Associate Director, Experiential Learning and Professional Development

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
Applied Science Central Student Services is a shared service unit across the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC) including Engineering the School of Community and Regional Planning the School of Biomedical Engineering and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The unit is dedicated to being an efficient and consistent source of academic career and professional development services and support for students through their academic journey in APSC. APSC Central Student Services unit has 4 teams; the APSC Co-op Experiential Learning and Professional Development team the Undergraduate Academic Advising Team the Graduate Academic Programs and Advising Team and the Academic Systems Team all under the leadership of the Director APSC Student Services.

The Associate Director Experiential Learning and Professional Development provides strategic leadership for the design delivery and continuous improvement of co-operative education experiential learning and career development programming in the Faculty of Applied Science. Reporting to the Director APSC Student Services the Associate Director oversees all aspects of strategic planning human resources financial planning operations and policy/program development for a portfolio that supports over 15 undergraduate programs 18 graduate programs academic units and serves more than 5000 undergraduate and graduate students. Over 4000 APSC students participate in the APSC Co-op Program and 1700 APSC students participate in Engineering Design Teams two core programs that this role oversees.

This role leads the development and implementation of a cohesive vision to ensure the success of new and current work-integrated education programs career and student engagement initiatives in the Faculty. The Associate Director determines the strategic direction of programs ensuring they are inclusive data-informed and aligned with institutional priorities by identifying and integrating national and international best practices. The position also provides guidance on program implementation evaluation and continuous improvement to enhance student outcomes and employer partnerships. The Associate Director is a member of the senior management team in the APSC Central Student Services unit and works to shape the strategic direction of the unit. Collaborating closely with the Director and other senior leaders the role drives initiatives that foster the academic personal and professional success of APSC students.

Organizational Status
The Associate Director Experiential Learning and Professional Development reports to the Director APSC Student Services and provides strategic leadership and management to the APSC Co-op Program and Professional Development portfolio. This portfolio serves the Facultys student body at both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

Works closely with Department Heads and Directors Program Chairs and Departmental Liaisons and faculty and staff of the Faculty of Applied Science. Collaborates with UBC Partners including the UBC Career Centre VP Students CSI&C CCEL other UBC Co-op Programs and other campus units as required.

Work Performed

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Plays a key role on the APSC Student Services leadership team in shaping and advancing Applied Science Student Services. Working with the Director and Associate Directors to develop deliver and evaluate student and academic services while fostering an organizational culture aligned with strategic priorities.

• Leads the strategic planning development and evaluation of the Applied Science Co-op and Professional Development programs to ensure alignment with Faculty and institutional priorities continues enhancements to the quality of co-op placements and professional development opportunities and the programs generally.

• Provides evidence-based leadership in designing innovative inclusive and responsive programming that reflects the evolving needs of students academic programs and industry partners; identifies and addresses barriers to employment for equity-deserving student groups by collaborating with campus partners such as Access and Diversity the Equity Office and the First Nations House of Learning to develop targeted support initiatives.

• Provides oversight for all APSC Co-op students on placement regarding workplace safety concerns employment issues (including harassment and employment equity) intellectual property rights and confidentiality concerns raised by co-op students and/or employers.

• Oversees the implementation of short and long-term strategies for career initiatives experiential learning and strategic partnerships for all relevant APSC career programs to enhance student success and engagement.

• Advises the Deans Office and senior leadership on career and student engagement matters impacting undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Leads the design and execution of assessment and evaluation processes to ensure continuous program improvement and responsiveness to student and employer feedback using institutional and sector data and metrics to inform and guide work to inform program development service delivery and strategic decision-making.

• Manages the ongoing development of the APSC Engineering Design Team framework to support experiential learning across disciplines.

• Leads the preparation of planning documents annual reports and outcome analyses to support accountability transparency and long-term planning.

People & Operational Management

• Establishes objectives manages outcomes determines and allocates resources across the Applied Science Co-op Program and Professional Development team. Directs guides and coaches team members to achieve Portfolio goals and outcomes.

• Responsible for succession planning restructuring and growth within the department. Recruits develops manages evaluates and coaches senior staff while addressing performance issues as required and ensures similar effective approaches occur throughout the department from the managers to staff and student hires liaising with APSC HR as required.

• Leads the development and delivery of training professional development and capacity-building initiatives for the team to support growth and excellence.

• Champions staff wellbeing by identifying and implementing initiatives that foster a healthy inclusive and supportive work environment.

• Responsible for the sound management of annual and long-range budgets (5 years) including the development of specific program/unit budgets including gifts for donor-funded programs and external funds (government and other sources) the allocation of resources and the ongoing monitoring of incoming revenue and outgoing commitments

Institutional Representation & Strategic Partnerships

• Represents the Faculty of Applied Science at university provincial national and international committees and associations related to career education co-operative education and/or work-integrated learning including Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada and the UBC Co-op Council

• Serves as the Facultys representation on the UBC Co-op Council contributing to institution-wide planning and coordination of co-op initiatives.

• Provides leadership to cross-campus inter-faculty initiatives that may impact the Co-op and PD portfolio ensuring alignment with broader academic and career development goals.

• Collaborate with internal partners to support and expand co-curricular experiential learning opportunities across UBC.

• Participates in university-level committees and administrative structures to inform the development and implementation of academic and career development programming aligned with AVPS and institutional priorities

• Performs other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Makes independent decisions and recommendations in areas of strategic planning marketing policies and procedures and management of Work Integrated Education Career and Student Engagement Initiatives and Portfolio staff and finances. Incorrect decisions can adversely affect the reputation of the Faculty of Applied Science and UBCs reputation in general. Failure to acknowledge and respond to industry and employer feedback affects the quality of Work Integrated Education programs and career and student engagement initiatives and opportunities for students. Mismanagement of funding could result in loss of credibility of the Portfolio and loss of funding from UBC and the Ministry. Failure to meet Accreditation standards for the Co-op Program could result in loss of accreditation and associated Ministry funding. Failure to effectively manage staff could result in reduced effectiveness of Portfolio initiatives and therefore reduced opportunities for students reduced employer participation and reduced funding. Failure to act on workplace safety employment equity or confidentiality issues could result in legal liability for the University.

Supervision Received
This is an independent position requiring an Associate Director who can work under the general direction of the Director APSC Student Services. Work is reviewed in the context of achieving strategic goals and contributing to a productive team-working environment which is responsive to students and faculty.

Supervision Given
Directly responsible for the overall performance of Portfolio staff around 20 FTEs including those in the Applied Science Co-op Program and Professional Development team. Directly manages 5 management-level staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five to six years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree preferred.

• Prior higher education leadership experience is an asset.

• Experience designing and delivering complex programs including evaluating and measuring program effectiveness required.

• Experience developing and executing strategic plans resource models and reports.

• Experience conducting risk assessments trend analyses and service delivery reviews.

• Experience with career and/or leadership and professional development required.

• Outstanding developmental student advising skills and demonstrated success in teaching and developing other professional staff to educate and advise students.

• Deep and masterful knowledge of learning pedagogy and practice.

• Demonstrated experience in a leadership role including the ability to lead a team of individuals to build programs and execute strategic plans preferably in a higher education environment.

• Ability to delegate lead motivate coach and train staff and excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

• Ability to work effectively in teams and to develop effective working relationships with students faculty staff volunteers and community members.

• Ability to manage the complexity inherent within a multi-faceted work environment focused on broad outcomes for students.

• Knowledge of University systems structures processes and decision-making structures is an asset.