Advisor, Graduate Student Journey, Faculty of Graduate Studies

Description

The Faculty of Graduate Studies is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Advisor, Graduate Student Journey for approximately 14 months.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Graduate Student Journey, the Advisor, Graduate Student Journey works closely with the FGS team and other UCalgary partners and collaborators. The Advisor will lead the development and implementation of a central digital support hub for graduate students. This will include stakeholder engagement, consultation and needs assessment, research, tool selection and development, content development, delivery and assessment. The Advisor, Graduate Student Journey, will lead the design, development, delivery and assessment of a digital graduate student support hub that provides graduate students with access to everything they need through all stages of their academic and professional journey, including information, tools, resources and opportunities. The Advisor will research local and national best practice and current supports and use evidence-informed research to develop and carry out an approved strategic plan for the grad hub.

This role involves understanding and analyzing the needs of all graduate students across all programs, and proposing and designing specific strategies and solutions that may include use of websites, learning management systems, SharePoint, or other tools. The incumbent will coordinate input and best practices from a diverse cross-section of graduate students, as well as the Faculty of Graduate Studies team, and partners such as Career Services, Student Success Centre, Enrolment Services, and the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. They will also coordinate input and feedback from the Graduate Education Community including graduate program staff and leaders. The successful applicant will lead piloting and assessment of approved initiatives that work within the framework of University of Calgary policies and procedures, as well as with established software and web content management systems. The result will be the development and implementation of a hub that supports an optimal student experience over the course of the UCalgary graduate student journey.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Strategic:

• Use research and analytical skills to understand and analyze the needs of all graduate students, reviewing current supports and identifying any gaps.
• Liaise with other units on campus, the Graduate Education Community, graduate students, and universities across Canada to research challenges and best practices in graduate student support and technologies.
• Work closely with group members on deep dives into information and resource requirements and related business processes to uncover and analyze pain points, identify root causes, propose and evaluate potential options, and develop future state communication, process and technology solutions.
• Challenge team members to think creatively and consider new ideas.
• Develop and propose a plan with scheduled deliverables for a digital resource hub that supports all UCalgary graduate students, considering a variety of work and learning styles, and taking advantage of multiple tools and technologies strategies for online, blended, and face-to-face support.

Project Facilitation:

• Play a lead role in facilitating the development of a digital grad resource hub that supports the UCalgary graduate student journey.
• Develop relationships and build engagement, support and buy-in for the project both within FGS and with key stakeholder groups across the institution.
• Recommend appropriate solutions and the most effective routes to implementation and optimization of the hub.
• Review implemented solutions, ensuring they respond to the needs of graduate students.
• Lead the development and implementation of relevant change management tactics to support effective communication of changes to graduate students and the Graduate Education Community. 
• Provide direction and day to day oversight to graduate student assistants.
• Regularly review and provide updates, keeping Manager and senior leaders up to date, making recommendations for changes to the approved plan. 

Content and Hub Development and Implementation:

• Develop a comprehensive map of the digital hub that identifies all required content elements, including information, resources, tools, and links.
• In consultation with Manager and key caollaborators, develop an accountability matrix, that assigns ownership for each content element, and assigns content development tasks and deadlines for all contributors.
• Drive and contribute to the development of key content for the hub, including writing, video.
• Coordinate the set-up and testing of the tools required to deliver the hub.
• Coordinate the launch of the hub, including development of communications and change management plans and resources. 
• Ensure that protocols and training are developed for staff that are ongoing owners of hub content, so that the hub is appropriately maintained and updated.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• PhD degree in a related discipline (e.g. Education, Instructional Design).
• Five or more years in project facilitation with multiple stakeholders and short timelines.
• Five or more years of instructional/curricular design and/or student advising experience in higher education. Experience working with graduate students is required.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum or program development that includes attention to pedagogical theories, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA), universal design for learning (UDL), evidence-informed learning and instructional design practices in a university context.
• Experience designing, developing, and evaluating new, innovative educational and open-access resources and instructional materials to support online, blended, and face-to-face learning in interdisciplinary university contexts.
• Expertise in learning management systems (preferably D2L Brightspace), web technologies, and a variety of learning technologies.
• Experience with Peoplesoft is an asset.
• Advanced-level user of MS Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams).
• Demonstrated expertise with Adobe Creative Suite for photo editing, graphic design, and video editing is an asset.
• Knowledge of University culture, context, and strategic plans.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the student lifecycle and the policies, processes, and procedures of the various units within the university.
• Experience in managing a project through to successful completion.
• Must be a positive, collaborative, and supportive facilitator, able to organize and build consensus and alignment with others.
• Demonstrated analytical abilities and experience bringing an operational perspective to solving problems with the ability to think creatively, identify areas for improvement, and to implement potential solutions.
• The ability to anticipate the short and long-term impact of decisions and take a broad approach to problem solving.
• Training in Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, or other relevant domains is an asset.

Application Deadline:  May 28, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.