Academic Liaison, Apprenticeship Focus

Are you passionate about enabling students and apprentices to fulfil their academic and career goals? We are looking for an Academic Liaison, a helping professional that focuses on holistically supporting and empowering students and apprentices as they work towards achieving their goals. Academic Liaisons possess a high level of intercultural competence, are comfortable working with students and apprentices from diverse backgrounds and strive to help students to understand better how plans and actions affect their overall academic, career, and life aspirations.

At NAIT, we employ a Learning Outcomes approach to our advising, information, and apprenticeship coordination services, to engage and empower students/apprentices as they progress through their learning lifecycle. Academic Liaisons are dedicated professionals focusing on student/apprentice support, and progression.

Reporting to the Director of Academic Operations, the ‘Academic Liaison, with Apprenticeship Focus’, is a senior-level position combining Apprenticeship Coordination (e.g., apprentice sponsorship), academic and apprenticeship administration, project management, and team-lead/mentor; the position requires considerable contact with students/apprentices through one-on-one sessions, group settings, and/or workshops. Academic Liaisons are expected to possess or be willing to develop robust, comprehensive knowledge about their assigned portfolio (i.e., Apprenticeship), including academic programs and pathways, internal and external agencies and associations, policies, procedures, student supports, and financial services within the scope of their responsibilities. Academic Liaisons must be able to interpret student needs and provide individualized student/apprentice-centered service independently and thoroughly. The scope of this role will require extensive relationship building to work collaboratively and collegially with program and service area colleagues across NAIT.

NAIT is actively strengthening our apprenticeship-focused support functions; as such, the Academic Liaison must be comfortable with leading change and within the scope of their role, not just bringing forward suggestions for improvements to advising practices and business processes but leading the creation and integration of them. An Academic Liaison must demonstrate a desire to help others, display confidence and composure, and be competent problem-solvers who will use their extensive knowledge to advise students effectively.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Lead the creation and/or continuous improvement of NAIT’s overall apprenticeship sponsorship coordination processes.
- Create and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as prospective employers, to help connect students/apprentices to employment opportunities.
- Monitor NAIT-sponsored-apprentice demand and employment prospects to foster placement opportunities for NAIT-sponsored apprenticeship students.
- Guide eligible participants on AIT and NAIT enrolment practices to support the participant’s enrolment in their program of choice.
- Support resolving complex student/apprentice concerns and/or conduct; coordinate and liaise with NAIT Leadership, School Leadership, Program Leadership, Faculty, and Student Resolution Office.

**Skills & Abilities**:
To be successful in this role, you will require a strong understanding of Alberta’s apprenticeship system and theoretical framework of student-centered developmental advising; the ability to handle student, public, external agency, and staff inquiries with respect, confidence, and tact; process creation and project management experience; significant knowledge of apprenticeship programming, academic programming, student services, academic administration policies, and processes; highly developed communication and interpersonal skills including effective listening and emotional intelligence; excellent problem-solving, conflict resolution, conflict management, and mediation skills; excellent time-management skills and ability to prioritize and organize; ability to work as a team leader and build collaborative working relationships; ability to learn and use related software.

**Qualifications**:

- Related post-secondary undergraduate degree
- 5+ years of related experience in post-secondary education. Equivalencies (combination of education and experience) may be considered.
- Driver’s license.

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services or the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

**Remuneration**:$77,938.12 - $104,496.86 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package. (Classification - Advisor / Specialist lll).
- This position is covered by the AUPE (Alberta Union of Provincial Employees) Collective Agreement._

**Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.**

**About NAIT**

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