| Department: |
Nortel Networks Institute for Advanced Information Technology |
Effective Date: |
October 31, 2005 |
| Grade: |
USG 6 |
Reports to: |
Director of Nortel Networks Institute |
General Accountability
This position is accountable to the Director of Nortel Networks Institute (NNI) for Advanced Information Technology at the University of Waterloo, for the general administration and financial operations of the Institute. In collaboration with the Nortel Networks on-site manager, and the Nortel Networks Institute’s Administrative Officer, the Office Manager is responsible for the sound operation of the Nortel Networks Institute Program Office which oversees NNI’s programs consisting of four industry research chairs and the associated research groups, collaborative research projects, industry partnership programs, two research/teaching laboratories and the Nortel Networks Undergraduate Scholarships.
Nature and Scope
- Organizational Relationships
- Other positions which report directly to the same immediate supervisor
None
- Positions which report directly to the incumbent
None
- Description of General Framework and Environment
The Nortel Networks Institute is a partnership between Nortel Networks and the University of Waterloo, established to provide a focus for education and research in the areas of electrical and computer engineering and computer science relevant to advanced information technology.
Nortel Networks is committed to providing $10.3 million over a ten-year period (1999 to 2008) to support the activities of the Nortel Networks Institute. The University has committed $2.6 million over the same period. In addition, funding for administrative support is provided by the Engineering and Mathematics Faculties.
The Institute is guided by the Advisory Council whose membership consists of the Dean of Engineering, Dean of Faculty of Mathematics, Chair of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Director of School of Computer Science, and Vice President of Research, University of Waterloo, as well as 5 Nortel Networks representatives.
The overall Nortel Networks Institute program is managed by the Director of the Institute (who is a faculty member at the University of Waterloo), in collaboration with the Nortel Networks on-site Manager (who is a staff member of Nortel Networks). Activities of this institute may include
- organizing academic-industry board meetings,
- creating, funding and managing research projects,
- establishing and managing 4 NSERC industrial chairs,
- preparing progress and annual reports,
- organizing research seminars, Knowledge Interaction Days, international conferences and workshops,
- developing and maintaining a database of Nortel Networks scholarships,
- managing the operations of two NNI Labs – one in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and one in the School of Computer Science,
- supporting and participating in student activities such as the Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference and the Graduate Students Research Conference,
- Facilitating the coordination of student recruiting between the Co-Op and Career Services and Nortel Networks and its Partners,
- Providing graduate level tele-learning courses in software engineering and telecommunications networking.
- Significant External Relationships
The Office Manager has regular contact with faculty, staff and students associated with the Nortel Networks Institute, as well as the Office of Research and the Finance Department. On a regular basis, the Office Manager will coordinate with the administrative staff of industry partners for organizing various board and committee meetings.
This position is contingent on funding.
Statistical Data
The operating revenue for the Institute is coming from various government funding agencies, leveraging the contributions from Nortel Networks and the University of Waterloo. Based on the current funding sources, the annual operating budget will range from $2M to $3M per year.
Specific Accountabilities
General & Administration
- Manage the daily operation of NNI and its Software Telecommunications Group (STG) in the School of Computer Science. This includes monitoring and forecasting operation budgets for NNI, STG, and the integration and promotion of NNI within the University.
- Organize the STG’s meetings, for the Board of Directors and the Research Committee and assist the Administrative Officer in issuing minutes.
- Support the Nortel Networks on-site Manager in organizing the Nortel Networks Institute Advisory Council Meetings, and facilitating the recruiting process on campus.
- Assist the Administrative Officer to follow-up on funding proposals, prepare progress reports and annual reports to granting agencies, and other material associated with the inception and development of related projects and contracts, and implement research agency guidelines and requirements in a productive and effective way.
- Maintain the use of the NNI facilities including visitor office, NNI Board Room, NNI Lab for Advanced Communications and Information Technology in the Faculty of Mathematics, and the NNI Lab for Advanced Optical Network in the Faculty of Engineering.
- Work with CSCF in the School of Computer Science and the ECE Research Computing Support staff in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering to initiate purchase orders for all of the installation, testing and repair of equipment and furnishings in the NNI labs.
Financial & Project Management
- Oversee financial accounting, transactions processing, and tracking and reconciling accounts and work with Office of Research and Finance department to prepare quarterly and annual financial reports for STG and annual auditing.
- Initiate and monitor all accounts for granting agencies and industrial contracts as designated by the Director of the Nortel Networks Institute, Director of the Software Telecommunications Group, and the Nortel Networks on-site Manager.
Marketing
- Act as the primary contact for liaison of all other University Departments and contacts within Centres of Excellence and government granting agencies.
- Initiate and facilitate liaison among staff, faculty and students associated with NNI, as well as industry sponsors and granting agencies.
- Promote the brand awareness of NNI and maintain the NNI web site to ensure events sponsored by NNI and/or Nortel Networks is reported in a timely manner; develop and maintain NNI brochures.
- Assist the Administrative Officer and the Nortel Networks on-site Manager in fostering the development and administration of the NNI corporate partners programs, including the Software Telecommunications Group, and Wireless Technology Group; establishing regular contact with corporate partners through publications and visits, and following up on potential new corporate partners.
Research & Knowledge Interaction
- Design, develop and maintain databases of Nortel Scholars, graduate student research projects, and student enrollment statistics; liaise with SCS, E&CE, and Registrar’s Office to compile and collect data.
- Design, develop and maintain databases for STG research projects.
- Administer NNI Knowledge Interaction Days, Distinguished Speaker Series, and other seminars.
- Assist the Administrative Officer in implementing research agency guidelines and requirements in a productive and effective way.
Assist the Administrative Officer in resolving administrative, legal and contractual issues
Working Conditions
