During a period of significant administrative restructuring in the Office of Research Services at the Okanagan Campus, KLK provided daily oversight and consultation on various administrative and compliance issues, as well as advised on the approval of research funding applications leaving campus, flagging any potential risk and referring certain matters to the VP Research for further review. The ORS transitioned from being a single Director-lead unit to one with managers in each of two main areas of focus: Research Development and Research Administration and Compliance. During the transition, KLK provided feedback and advice on the restructuring itself as well as provided mentoring and support to the new unit managers. The advice included how to deal with a variety technical and cultural issues in day-to-day research administration as well as the transmission of a certain management ethos and team building philosophy. The outgoing Director, who was leaving UBC for new personal and professional opportunities, had been with the ORS for nearly two decades and the transition to the new model was significant and the potential for some emotion due to change was ever-present. Challenges included devising responsible workarounds for institutional approvals until university policy could be amended, managing the promotion of team members in an existing, established hierarchy, change management, and supporting confidence in decision-making. New managers were empowered to become problem solvers and systems thinkers.
Kristen’s leadership and mentorship during the transition of the structure of ORS was invaluable. KLK was able to effectively and seamlessly support the project remotely. Her ability to analyze and understand the many intersectional processes along with her extensive familiarity with post-secondary research administration were key. Those involved in the transition were able to draw on her support for both the logistical and emotional aspects of the change leading the way for them to effectively manage the unit.