Student Development Specialist-equity

**Student Development Specialist-Equity - Limited Term**

**Tracking Code**:req1414

**Faculty/Department**: Office of Student Life

**Number of Positions**:1

**Appointment Type**: Limited Term

**Hours of Work**: hours per week

**Salary Range**:Level 9 - Starting Salary, Step 1 $78,033

**Posting Date**:November 28, 2024

**Closing Date**: December 6, 2024

**Job Summary**:
The Student Development Specialist leads the development and coordination of programs and initiatives
that foster and enhance student engagement relating to equity programs across the university.

**Nature of work**:
Reporting to the Manager, Student Engagement and Equity, the Student Development Specialist is accountable for
program development, coordination and the ongoing assessment of strategic initiatives relating to equity, diversity and inclusion, that support the successful transition of students into the university and that foster and enhance student leadership, professional skills development and peer support at Ontario Tech University.

The Student Development Specialist works in close collaboration with students, student groups, faculty
and staff across the university to develop programs that support student engagement. This includes a
student leadership and professional skills development program, peer mentor programs, and orientation
and transition programs.

**Responsibilities/accountabilities**:
1. Program Planning and Development:

- Leads in the development of outcomes based educational programs relating to equity, diversity and inclusion that are designed to support the university’s transition, retention and engagement strategies (i.e. orientation, leadership, mentoring, supporting traditionally underrepresented and/or marginalized groups).
- Leads the planning, development, and revision of evidence-based educational programs and initiatives in support of the university’s Integrated Academic Research plan, following best practices, and identifying student needs.
- Conducts research and consulting with key collaborators for program development purposes.
- Develops learning and developmental outcomes and goals for each new program and reviews learning outcomes for existing programs.
- Utilizes universal instructional design principles, online platforms and appropriate technologies to ensure accessible programming standards are maintained.
- Assists with the development and monitoring of program budgets.
- Collaborates with campus partners to develop a comprehensive program of recognition for student leaders.
Keeps abreast of current developments and emerging trends in student affairs through active participation in conferences and workshops, professional organizations and research/literatures.

2. Program Coordination and Facilitation:

- Supports the design and development of equity programs and initiatives that foster and enhance leadership and professional skills development and is responsible for the implementation of these programs across the university.
- Collaborates with campus partners (students, faculty and staff) in the development of programs and sessions.
- Coordinates logístical operations related to departmental programs, workshops and events (i.e. booking workshop facilitators and speakers, space, catering, audio-visual, parking etc.).
- Facilitates and assesses workshops
- Recruits, selects, trains, supervises and develops performance plans and assesses student staff and volunteers.
- Tracks student participation in programs and oversees the management of student data.
- Assists the Manager with the submission and maintenance of records related to unit budgets.
- Keeps abreast of current developments and emerging trends in student affairs through active participation in conferences, workshops and professional organizations.

3. Assessment:

- Formulates programmatic and activity-based learning outcomes and metrics to measure student learning and development and to demonstrate program effectiveness and success by:

- Works with colleagues and campus partners to articulate program outcomes for specific projects and develop plans to assess progress toward those outcomes.
- Engages students, faculty, and student affairs professionals in collaborative assessment, both informal and formal.
- Assists with evaluating and reporting on initiatives to determine whether efforts are meeting student needs and generating the desired outcomes, to identify unmet needs, and to inform evidence-based decisions on future programming.

4. Communication:

- Facilitates the development and implementation of communication that engages students in leadership and mentoring programs.
- Facilitates the flow of information between Student Engagement and Equity and campus stakeholders.
- Works with the Student Life Communication team to develop materials that promote events and programs.
- Oversees responses to queries from the internal and external communities related to student leadership and mentoring.
- Updates and maintai