Salary Range: $108,147-$155,461/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Medical Director and Scientific Director of the BC Children’s Hospital MRI Research Facility (“MRI Research Facility” or “Facility”), the Manager, Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology is a key leader in management of services delivery, integrated with research MR imaging, supporting the operational needs and objectives of the MRI Research Facility. The Manager, Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology oversees research MR imaging hardware, software, and informatics services. In this role, they manage key resources and personnel in the MRI Research Facility while actively collaborating on associated pediatric research imaging projects to deliver results for stakeholders. The Manager participates in concept development, MR protocol development, strategic planning and monitoring of research MR scheduling, and provides leadership on their implementation and impact to operations and service delivery. This position is responsible for optimal design of image reconstruction workflow automations, continuous MRI data quality management related to hardware and software performance, monitoring and ensuring compliance with privacy, confidentiality, and research ethics board standards, and ensuring research related work-in-progress MR protocols are optimized and reconfigured for each research studies. The Manager is also responsible for administration of the informatics data repository (Research PACS) and monitors data queries, access privileges and troubleshooting issues from the Research PACS. The Manager is responsible for liaising with vendors and suppliers for quotations and service contracts related to essential equipment and software, and for managing computer equipment and software and interactions with IT support teams. The Manger will support the development of funding proposals, financial reports, and clinical research publications. The Manager is responsible for managing personnel, students/trainees, resources, operations, related to the MRI Research Facility and associated research imaging services.

 

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the MRI Research Facility and is accountable for resolving all service delivery issues as they arise.
• Responsible for the hiring and supervision of staff; establishing clear definitions of responsibility, reviewing workload assignments, and adjusting schedules accordingly to ensure levels meet operational requirements. Reviews requests for vacation and other leaves of absence, ensures timekeeping records are maintained and coordinates day-to-day administrative activities.
• Supervise installation and performance of all research MR scan protocols to ensure they meet the standards of research team’s objectives and purposes. Liaise with vendor MR scientists and product specialists to ensure hardware or software performance issues are resolved in a timely manner.
• Ensures image data quality by using clinical, technical, and operational expertise to identify anomalous data, troubleshoot various image quality issues to resolution, and develop processes to ensure early detection and resolution work with head MR technologist to train Research MRI technologist group in newly detected hardware or software issues to allow seamless Research MRI scanning services.
• Responsible for monitoring and planning the utilization of Research MRI Facility resources (i.e. MRI periphery devices, audio/visual equipment, Research MRI Facility rooms). Provides training to all staff, students, and other users of the department’s laboratory space and equipment adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all users of the laboratory space the use of the MRI simulator and fMRI equipment. Ensures proper adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all users of the laboratory space.
• Works under the direction of the Medical Director to manage lab expenses, accounts, and finances. Responsible for the administration and monitoring of operating and capital budgets, develops strategic funding initiatives, develops, implements, and evaluates the annual business plan.
• Facilitates staff development of knowledge and skills by sharing clinical and technical expertise, serving as a resource, and providing recommendations for further development.
• Instructs others, such as students, through explanation, demonstration, assessment and/or testing. Ensures demonstration of achievement of educational goals or technical competence (e.g., oversight and evaluation of student technical projects related to this position) with final assessments
• Participates in administrative, operational, and scientific committees and contributes expertise in evaluation of projects, technology and resource utilization related to functional MRI Brain Mapping services.
• In conjunction with the Medical Director, liaises with vendors to negotiate hardware and software contracts related to functional MRI and Brain Mapping service delivery.
• Serve as a neuroinformatics support for any programs or hardware used in the Brain Mapping, Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology Lab. Provide technical expertise to support presurgical brain mapping services.
• Uses technical and clinical expertise to oversee the interactions with clinical neurological patients, preparing them for fMRI, familiarizing patients with the MRI environment, ensuring efficient use of MRI time and conducting clinical fMRI sessions, together with MRI technologists, according to defined protocols.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of functional MRI, brain mapping, and neuroinformatics methodology as well as standards and best practices for optimal delivery of pediatric clinical functional MRI and brain mapping services.
  
  

 

Qualifications:

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to master’s degree in Neuroimaging from a recognized college or university and a minimum of ten (10) years of recent related experience in the field of pediatric fMRI in an academic or health research setting, including a minimum of three (3) years of management of pediatric functional MRI services in an academic children’s hospital setting.
• Knowledge of fMRI methodologies and principles, project evaluation and monitoring and multiple project interaction and integration.
• High fluency in shell scripts, MATLAB, C++, Java, Python, NVIDIA-CUDA, OpenCL, and cascade-stylesheets in Linux, macOS and Windows environment.
• Database knowledge (SQL, JBoss Development Environment, proxy-networking, Tomcat) is an asset.
• Familiarity with MRI data types and MRI data analysis methodologies and tractography.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot neuroimaging analysis software and scripting under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to translate innovative neuroimaging research results into usable methodology.
• Knowledge of neuroimaging tools (FSL, Freesurfer, AFNI, Caret, BrainVisa, SPM, MincTools, Brainvoyager, Diffusion Tool Kit, Connectome Mapping Toolkit, Human Connectome Project Pipeline, XNAT).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments within a fast paced, complex health care and academic environment, and to problem solve effectively with a substantial degree of independence, under limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in medical, non-medical and scientific areas.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure of deadlines, accept responsibility and work independently.
• Demonstrated willingness to be flexible, to accept new tasks, and to learn and implement new methodology.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and direct staff and to support a respectful workplace environment and utilize appropriate conflict management.