Field Placement Officer

Reporting to the Director, Clinical and Experiential Learning (Director), in consultation with the relevant Program Coordinators, the Field Placement Officer (FPO) is responsible for developing, promoting, coordinating, implementing and maintaining field practicum sites, as well as supporting all Field Instructors/Teachers and Field Practicum Supervisor relationships for programs offered by the School of Education. Specifically, this position will be responsible for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.

**What You’ll Be Doing**
- Arranging and co-ordinating student placements for multiple sections of ECE program students;
- Determining and managing lists of students scheduled for placement;
- Reviewing student information and data sheets;
- Determining placement locations based on student needs and availability of placement sites;
- Contacting centres to solicit placements;
- Reassessing placement sites on a routine basis;
- Obtaining confirmations for groups (multiple sections per placement start-up);
- Notifying students in writing of placement assignment;
- Ensuring confirmation letters and accompanying paperwork are sent to centres;
- Preparing placement lists for seminar professors;
- Providing support to field placement faculty;
- Compiling, reviewing and distributing field placement materials to field placement faculty, students, field placement sites, support staff and program coordinators;
- Maintaining liaising relationship with key stakeholders involved in field placement including: faculty in the EC program (responsible for orientation of all field placement visitors); students who have exceptional needs and for students where clarification / changes are required; placement sites (through daily contact and semi-annual appreciation events/promotions); other Sheridan departments and programs and relevant community committees and related community initiatives;
- Recruiting new placement sites; reviewing up-dated listings;
- Responding to information from colleagues, community committee contacts, etc.;
- Contacting sites to promote and market ECE programs and to gauge suitability for program placements;
- Supporting placement termination processes;
- Arranging site-visits to prospective locations;
- Inspecting prospective facilities and explaining expectations and responsibilities for field placement site approval;
- Assessing and determine suitability of prospective site for placement students;
- Recording and administering placement related data;
- Managing and processing all documentation relating to field placement assignment for students, placement sites and faculty;
- Maintaining accurate and current information in the field placement database;
- Collecting, collating, and reporting Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and other statistics;
- Communicating regular changes/updates regarding pre-placement requirements (e.g., Vulnerable Sector Check) to all placement participants (faculty, field sites, Program Advisory Committee, manager);
- Investigating and resolving process anomalies;
- Maintaining an ongoing relationship with academic advisors and coordinator to ensure conformance with academic rules and regulations;
- Establishing and maintaining administrative systems, policies, procedures and documentation requirements for practicum related matters;
- Reviewing and revising all field placement forms and documentation (e.g., field manual, communications);
- Collaborating with CEL Team to design, develop and implement Faculty wide systems and processes;
- Ensuring affiliation agreements (FEAs) are signed and up to date;
- Supporting and participating in practicum events (e.g., Community Partner Appreciation Event, ECE Expo);
- Representing Sheridan at relevant community meetings;
- Performing other related duties as assigned.

**About You**

You have the skills and knowledge to work with an increasingly diverse student and staff population as well as a proven commitment to anti-oppression, equity, and inclusion.

You enjoy balancing many different tasks, staying **organized **and **planning **and have the ability to integrate multiple streams of information, be flexible in delivery methods, **prioritize **and track multiple projects to meet a demanding workload and keep things running smoothly.

You exercise **sound judgement** and your sharp **problem solving **and **conflict resolution skills**, along with your ability to invite new ways of thinking, allow you to solve challenges in a creative way to help advance organizational goals.

You have excellent **written and verbal communication skills**, and ability to present to diverse audiences and communities.
- 2-year diploma in Early Childhood Education or related field
- 3 years of current experience working in a variety of child care settings (equivalency to be considered)
- Experience working with and supervising college-level ECE students
- Experience with public relations and community partner connections

**Who We Ar