Director, Experiential Learning - Island View, NB, Canada - St. Thomas University

Description

The Office of Experiential Learning and Career Development provides St. Thomas University students with opportunities to develop employment skills, expand learning beyond the classroom, and explore areas of focus including experiential education, career development, and employment.

Reporting to the Vice-President (Academic and Research), the Director is responsible for strategic leadership of the Office of Experiential Learning and Career Development, working with faculty and staff in collaborative relationships across the University and in the wider community to develop, expand, promote, and deliver experiential learning opportunities relevant to a range of programs and career options.

The Director interacts with students and employees of the University, and with partners in the non-profit, not-for-profit, charitable, public, and private sectors. The Director develops and enacts strategic initiatives related to the goals and objectives of the University's Strategic Plan and works closely with university colleagues in advancing strategic plans and initiatives.

The Director serves as St. Thomas University's representative in working with appropriate government departments (provincial and federal) on matters regarding experiential learning and career development, which includes but is not limited to the development of new programs and internship opportunities. The Director seeks to integrate these learning opportunities and programs on a wider provincial scale, and explores national and international opportunities for partnership, including with other post-secondary institutions.

The Director works closely with members of faculty, the Deans, and the Vice-President (Academic and Research) in developing curricular content to enhance the Certificate in Experiential Learning and assist in developing course-based internships. The Director has responsibility for both oversight of this student programming and in setting the direction for a comprehensive suite of activities to complement academic achievements.

With the assistance of the Vice-President of Advancement, the Director works on fund development for new programming, and seeks alumni partnership opportunities.

Term: Permanent

Hours of work: Full-Time (35 hours per week)

Classification/Level: D3, Exempt

CLOSING DATE: June 25, 2024

• A master's degree;
• Minimum of 5 years' experience working in a post-secondary institution in a leadership capacity;
• Proven record of leadership and experience managing staff in a post-secondary environment and working in collaboration with campus and community partners;
• Demonstrated experience in program development and expansion including strategic planning and leadership related to change management, marketing, communication, and community engagement;
• Current knowledge and experience with innovative programming and technology related to experiential education, student engagement, e-portfolio capstone projects, career education, employment access, marketing, and social media;
• Excellent leadership, management, and interpersonal skills including highly effective written and verbal communication skills and exemplary capacity to foster collaboration;
• Demonstrated understanding of, and capacity to address, the diverse needs of all students;
• Commitment to equity and inclusivity in community and organizational development;
• Experience planning and managing a budget; and
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications, university CRM systems, and information technology.
• Grant-writing experience, with demonstrable success rate, would be an asset.

Working Conditions:

• Periodic requirement to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Occasional local travel. Must have a valid Canadian driver's license.
• Occasional international travel. Must have a valid passport.
• Occasional need to resolve conflicts between students and community partners.
• Occasional need to work evenings and weekends.
• Working with stakeholders with competing priorities may create stressful working environments.

The closing date for receipt of applications is June 25, 2024. All applications are to be received by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date. Candidates are responsible for clearly demonstrating in their cover letters how they meet the requirements of the position. Please forward your cover letter and resume, by clicking the Apply Now button.

An equal opportunity employer, St. Thomas University is committed to employment equity for women, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minority groups, and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Candidates must have proof they are legally entitled to work in Canada.

St. Thomas University is situated on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Wəlastəkewiyik / Maliseet whose ancestors along with the Mi'Kmaq / Mi'kmaw and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati Tribes / Nations signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with the British Crown in the 1700s.

2024 St. Thomas University. Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Provide leadership to develop, articulate, and enact a comprehensive long-term strategy to promote work-integrated learning, career development, co-curricular/student engagement opportunities, course-based internships, and peer-supported learning for students, while enhancing community engagement.

Administrative and Reporting:

• Support the University's strategic goals articulated in the Strategic Plan, and the Department's operating mandate.
• Oversee the Office's data collection, including the experiential learning management platform to catalogue and track student experiences, and maintain communication to ensure the platform is adapting its features as needs evolve.
• Continually monitor programs and processes to identify opportunities for improvement, ensure adherence with university policies, procedures, and relevant regulations, and ensure effective reporting to internal and external bodies.
• Provide financial oversight of all resources, with responsibility for strategic and appropriate use of the overall budget in accordance with university policies and procedures.
• Identify, evaluate, and secure potential funding opportunities, including through researching and developing grant proposals for federal, provincial, and private funding programs.
• Ensure a departmental culture characterized by enthusiasm, teamwork, positive communication, respect, transparent fairness, trust, collective confidence, acknowledgement, recognition, and empowerment.

Student Career Development:

• Manage a multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative outcomes-based and research-informed services and programs that anticipate and address student success and transition to careers using a variety of tools and approaches.
• Provide leadership and guidance on employer relations, student employment, career options and events, job-search strategies, best practices advising, and on-campus hiring.
• Develop and maintain coordinated, integrated, and high-impact programs and services by ensuring constant evaluation and redevelopment of practices to optimize the student and community experience.
• Support students in all aspects of career development from first year to graduation.
• Set guiding goals and values for the Office to contribute to student experiential learning, career development, and student retention.

Community Engagement:

• Develop and leverage relationships with students, academic and academic support areas/personnel on campus, provincial governing bodies, alumni, First Nations and Indigenous peoples, local non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and employers.
• Work with wage subsidy and internship program providers to increase the number of opportunities available to students.
• Engage members of Administration, Faculty, and appropriate committees to help design, grow, and facilitate opportunities for student career development, work-integrated learning, and international service-learning experiences.

Entrepreneurship Education:

• Establish external partnerships to provide opportunities for social entrepreneurship development.
• Organize events that contribute to the social entrepreneurship ecosystem at the University.

International Education:

• Act as a bridge between the University and international partners, spanning internships, entrepreneurship, group trips, and international initiatives.
• Familiarize staff with policies and procedures for outbound mobility.
• Provide administrative leadership and management for curricular experiential learning initiatives, including support for experiential travel-study courses.
• Make evidence-informed decisions through ongoing assessment of local, regional, national, and global environments as they relate to enhancing student opportunities for work-integrated learning and ensures a long-term sustainable plan for programs.