Updates from VPFO
We are the VPFO: Join your portfolio team on May 31
The end of May is coming fast! Don't forget to join our Vice-President Frank Laezza and the rest of the VPFO team for our portfolio event on May 31. Have a question for Frank? Share it in advance through the event page. Or take a moment to check out photos from other meet and greet events as Frank's been getting to know our departments and teams.
Submit your questions
Strategic Plan updates
Amber Velay-Mah, Patrol Officer in Safety & Risk Services
“At UBC, you won’t be considered unprofessional for having bold hair or tattoos, and you’re treated equally despite your race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. All employers should be like that, but until all of them are, UBC takes pride in being inclusive and welcoming, and it’s much appreciated.”
Shout out to Amber for her strong commitment to ensuring safety and inclusivity on campus. You’re a star!
Read Amber's story
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
- Planon user experience survey: The second Planon user experience survey will be launched on Monday, May 15 to Planon users that regularly receive, plan and complete work. Learn more about Planon.
- UBC Power House will begin preparation for demolition soon: In early June, the UBC Power House will begin preparation for demolition for the development of the new UBC Sauder School of Business expansion. Read the tentative schedule of closures.
- UBC’s cogeneration engine, Jenbacher J-612: The replacement cogeneration engine, producing electricity and heat for the UBC Vancouver campus is now up and running. The new engine provides the same electrical power output while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions as it runs on 33% Renewable Natural Gas. Learn more
- Preparing the air conditioning for the summer months: This year, a number of aging cooling towers including the towers for Life Sciences Centre and Walter C. Koerner Library have been replaced to improve overall reliability. Building Operations’ Mechanical teams have been working on getting the chilled water system cleaned, maintained, serviced and ready for the warmer summer months to keep the campus buildings cool.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- Workday Adaptive Planning update: The Workday Adaptive Planning Project is currently in the middle of end-to-end testing, which is expected to conclude mid-month. Full project information, including recent demonstrations on Workforce Planning and OfficeConnect, are available on the project website.
- Updates to Travel webpages: Please note there have been updates to the Travel webpages including the addition of the booking services fees table, main travel page and airline page.
- Updated Workday for Managers training course: Workday for Managers has been updated and expanded with additional information on several important topics. Managers are encouraged to enroll in or retake the course.
- Recently completed Workday enhancements: The Buyer Hub has been launched to improve access to procurement tasks and added a new option for employees to identify their position on expense reports. See Workday this Week and the WTW archive for full details
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- VPFO hierarchy terminology update: Need help attributing the correct names to each group, department, unit, or team within the VPFO? Find guidance using our latest VPFO Hierarchy Terminology PDF.
- New photos of Campus Security: VPFO Communications & Engagement recently captured photos of Campus Security supporting community member through performing first aid, providing directions and safewalk on our beautiful campus in Spring. View the Flickr album
The VPFO consists of individuals doing important work to support the university. Our people bring our strategy to life and make our plans into reality. Read more about the people of the VPFO.
Shout outs
VPFO
- Congratulations to the VPFO for having the most mental health training completed than any other unit at UBC, and by a significant margin! Mental health issues are among the fastest growing challenges for employers and can impact everyone in the workplace. Central HR recognizes the VPFO for their leadership in mental health training!
Safety & Risk Services
- A big shout to the Campus Security Team, Wayne Pasieka, Khan Bashet, Francis D'Souza, James Rodriguez, Andrew Wong and Theo Saul for their involvement in keeping the German President safe during his visit to UBC. Great job team!
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
- Divya Shetty joins the Integrated Service Centre (ISC) today as a Service Centre (ISC) Representative. Welcome Divya!
- Olivia Sasson joins Facilities' Municipal Services today as a Labourer 2 (Seasonal). Welcome Olivia!
- Jeff de Casto joins Safety & Risk Services today as the Lead Advisor, Information Security Compliance. Welcome Jeff!
- Vriti Gupta will be joining the Financial Operations team as Indigenous Strategic Initiative - Procurement Co-Op student on May 10. Vriti, we look forward to working with you soon!
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:
- Accounting Team Lead (JR12520) – 5/10/2023
- Executive Assistant (JR12639) – 5/10/2023
- Labourer 2 (Seasonal)-1 (JR12591) – 5/10/2023
- Trades 3 - Electrician (2 positions) (JR12711) – 5/12/2023
- Utility Worker (JR12713) – 5/15/2023
- PrISM Business Systems Analyst (JR12677) – 5/18/2023
- Trades 2 - Painter (2 positions) (JR12712) – 5/19/2023
- Training Coordinator (JR12676) – 5/22/2023
- Functional Finance Analyst (JR12642) – 5/25/2023
Don't forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review Apply for an Internal Job Posting 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.
We are the VPFO: Spotlight
Each week, we'll meet another member of the VPFO as they introduce themselves and their work.
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Pearle Lundeen, Business Intelligence Business Analyst, Operational Excellence
I like to take an inclusive and people-oriented approach to transformation. Recently, our team created a dashboard to help the community easily track and visualize the continuous projects that Operational Excellence has been delivering across UBC. Please check it out!
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Notable updates
Reimbursing Expenses - 'Carpe per Diem' workshop
UBC Financial Operations Community Training is pleased to offer additional dates and times of our popular Reimbursing Expenses – ‘Carpe per Diem’ workshop. This foundational session focuses on key business policy requirements to assist you submitting expense reports that are ready for approval, without unnecessary delays and send backs.
The following sessions are available to select from:
- Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 at 11:00 am
- Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 18th, 2023 at 11:00 am
- Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
These sessions are Zoom-enabled. Session details are sent to you when you confirm your reservation. Seating for each session is limited to ensure content and questions are fully explored.
During the one-hour session, participants will engage with content to help:
- Recognize the requirements for expense reimbursement.
- Identify the importance of the requirements for expense reporting
- Create and submit expense reports with all required information.
- Minimize report send backs and reimbursement delays
- Access needed support when required
Register and learn more
IRP Student: End-to-End (E2E) Testing Explained
End-to-End (E2E) Testing Explained IRP Student is entering the Testing phase of the new student information system, Workday Student. End-to-End Testing will test the new student information system in an integrated context to ensure all components of the new system work cohesively by testing business capabilities from beginning to end.
During End-to-End Testing, identified community testers will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to the new system in order to provide feedback on the system’s capabilities in a structured test environment.
Read more about End-to-End Testing on the IRP Student blog
May is Asian Heritage Month
Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.
Learn more about what's happening in the UBC community for Asian Heritage Month
Red Dress Day was May 5
May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S) in Canada, also known as Red Dress Day. The red dresses act as a visual reminder of all the missing women, girls and Two-Spirit people. The day is about building awareness of this ongoing harm and honouring those who were lost and their families.
Learn more about Red Dress Day
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.
- When leaders of all levels share their personal stories, it reduces stigma and normalizes the ups and downs of being human — especially as a high-performing professional. Read more
- Saturday, May 6 was the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. Learn more
