Specialist, Future Skills, Taylor Institute for Teaching

Description

The Taylor Institute for Teaching & Learning is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Specialist, Future Skills for approximately 23 months.

Reporting to the Experiential Learning Manager, the full-time Specialist - Future Skills is embedded within the Office of Experiential Learning and Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. The Specialist leads the day-to-day coordination of UCalgary projects associated with the Future Skills Innovation Network (FUSION).

A pan-Canadian network of universities and industry employer organizations, FUSION's goal is to design and implement training to support the skills development critical for success in the 21st century labour market, with a particular focus on engaging and supporting underrepresented groups. The incumbent collaborates with colleagues in varying academic, management and support staff roles, works in partnership with other units across the institution, collaborates across and contributes to the FUSION collaborative, and supports the advancement of experiential learning at UCalgary.

The Taylor Institute (TI) for Teaching and Learning is dedicated to strengthening teaching and learning cultures, communities, and practices. The Institute supports the teaching development of instructors, promotes high-impact student experiences such as experiential learning, ensures the meaningful integration of learning technologies, and fosters research to understand better and improve student learning. Located within the Taylor Institute, the Office of Experiential Learning (OEL) team facilitates initiatives aligned with UCalgary's Experiential Learning Plan and UCalgary's Ahead of Tomorrow strategy. The OEL supports academic and non-academic units to expand and enhance opportunities for students to learn by doing.

This is a full time, limited term position until March 2026. The Specialist reports to the Manager, Experiential Learning and works 35 hours per week with regular office hours. This position is based in Calgary in the Office of Experiential Learning. This position may occasionally require irregular work hours during peak periods and events.

This role supports the development, coordination, and implementation of projects related to skills development as well as institutional initiatives in Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning. A strong understanding of university and academic culture, strategic plans, and priorities with a focus on teaching and learning is required. The Specialist works with a high degree of independence, liaising with the national network lead and specialists at four other universities across Canada. Locally, the coordinator builds relationships for Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning and skills development with leaders across all faculties and departments at UCalgary.

This position requires a high level of initiative and independence, and the ability to set priorities and balance multiple projects with minimal direction. The post holder needs to demonstrate strong interpersonal and facilitation skills and bring knowledge of higher education teaching and learning theory and practice as well as Work-Integrated Learning. The incumbent should bring an understanding of recent literature on employability skills, Work-Integrated Learning, student engagement, curriculum development and change in higher education. The post holder will collaborate with people in varying academic and administrative roles, work in partnership with other service units across the institution, provide advice on Work-Integrated Learning opportunities and collaborate across and contribute to FUSION nationally. The position requires a commitment to an exceptional standard of service, evidence-informed decision making, and continuous improvement. The Specialist is required to demonstrate sound judgement, advise, and make recommendations to management and academic leaders around procedures and practices within the scope of projects they are coordinating.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Leads the planning and day to day work associated with the Future Skills Innovation Network (FUSION) including promoting existing skills modules to educators, supporting educators in implementing FUSION skills modules in their courses/programs, managing skills modules in D2L, developing a strategy to engage students in the skills modules with a focus on equity-deserving students, supporting students in testing new modules, leading a UCalgary-specific innovation project related to future skills, and co-designing a design lab with Indigenous students and Indigenous colleagues in a good way.
• Represents UCalgary in regular network meetings and cultivates a collaborative and productive working relationship with the FUSION Network lead at Carleton University and with peers in similar roles at the University of Saskatchewan, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Concordia University.
• Curates, develops, and shares resources, good practices, and outcomes with colleagues within UCalgary and across the network.
• Manages project timelines and ensures activities remain in line with the Network's deliverables, as outlined in the partnership agreement.
• Develops efficient tracking and reporting practices for each activity. Develops project assessment practices, including undertaking or overseeing the evaluation of programming.
• Documents processes and creates recommendations for sustainability for continuing activities beyond the end of the grant.
• Contributes to communications activities for FUSION at the institution.
• Writes and presents project reports, contributes content to the network for aggregation and dissemination.
• Compiles data as required by the grant-holder while aligning with UCalgary policies and procedures
• In partnership with other network members and UCalgary programs, develop and test resources and approaches to increase participation and success of students from equity-seeking groups in experiential and work-integrated learning.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, advises and makes recommendations to management and academic leaders around procedures and practices within the scope of projects they are coordinating.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• 5+ years of progressive, professional experience in higher education, teaching and learning, instructional design, work-integrated learning or career development; A clear progression in responsibility over time as well specific examples of demonstrated leadership in project coordination required.
• Graduate degree preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to indigenous engagement, understanding the historical and current colonial context, and building reciprocal relationships.
• A strong understanding of Indigenous perspectives, communities, protocols, engagement, and familiarity with the University's Indigenous Strategy would be an asset.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment; preference for candidates who bring previous experience working with Indigenous and/or racialized students.
• Understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility principles and practices including Universal Design for Learning.
• Experience supporting, facilitating and/or developing experiential learning programs and/or skill-building initiatives required.
• Experienced facilitator, having worked with groups of various sizes and at various levels of an organization; proven ability to develop, deliver and facilitate effective and engaging workshops for in-person, virtual and hybrid groups of various sizes and audience types.
• Demonstrated experience in data management (collecting, organizing, analyzing).
• Advanced expertise in learning management systems (preferably D2L Brightspace) and other learning technologies, with a focus on implementing modules, content, tools, and learning activities within a course.
• Demonstrated project management skills and experience navigating competing priorities, managing workflows and working to deadlines.
• Highly developed organizational skills and ability to anticipate needs, plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work with little or no direction.
• Strong attention to detail, sense of initiative and problem-solving skills required.
• Strong written communications skills with demonstrated experience writing for a variety of audiences (including reports, persuasive writing, proposal writing, e-mail and student resources).
• Experience with program evaluation methods and techniques (quantitative methods and surveys) is an asset.
• Knowledge of university business systems - Microsoft office, D2L, MS Teams, PeopleSoft, Qualtrics, Zoom, Canva and other web-based applications.
• Knowledge of university culture, context, and strategic plans is an asset.

Application Deadline: May 2, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.