Ryan: As a Project Manager at UBC, the day-to-day activities can vary, but in the end the main goal is to ensure I am driving the project through various stages, and ensuring everything I do results in a successful project. This means that I’m working with many internal clients, but most importantly trying to manage expectations. I am also responsible for hiring and managing consultants, contractors, vendors and coordinating between the UBC stakeholders and design/construction team.
I ultimately manage time, budget and quality. It’s a constant juggling act trying to meet client expectations, because the Project Manager is the main conduit between said teams. One of the crucial elements to project management is communication, and making sure that every channel is used to its fullest, whether it be directly to clients, consultants, contractors or the UBC community. I am dedicating my time and resources to collaborating with campus stakeholders to create great spaces for people to teach and learn, conduct leading-edge research, and enjoy the life of the campus community.
Kyle: As a Project Manager at UBC, my day-to-day work is really about making sure things are happening in such a way that the project is successful. This means that I’m hiring and managing design consultants and contractors, purchasing various equipment or furniture and working with the client and stakeholders to ensure quality, costs and functional needs are met. This role requires a lot of communication in multiple channels and is a constant juggling act of properly identifying priority actions and managing expectations. Essentially, we are trying to ensure that the capital funds that are invested in the University go toward making great spaces, infrastructure or systems.
Today, the bulk of my time is spent on one project, the renewal of the Biological Sciences North Wing and replacement of the Biological Sciences Centre Wing. This is a major capital project, which is now two years in the making with two more to go. There are a lot of moving parts on a project like this, and it requires a great deal of patience and cooperation to work with the project team, as well as working with the stakeholders and broader campus community. The push is to always remember that the end goal is to create a great space for the future of undergraduate Biology teaching.
Ryan: I am dedicating my time and resources to collaborating with campus stakeholders to create great spaces for people to teach and learn, conduct leading-edge research, and enjoy the life of the campus community.
Ryan: Essentially, both Kyle and I have the same role, and we are required to follow the same processes, but we are very different people, and like all project managers, we manage things in our own way. I’m an excited, anxious tempered individual and generally start flying at things right at the onset, whereas Kyle takes a methodical and more even-tempered approach. In the end, we both have a lot of responsibilities, and we play to our strengths to get the job done.
Kyle: We have the same essential role with the same basic processes required, but every project is different and every person manages in their own individual way. Ryan and I have very different personalities. He’s always on the tipping point of elation and I’m so even tempered, you might think I’m not even paying attention. But we both play to our strengths and know when to adjust to suit the situation.
Ryan: I’m an excited, anxious tempered individual and generally start flying at things right at the onset, whereas Kyle takes a methodical and more even-tempered approach. In the end, we both have a lot of responsibilities, and we play to our strengths to get the job done.
Ryan: 1. Who are the stakeholders, and what benefits will be gained from executing this project? Sometimes stakeholders are people on the receiving end, or they are people that are indirectly affected by the project.
2. What is the impact of the project on the University? Unfortunately not all projects are a benefit to everyone, and they may have a big impact on their day-to-day life. Understanding how we can mitigate such impact is huge to the successful delivery of a project.
3. Who’s paying for the project, are there multiple funding sources? Not all projects are funded by a single source, and not all sources of funding have the same metrics, so this is important when managing budgets.
4. In addition to funding, are there any synergies with other Faculties and/or Building Operations? In many instances, projects may have a big impact in a certain area of a building or the campus.
Kyle: 1. What are the benefits? All projects have benefits, whether it is fulfilling a regulatory requirement, resolving a long-standing problem, renovating or refreshing an existing space or building something new entirely.
2. Who will benefit? If no one benefits from a project, there is always a question of why the money is being spent. In most cases the beneficiaries are obvious (e.g., researchers, students, or administration). It is very important to get representatives of these groups on board to champion the project.
3. Who will pay? The funding for projects has to come from someone or some department’s budget.
