Writing & ESL Specialist - Oshawa, ON, Canada - Ontario Tech University

Description

Writing & ESL Specialist

Tracking Code: req1097

Faculty/Department: Office of Student Life

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: Level 9 - Starting Salary, Step 1 $70,765

Posting Date: April 23, 2024

Closing Date: April 30, 2024

Job Summary:

The Writing & ESL Specialist promotes the academic and professional development of undergraduate and graduate students, across all academic faculties/disciplines at Ontario Tech University. This position is accountable for the development , coordination, promotion and ongoing assessment ofprograms and instruction designed to enhance writing skills for students , including those with English a a Second Language (ESL), and promote student retention and success.

Responsibilities/accountabilities:

1. Responsibility: Academic Development & Support

Demonstrates adult teaching and learning principles in working with undergraduate and graduate students from all language backgrounds and levels, programs and faculties, by:

Providing individual, small group and drop-in sessions to teach academic writing and language skills development ;

• Identifying and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of students' academic writing skills;
• Designing and implementing strategies to assist students from diverse backgrounds generation, at risk, special needs, non-traditional , and with a special focus on students who speak English as an Additional Language
• Developing individualized plans to support students' ongoing academic reading comprehension and writing development ;
• Trains and provides peer learning staff with on-going mentoring and supervision
• Collaborates with faculty and staff to ensure that writing support is relevant, timely , and sufficient for students.

2. Responsibility: Academic Program Development & Coordination

Takes a lead role in the development and delivery of academic programming to promote effective academic writing that is grounded in theory and research, and designed to address the learning needs of students by:

• Proactively identifies and analyzes student learning needs, explores creative solutions , and implements programming (e.g. workshops , events) in line with appropriate pedagogical and professional best practices
• Designs and implements learning communities that utilize metacognitive techniques , collaborative learning and direct instruction to support students from all faculties .
• Utilizing universal instructional design principles, online platforms and appropriate technologies to ensure accessible programming standards are maintained;
• Establishing and promoting peer support groups for both language and cultural integration, as well as to provide student leadership training and development opportunities
• Participating in the development and delivery of peer learning training
• Building and maintaining relationships with key constituents as well as strategic partners in the Office of Graduate Studies, Student Life cross area teams, all academic faculties, and student societies

3. Responsibility: Academic Resource Development

Demonstrates leadership in the development of a comprehensive repository of university-level writing resources , both in print and online, to ensure student access to timely , appropriate and effective writing support. This includes:

• Using data, where available, to determine areas where resources need to be developed
• Developing self-study materials to promote the development of effective academic and writing skills for , including multi-media presentations , online learning activities , tutorials and videos ;
• Developing printed resources to support effective writing ;
• Continuously keeping updated with latest research in methodology, UDL principles and tools for effective language and writing learning, and implementing where applicable
• Researching effective methods and strategies for tutoring and produce material for the Peer Tutor training manual

4. Responsibility: Program Assessment

Formulates program outcomes and metrics to measure learning and development among students and to demonstrate program effectiveness and success by:

• Works with colleagues and campus partners to articulate program outcomes for specific projects.
• Engages individual students , student groups , faculty , Student Life colleagues and other campus partners, both formally and informally, in collaborative assessment.
• Maintains records and data to be used in service evaluation.
• Evaluating and reporting on initiatives to determine whether efforts are meeting the students' needs and generating the desired outcomes to make evidence-based decisions on future programming

Required Skills:

• Experience working with culturally diverse post-secondary students
• Experience in teaching speakers of English as a first or additional language
• Experience with curriculum development and project management
• Uses a variety of communicative styles based on the language level, learning ability learning preference, cultural background and/or other accessibility issues of the individual student
• Excellent facilitation, listening, writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills

Required Education:

• A master's degree in English, Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics or equivalent
• TESL Ontario approved ESL certificate or Ontario Teaching Certificate (with additional ESL qualifications - Part I and II) or equivalent an asset
• Verification of Academic credentials may be required

Required Experience:

• 1-3 years' related experience

Knowledge

• Demonstrated understanding of academic writing requirements at post-secondary level
• Demonstrated solid knowledge of standard English writing conventions
• Demonstrated ability to understand the cultural context of writing

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2024 or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position falls within the bargaining unit represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the university and the OPSEU. To the extent that policies are not included in the collective agreement, employment will also be governed by the university's policies which may also be found on our website and which may be amended from time-to-time.

Ontario Tech University is actively committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenization and decolonization (EDIID), and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, while especially encouraging applications from First Nations, Metis, Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and those eligible to work in Canada, will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact , Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university's

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date: 5/6/2024#J-18808-Ljbffr