resilient local economies. 

For this project, we seek to hire two researchers with complementary skills and experience. No single researcher is expected to undertake the full list of tasks listed below, nor have the full set of experiences and qualifications. However, between the two researchers, most of these should be covered, if not all.

The researchers are expected to work in close collaboration with one another over the course of the project. Although the research team will be provided with a high-level project framework, they are expected to establish a detailed research plan and will have considerable control over how research is undertaken with guidance from the Steering Committee and participating Nations.  

What the research team will do 

• Create a detailed research design for the project in collaboration with the Steering Committee that will deliver on the practical research goals of the project and ensure applicability to the community it intends to serve. 
• Regular reporting to the project’s Steering Committee including receiving project direction.
  
• Based on the Expressions of Interest received, build relationships and work in conjunction with each of the First Nations participating in the project in coordination with the Steering Committee. 
  
• Complete summaries of the concept model proposed by each of the participating First Nations, drawing from the information provided in the EOIs and supplementary discussions with the First Nations. 
• Undertake a community energy utility feasibility study with each of the participating First Nations that assesses the long-term (e.g. 20 year) sustainability and potential profitability of the proposed business model.  
• The study should include consideration of the community’s objectives (including non-financial), the obligations of a traditional public utility to their customers, capital expenditures, operation expenditures, financing, and estimate of customer rates to recover cost of service and earn a reasonable rate of return on equity. It should also consider the expectations of the customer base, commercial feasibility/economic risks, human resources (including local training), customer base, revenue generation options, cultural appropriateness and potential community benefits and challenges. 
• Complete a business case analysis with results from the feasibility study. The analysis will be co-developed with First Nations. 
• Collaborate with ACET’s Communications Strategist and Research Impact Officer on communications, storytelling and knowledge mobilization (such as presentations to Chief and Council, policy briefs, brochures, or videos) to highlight research impact to the community, as well as preparation of academic manuscripts. 
• Participate at conferences, seminars, and community events to promote knowledge sharing both within and outside the community. 
• Ensure community members are brought alongside the research and participate in decision-making processes related to research design and deliverables.  
• Uphold ACET’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and safe workplaces. 
• Other duties as required. 

 What the research team will bring

• Experience working with First Nations communities (ideally within British Columbia). 
• Excellent financial analysis, especially for new enterprises. 
• Commitment to ongoing training to advance Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. 
• Understanding of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution systems and the regulatory environment they operate within. 
• Proven qualitative and quantitative research abilities in relevant disciplines. 
• Experience writing, publishing, and producing research tailored to various audiences. 
• Commitment to continued training and implementation of principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion through research design and workplace practices. 

Preferred qualifications

• Senior PhD Candidate, PhD Graduate, or equivalent with experience in business, engineering, applied science, resource management, economic development, or other relevant disciplines. Preference will be given to First Nations scholars from B.C. 
• Experience in working with BC First Nations communities.
  
• Knowledge or experience in business feasibility studies.
  
• Knowledge or experience in electricity systems and utility regulations.
  
• Knowledge or experience in analysis of community benefits. 
  
• Knowledge or experience with developing Indigenous data sovereignty models, including but not limited, the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP). 
  
• UVIC Indigenous Cultural Accumen Training (or equivalent). 
  

What we offer

• Salary range: $35,000 - $100,000 annually. This broad range ensures flexibility based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, degree status, and level of commitment (e.g. part-time vs. full-time or project-based vs. ongoing roles). 
• 20 vacation days (in addition to statutory holidays and UVic Christmas-New Years closure period).
  
• Professional development opportunities.
  

Working conditions

• These are one-year, full-time positions with opportunity to extend based on project requirements, impact, and funding.
• This is a hybrid-remote position with expectation of some in-person time in Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ BC.
  
• Travel to participating First Nations Communities is also expected and will be funded through ACET.
• Applicants must be permitted to work in Canada and be available to begin by September 2025 (flexible).
  

Accessibility and equity statements 

Information about our accessibility and equity policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left. 

How to apply

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV, with the subject line "First Nations Utility Study application" to contactacet@uvic.ca by May 26, 2025, at 11:59 PM. 

Optional: including a short writing sample (e.g. published article, thesis excerpt, policy document, knowledge mobilization piece, etc.) will strengthen your application. 

Note: 

In accordance with the university’s equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, preference for the First Nations Utility Study Researcher positions will be given to Indigenous Peoples. Candidates from this group who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify in their cover letter. 

The Office of the Vice-President Indigenous (OVPI) is in the early phases of drafting a policy and developing a process to affirm declarations of Indigenous identity, citizenship and membership at UVic where these claims result in material advantages, such as employment in an Indigenous-specific position. While the forthcoming policy cannot be retroactively applied to this opportunity, the successful candidate(s) will be required to complete the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) process should they apply for, or access, future opportunities resulting in material gain.

Post Doctoral and Graduate Student Positions: Sustainable Energy Systems Integration and Transitions Group

Multi-scaled, multi-sector, and multi-vector energy systems modelling

The ongoing energy system transition, empowered by technology developments, fueled by shifting
investments, and motivated by decarbonization, is one of the 21st century’s most urgent tasks. However, current energy system models fail to deliver the holistic perspective required by decision-makers to navigate complex policy choices. Instead, energy system analyses are plagued by rigid model platforms and discretized researchers who focus on specific sectors, spatial-temporal scales, or energy vectors. This research project will pursue the development of an extensible and adaptable multi-scale, multisector, and multi-vector M3 Modelling Platform that links distinct but integrated modules to span spatial-temporal scales, the breadth of energy system services, and each energy carrier. To do so, we will employ novel computer science techniques, including multi-objective active learning, advanced visualizations, and parallelized computing. By applying machine learning and applied statistics, this research will transform our approach to energy systems modelling and accelerate decarbonization efforts.

The positions will be supervised by Dr. Madeleine McPherson, who leads the Sustainable Energy Systems Integration & Transitions Group. The successful applicant will also be affiliated with the multi-disciplinary Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) at the Ó£»¨Ó°ÊÓ.

Please click here for more details regarding the graduate student position.

Please click here for more details regarding the post-doctoral research position.

Research Opportunities

Highly qualified students are always encouraged to apply for graduate positions. Browse our site for faculty members and research projects that reflect your interests and background.

Contact an IESVic faculty member

Contact relevant faculty members. Attach your curriculum vitae (resume) and a list of undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate grades. This can be an unofficial listing compiled by you. Official transcripts will be required later.

Prepare a UVic graduate studies application

IESVic is a research institute and not an academic department or school – membership is voluntary and reflects the participation of individual faculty members.  This means that students interested in joining the institute must apply for admission to a program in one of UVic's Departments. For more information, see the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Departmental web pages.