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CSE Administrator

Department: Centre for Sight Enhancement Effective Date: February, 2010
Grade:

USG 10

35 hr/wk

Reports to: Director, Centre for Sight Enhancement

General Accountability

The CSE Administrator reports to the Director, Centre for Sight Enhancement. The incumbent will be responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the Centre for Sight Enhancement in all administrative and financial matters.   As the Centre is frequently involved in applied research within the clinical program, the Administrator may have a dual accountability for staff and financial matters to the principal investigator of any grants or contracts that are obtained under the Centre umbrella, by arrangement with the Director.

Nature and Scope

The School of Optometry Clinic provides a clinical facility for the education of Optometry undergraduates, graduate students and residents at the University of Waterloo.  It also provides comprehensive Optometric services to the general public through a University-based clinic.  Approximately 30,000 patients are seen annually.  Special populations are served through outreach projects around the region, across the country and throughout the world. 

 

The Centre for Sight Enhancement (CSE) is a semi-autonomous clinical research and teaching facility within the School of Optometry. It is involved exclusively with activities related to the assessment and rehabilitation of visual disorders, visual impairments, visual disabilities and visual handicaps. The Centre for Sight Enhancement is an integral part of the overall teaching, research and clinical activities of the School of Optometry.  Clinical low vision services within the CSE are provided by faculty optometrists with speciality training and experience in the low vision field.  These "low vision clinicians" are assigned to the CSE low vision service by the School of Optometry Clinic Director who appoints a Head, Low Vision Services, to co-ordinate the clinical activities within the area.  CSE support staff are available to assist with intake, assessment, training and follow-up activities in the area.  These support services are funded by a service grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. In addition, the Centre has a contractual arrangement with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to act as the Sight Enhancement Equipment Pool and Assessment Centre (SEEPAC) for the Ministry’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP). As suggested by its title, this Sight Enhancement Equipment Pool and Authorization Centre (SEEPAC) has two component functions. SEEPAC's primary service objective is to provide high technology (computer and CCTV devices) assessment/authorization services and to manage the aggregate inventory (or "pool") of high technology devices and CCTV systems allocated for this Ontario program. This involves acquiring, storing and distributing the project inventory in accordance with policies of the ADP. Inventory management, transactional support, technical support and efficient shipping and receiving are facilitated by an interactive, on-line, bar-coded inventory system, which was developed for this project.

 

The Centre is frequently involved in integrating applied research with established clinical programs and there are often contract activities with their respective funding and staffing, which are overseen by the Administrator.

 

The CSE Administrator is responsible for liaison with senior government officials and policy makers, granting agencies, and administrative personnel in other service agencies.  This includes discussion and implementation of various Ministry policies and procedures.

 

The CSE Administrator’s position exists to relieve the CSE Director from the many administrative and organisational details and problems associated with managing the Centre’s operation.  This frees the Director to pursue other aspects of teaching, research and patient care.  All aspects of the Centre’s budget are managed by the CSE Administrator through the Office of Research.

 

Within the University of Waterloo, the CSE Administrator interacts with all University departments, particularly the Office of Research, Human Resources, Purchasing, Financial Services, Central Stores and the Development Office.

 

The CSE Administrator is responsible for the preparation and submission of quarterly financial and statistical reports as required by various grants and contracts in cooperation with the Office of Research. 

 

It is important that there be a flow of information between the CSE and the School of Optometry Administration.  To facilitate and co-ordinate management issues and practices and to ensure smooth functioning of the School of Optometry Clinic as a unit, there should be close interaction between the CSE Administrator and the School of Optometry Administrator.

Statistical Data

The CSE Administrator supervises 9 full-time staff members and 1 part-time staff members. The annual budget for the Centre is comprised of a grant and contract with the Ministry of Health and Long Term care, in excess of $3 million (2009) annually. These funds are largely allocated for salary and equipment expenditures.

Specific Accountabilities

  1. To establish and maintain an organization and atmosphere in the Centre for Sight Enhancement so as to ensure the most efficient service to patients and the best instruction to students by constantly evaluating administrative procedures and initiating organizational changes as necessary.
  2. To establish a budget for the CSE in consultation with the CSE Director, prepare proposals for funding as appropriate and assist in negotiations with funding agencies.
  3. To provide effective budget control by maintaining and monitoring all income and expense records for the Centre for any grants or contracts obtained under the CSE umbrella by arrangement with the CSE Director.
  4. To prepare and submit the required financial and statistical reports required through the year for the various grants and contracts cooperatively with the Office of Research.
  5. To provide effective staff support for the Centre by evaluating and providing support/discipline to CSE support staff
  6. To provide effective communication between the CSE and the School of Optometry

Working Conditions