VPFO Update | The week of February 21, 2023

Updates from VPFO

  • Join us tomorrow in celebrating Pink Shirt Day: Wear a pink shirt and join us tomorrow on campus or virtually in celebrating diversity, kindness and empathy on Pink Shirt Day.   
    • Date: February 22, 2023
    • Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. & 7:00–8:00 p.m. 
    • On campus: Join us in person at the Life Sciences West Atrium at 2:00 pm or CIRS 1250 at 7:00 pm for a safely catered event 
    • Online: The event will be streamed live via Zoom. Please contact Rachel Lau (vpfo.hradmin@ubc.ca) if you have not received a zoom link in your outlook calendar. 

Strategic Plan updates

Our plan & our people

Next up: Aletha Utimati, Project Manager & and Sandy Sull, Finance Manager, Project Accounting 

"Everyone who works at UBC is working from the mindset of delivering the best for the university. What "the best” means for everyone may be different but we’re all delivering the goal in our own unique ways."

Come back next week to read how Aletha and Sandy's work intersect and what accountability means to them in their respective roles.    


Operations updates

Facilities

Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services

Finance

Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury

  • Is your expense report sitting in draft mode: A reminder to always check if your expense report has been submitted to ensure credit card transactions are in progress. To find transactions on draft expense reports, use the “Find My Credit Card Transactions” report in Workday. Learn more 
     
  • Case study: Reducing benefit-related support request volume through Lean Six Sigma: Liam Murphy is a Knowledge and Training Analyst in the ISC. Applying his knowledge of Lean Six Sigma, Liam implemented updates to several Workday training courses that contributed towards a 40% decrease in the volume of benefit-related support requests from Dec 2021–2022. Read more 
     
  • Workday: New Onboarding Task for Hourly Employees: As part of their UBC onboarding process, newly hired employees who are paid on an hourly basis (excluding Hiring Solutions workers) will now receive a task in Workday to help them understand how their hours worked are submitted. Learn more

Operations & Advising

Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services 

  • Sun Life is moving to a new Pharmacy Benefits Manager: In March, Sun Life will be changing their Pharmacy Benefits Manager to Express Scripts Canada. There is no action required on your part. You can find more information on the SunLife online portal

Shout outs 

Finance & Operations

  • Mary Julkowski: Shout out to Mary who constantly works through a ton of information and multiple changing & often conflicting priorities and always delivers! Thank you Mary for your meticulous work, collaboration and commitment to equipping the community with required and important Workday information. 

Well done! Want to give someone a shout out in the next edition? Submit your kudos in your local recognition program or email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca

People in motion

  • Sandy Zarka will be seconded as the new Manager of Administration and Executive Assistant to the Interim President for the Presidential transition period. While Sandy is with the President’s Office, Holly Rail will continue in her current role as executive support to our soon to arrive Vice-President Finance and Operations and as Manager of Administration for the VPFO. 
  • Rosanna Ma steps into new role as Facilities Safety Associate in Safety & Risk Services. 
  • Finance & Operational Excellence is pleased to welcome Shriram Gore as Supply Chain Analyst, Procurement Partnerships, and Jennifer Lin as a Procurement Administrator (Co-Op Student).    

Read more about our people on the VPFO website.

Job openings

All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. Please note that applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the posting end date. The following VPFO positions are currently open:

  • Workday Security Administrator (JR11443) – 02/23 
  • Trades 2 - Steamfitter / Pipefitter (1 Position) (JR7935) – 02/23
  • Payroll Partner - Analyst (JR10510) – 2/23
  • Customer Support Manager (JR11601) – 2/24
  • Business Analyst II, Data and Reporting (JR11613) – 2/24
  • Trades 2 - Plumber (JR10661) – 02/26
  • Refrigeration Mechanic (JR11554) – 02/27
  • Emergency and Continuity Planning Associate (JR11629) – 2/27
  • Manager, Service Center (JR11573) – 2/27
  • Millwright (Building Operations) (JR10231) – 3/2
  • Senior Financial Spec 1a (Gr 8) (JR11630) – 3/3
  • Utilities Electrical Engineer (JR11625) – 3/3
  • Emergency Management & Continuity Planning Advisor (JR11047) – 3/3
  • Lead Advisor, Information Security Compliance (JR11398) – 03/08
  • Trades 2 - Access Control Tech Locksmith (JR11453) – 03/15
  • Labourer 2 (Seasonal) (JR11189) – 06/30

Don't forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review the Apply for an Internal Job Posting guide in the Workday Knowledge Base for instructions on how to apply. Reminder to attach a copy of your resume when you apply for a career opportunity in Workday. 

Spotlight of the week

Each week a member of the VPFO will introduce themselves and their work through the Update. 

Frank Laezza, Vice-President, Finance and Operations 

Our new VP Frank Laezza is looking forward to joining the VPFO on March 13, and will be sharing a message at Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday. Don’t forget to join the rest of the portfolio as we celebrate this important event

Managing your mental health

HR has mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. 

Manager or leaders: complete the new required training, Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers & Supervisors.

VPFO HR is always available for a confidential conversation, or access the Employee and Family Assistance Program's (EFAP) confidential services, through LifeWorks, by calling 1.866.424.0770. 


Notable updates

Reminder to submit your Professional Development Fund claims

A reminder to use available professional development (PD) funding and submit your reimbursement claim in Workday by Friday, March 3.

If you are a manager or supervisor, please review and approve all claims in Workday no later than Friday, March 17.

For the current PD funding year (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023), staff is welcome to submit claims on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual funding pools are exhausted or by March 3, whichever comes first.

Learn more
 

UBC recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers in 2023

UBC is recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers in 2023. This special designation recognizes the British Columbian employers that lead as exceptional places to work — and who offer employees the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

Learn more
 

IBPOC Connections Create Joy & Play: March 9th lunch event

The Equity & Inclusion Office is cohosting an IBPOC Connections faculty and staff lunch with St. John’s College on March 9th! 

Focused on creativity and connection, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a prepared menu by the St. John College culinary team, build community and engage in some arts and crafts. There will also be a slam poetry performance, short introduction to salsa dancing, and you’ll have the chance to win a door prize.

  • Where: St. Johns College Dining Hall- 2111 Lower Mall, Vancouver
  • When: March 9, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
  • Who: All UBC staff, faculty, and post-docs who identify as Indigenous, Black, Person of Colour, racialized, and/or multiracial

Register and learn more 

Helpful news

Some interesting news articles our team members have found informative, helpful, or fun! These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.

  • Take a creative break with this year's free digital colouring book, which celebrates the animal kingdom and features illustrated animals in nature. Learn more 
  • ChatGPT is the latest development in commercial AI technology. Find out what ChatGPT is and how it works in this Entrepreneur article


The VPFO Update is a weekly snapshot that captures important university updates, work across VPFO departments, and relevant resources.

This will be reposted, along with past issues, at vpfo.ubc.ca/news
 

Questions, news or feedback?

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