Research Association Manager, IRC in Water Treatment

Department:	Civil Engineering	Effective Date:
Grade:	USG 12	Reports to:	Chair

General Accountability

Under the general direction of Dr. P.M. Huck, provide: (I) major aspects of management, co-ordination, administration, cost control and personnel supervision as well as (II) substantial scientific input for (1) a $3,259,000 NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Water Treatment (2) a $1,789,900 Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy research project involving the design, construction and evaluation of pilot scale drinking water treatment plants for the cities of Brantford, Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario and (3) similar grants or contracts as obtained in the future.

Nature and Scope

The NSERC Chair in Water Treatment is a multi-disciplinary undertaking directly involving several distinct major research foci, the direct participation of professional and technical staff and students and requiring close liaison with the industrial partners. In order for the Chair to function effectively and make a leading edge contribution, the Chairholder, while maintaining ultimate responsibility and scientific leadership, must be able to delegate significant managerial responsibility to and receive substantial scientific input from, the incumbent of this position.

Under the general direction of Dr. P.M. Huck (the Chairholder/Principal Investigator) the incumbent must demonstrate the ability to perform all duties listed below. All responsibilities specified require either a major role or significant input from the incumbent with only minimal direct supervision. The incumbent must be able to function independently for extended periods of time in the Chairholder's absence and assume duties usually associated with the Chairholder during these periods. In addition to the duties listed below it is expected that the individual possess the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to new challenges as they arise. The individual must possess above average communication, organizational and supervisory skills, and will be expected to discharge the required responsibilities with a level of judgment and maturity normally associated with an experienced researcher holding a Ph.D. degree.

There is no parallel position in Civil Engineering with respect to job duties described here that the Chairholder/Principal Investigator is aware of. There is one position within the NSERC Chair which is on the same step of the organizational ladder. That is the position designated 'Senior Chemist'. Requirements for that position include responsibility for the Chair laboratory and associated analytical methods development. It has been proposed however that this position be designated as a 'Research Assistant Professor' position rather then a 'Staff' position, because the proposed incumbent holds a Ph.D. degree.

The incumbent, functioning in a similar position for the Chairholder but with not as comprehensive responsibilities, held a non tenure track faculty position (Professional Associate) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton before moving to UW.

Non project specific activities

Administrative and management activities include:
- authority to act/sign on behalf of the Chairholder/Principal Investigator
- signing authority for all project expenditures including major equipment and instrumentation purchases
- reviewing budgets and making appropriate recommendations to control expenditures
- interacting effectively with other UW staff in all areas with which the project group has contact
- acting as liaison with senior officials at the University of Waterloo and other government institutions and regulatory bodies
- reviewing UW statements of financial position and initiating appropriate changes or follow-up procedures
- preparing performance evaluations (for staff and co-op students) and meeting with affected individuals to discuss

Scientific Participation

Although the Chairholder retains ultimate scientific responsibility, it is expected that the incumbent will demonstrate scientific initiative and participate fully as a co-author of papers, reports, and proposals. In practice, the Chairholder and the incumbent would discuss a proposal or paper in general terms. The incumbent would then be expected to carry the task to completion, subject to technical review by the Chairholder. The specific activities required of the incumbent include:

locating sources of funding (grant and contract)
developing research concepts based on funding source priorities and available resources at UW
writing research proposals
preparing project budgets
collaborating closely with faculty members to generate and report on research findings
writing abstracts
writing research papers for papers for publication and presentations
writing project related reports (contractual obligations)
writing progress reports
presenting research findings at conference and meetings
attending meetings as a representative of the Chairholder/Principal Investigator and/or project team
designing detailed experimental programs
designing specific experiments (including appropriate statistical analyses)
detailed interpretation and analysis of experimental results (including appropriate statistical analyses)
researching, designing, constructing and operating bench and pilot scale distribution systems
chairing project meetings
assisting with the development and commercialization of processes and/or products generated from research
developing agendas for steering and technical committee meetings
reviewing information generated by other project team members (research data, abstracts, papers, presentations, etc.)
preparing critical path diagrams for experiments, meetings and associated project reports
traveling to pilot plant sites
traveling to conferences to attend and/or present papers
possessing extensive familiarity with computers (e.g., the uses of software programs for spreadsheet development [EXCEL], word processing [Word], slide preparation programs [Power Point] and other sophisticated graphics and plotting programs for both MAC and PC type computers). Trouble-shooting ability is also required.
being familiar with modems and associated software
assuming responsibility for lab safety and adherence of lab personnel to rules
photography
ensuring project milestones and deadlines are met
reading papers written in at least one foreign language
assisting with setting up conferences (e.g., development of appropriate topics, selection of speakers, reviewing abstracts, etc.)
possessing skills or knowledge required to operate equipment, instrumentation (project specific)

Personnel issues include:
- assuming day-to-day supervision of project personnel (including secretarial/ administration assistants, chemists, microbiologists, co-op students, other technicians/ technologists and off-site operators/engineers)
- preparing of job descriptions
- initiating searches for project personnel (with assistance from Personnel and Research Services as necessary)
- interviewing and testing prospective project staff, when delegated by the Chairholder
- conducting reference checks for prospective project staff
- approving selection of project staff, when delegated by the Chairholder
- possessing authority to act/sign on behalf of the Chairholder/Principal Investigator

Information and communication responsibilities include:

acting as liaison with senior individuals at various municipalities as well as senior officials at the University of Waterloo and other government institutions and regulatory bodies
interacting with other UW staff in all areas with which the project group has contact
collaborating closely with faculty members (information transfer, equipment purchases, committees, etc.)
providing expertise with regard to water related issues to interested individuals organizations/press
acquiring and distributing current research related literature (with associated library search skills)
assisting and advising undergraduates (specifically related to project courses)
working with or assisting graduate students (co-author papers, advise on methods and procedures, provide information and expertise, assist with equipment and supplies acquisition, etc.)
providing equipment/instrument demonstrations to project members, undergraduate students and graduate students

Issues relating to laboratory upgrading and/or construction of bench and pilot scale systems including:

designing and redesigning entire laboratories or groups of laboratories to suit project requirements
initiating renovation requests
overseeing all aspects of laboratory renovations (including mechanical, architectural and mechanical)
development of specifications for major equipment/instrumentation
initiating procedure for acquisition of quotes
reviewing quotes and selecting equipment and instrumentation
authorizing major equipment and instrumentation purchases
authorizing payment for all equipment

Activity associated with design and construction of drinking water treatment pilot plants for MOE contract (simultaneously at three different locations in Ontario):

accumulating data regarding pilot plant design and function (including site visits throughout North America and attendance at seminars and meetings)
on the basis of general discussions with the Principal Investigator, undertake detailed design of all pilot plant unit processes (including constant head tanks, flocculation tanks, sedimentation tanks, settled water storage tanks, ozone contactors, ozone dissipation chambers, dual media filters and filter adsorbers with air scour, granular activated carbon (GAC) contactors, backwash water storage tanks, pump wells).
preparation of all associated drawings and diagrams
understanding and application of fluid mechanics related issues (sizing of process units and plumbing, flow velocities, Reynolds numbers, headloss, retention time, "G" values etc.)
specifying and acquiring all associated plumbing hardware (including pipe, tube, fittings, solenoids, valves, actuators, etc.)
specifying and acquiring all associated instrumentation (including static mixers, flocculation mixers, ozone generators, ozone monitors, chlorine analyzers, turbidity analyzers, pH analyzers, differential pressure transmitters, magnetic flow sensors, flow meters and computers)
assuming direct supervision of associated subcontractors and consulting firms
designing and implementing hydraulic tests for unit processes (including data acquisition, interpretation and summary)
preparing preliminary site preparation drawings and revising final site preparation drawings
determining initial chemical requirements in terms of type and concentration required for pump and plumbing considerations
assisting with pilot plant tours and promotion
assisting with pilot plant construction

* These skills or similar skills will be required to construct additional pilot plants or to undertake research projects of such magnitude.

Interaction with faculty and staff:

the incumbent must also be able to be respected by and work well with Civil Engineering Faculty members on significant issues such as planning and design for space in the proposed Environmental Science and Engineering Building, etc.
in the absence of the Chairholder the incumbent may also be required to act on his behalf in meetings or discussions with the Departmental Chair, Dean or their designates and/or associated Administrative Assistants.

Statistical Data

The incumbent has signing authority on all accounts and a co-signature is not required unless specified by Department or University policy (e.g., hiring in certain circumstances, travel or cheque requisitions for oneself). Two major projects and one minor project are currently underway and are listed below.

Contracts managed at the University of Waterloo (UW) to-date

Design, Evaluation and Market Potential of a Modular

Drinking Water Pilot Plant for the 1990's 1990-94 $1,789,900

Partners: Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MOEE),

Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC),

Brantford Public Utilities Commission (Brantford PUC)

and Windsor Utilities Commission (WUC)

Computer Support for "Design, Evaluation and Market Potential

of a Modular Drinking Water Pilot Plant for the 1990's" Project 1993 $13,900

Grants managed at the University of Waterloo to-date

University Industry Research Chair in Water Treatment 1993-97 $3,259,000

Partners: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MOEE),

Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC),

Brantford Public Utilities Commission (Brantford PUC),

Windsor Utilities Commission (WUC),

Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMW),

Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Ltd. (Waterloo)

and Wastewater Technology Centre (Burlington)

Total funds currently being administered/managed: $5,062,800

Total papers/presentations/reports (lifetime-see attached CV): 60

Total refereed journal papers (lifetime):14

Total books, monographs and chapters in books (lifetime): 4

Total conference proceedings (full paper or abstract reviewed): 24

Total invited presentations (lifetime): 4

Number of papers/presentations/reports (involving research at UW)*: 7

* It is expected that rate of publication/presentations will increase dramatically now that the above research projects are underway. The incumbent must be able to respond to the increased demands on time to maintain or increase the pace at which information is disseminated.

Number of positions supervised at UW: 7

(including: 1 chemist, 1 technician, 1 secretary/administrative assistant, 1 co-op student and 3 pilot plant engineers/operators-this list could be expanded as additional funds become available)

Specific Accountabilities

The major end results expected of the individual filling this job are:

to be responsible for all aspects of project management and co-ordination,
to be responsible for all aspects of project administration and cost control,
to be responsible for all aspects of personnel administration and supervision,
to provide substantial scientific input for research grants and contracts,
to take a leading role in all areas of responsibility with only very minor direct supervision,
and, to function completely independently for extended periods of time and assume duties usually associated with the Chairholder during these periods (but not limited to these periods).