Career Development and Engagement Specialist, School of Public Policy

Description

The School of Public Policy is currently seeking a Full-time Temporary Relief Career Development and Engagement Specialist for approximately 1 year.

The School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of Calgary is dedicated to advancing public policy education and research, shaping future leaders, and addressing the complex challenges facing society today. It is home to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV) programs, and is committed to providing high-quality experience and ongoing support as graduate students progress from study to alumni.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Graduate Programs, the Career Development and Engagement Specialist provides graduate students and alumni with expert support through professional skills development programs, one-on-one coaching, internships, mentorship, and employment opportunities to assist in meeting career goals. The position collaborates with a wide variety of stakeholders, including faculty, administrative departments, various business units and centers across campus, and external industry partners, maintaining, developing, and implementing specialized initiatives that strengthen the School's engagement position.

This position is a one-year limited-term maternity leave replacement position with regular full-time hours of 35 per week (Monday through Friday) working on campus. Due to the nature of the role, the individual must be flexible and may occasionally be required to work outside of regular hours to accommodate career-related events, meetings, alumni engagement activities, and recruitment initiatives. Travel between the University's Downtown Campus, Main Campus, and external stakeholder locations may be required.

The primary purpose of this position is to support MPP and SEDV graduate students as they progress through their respective programs and transition to become University of Calgary alumni. The Specialist's core areas of focus will include creating and delivering high caliber career and professional development programs to maximize student employment; building and maintaining strong relationships with SPP's university counterparts, external partners, and industry colleagues to sustain graduate employment opportunities; and working with SPP's internal units to establish and carry out student and alumni engagement initiatives. The Alberta Policy Internship Program (APIP) will be managed by this position, requiring particular focus, as will engage with MPP and SEDV student and alumni associations, as well as major initiatives of Forum and Academy.

Success in this role requires strong relationship management, strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build partnerships across industry, government, and alumni networks. The individual must have demonstrated experience in career development, employer relations, and program coordination, with a solid understanding of labour market trends, recruitment practices, and workforce development, and be adept at designing and delivering professional development programming, analyzing employment and engagement data, and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment. Proficiency in career services platforms, database management, University of Calgary systems, and event coordination tools is an asset.

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

• Support the design, implementation, and management of career development programs, including career advising, coaching, workshops, mock interviews, employer panels, and related special events, along with coordinating SPP's Academy and Forum initiatives.
• Help students set and refine career goals, identifying transferable skills and guiding them on positioning interdisciplinary degrees in the job market.
• Provide one-on-one and group career coaching to graduate students and recent alumni on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, interview techniques, salary negotiations, networking, personal branding, and value proposition.
• Plan and coordinate networking and professional development events, including career luncheons, employer meet-and-greet sessions, mentorship events, and informational interviews.
• Deliver career-related presentations to students, employers, faculty, and staff on job market trends, hiring strategies, and career development best practices.
• Develop and maintain digital resources such as resume and cover letter templates, social media branding guides, professional communication resources, and student-alumni engagement tools.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local, national, and potentially international organizations, including executives, HR managers, and alumni, to create job, internship, and mentorship opportunities.
• Act as a liaison between students and employers, facilitating career placements, internship initiatives, mentorship programs, and recruitment connections.
• Proactively source employment and mentorship opportunities, identifying organizations that could benefit from hiring or mentoring MPP and SEDV students.
• Manage coordination of the MPP Alberta Policy Internship Program (APIP), collaborating with the Government of Alberta on promotion, selection, interview preparation, and student progress tracking.
• Manage coordination of the SEDV Mentorship Program, including mentor recruitment, student pairings, progress monitoring, and engagement events.
• Serve as a representative of SPP Graduate Programs at Alumni Council and other meetings, as required, to gather information and share Program updates.
• Work collaboratively with the Graduate Programs Team, Central Alumni Relations, SPP Development, and other units to establish and carry out our alumni engagement strategic plan, which centers around building and maintaining strong alumni relationships to encourage continued connection through communications, events, active participation in ongoing program activities, and general outreach.
• Maintain and manage SPP's Careers LinkedIn account, posting career opportunities, job search tips, and industry insights.
• Support Graduate Programs recruitment efforts by providing career outcomes data and employment trends to prospective students, developing content for admissions inquiries and SPP publication and promotional materials.
• Track and analyze graduate employment data, using insights to improve career services and inform students and stakeholders about job market trends.
• Monitor industry hiring trends and employment shifts, ensuring career programming evolves with workforce demands.
• Develop and maintain graduate employment information and statistics, and track alumni engagement rates for internal and Central reporting purposes.
• Processing of finance and expenses, as related to program expenditures.
• May prepare and review financial statements, reports, and presentations as required.
• Support other operational matters related to the functions of the Graduate Programs Division and SPP, participating in special projects as required to advance Program goals. This may include Programs support during peak periods, adapting to evolving needs to maintain seamless operations.
• Performing other duties as required by program operations and assigned by the SPP Director, SPP Associate Director, or Senior Manager of Graduate Programs.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, communications or a related field is required; a Master's degree in career development, higher education, or a related area is preferred.
• 5 to 10 years of experience in career development, employer relations, workforce planning, talent management, or student advising within a post-secondary, corporate talent development, or consulting environment.
• Experience in career services programming, including designing and delivering professional development workshops, mentorship initiatives, and networking events.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and presentation skills, with experience in coaching, public speaking, and advising diverse audiences.
• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to mentor, resolve conflicts, and engage effectively with students, faculty, senior leadership, and external partners.
• Proven ability to build and maintain employer, alumni, and industry partnerships, with business development experience in workforce engagement, recruitment initiatives, or stakeholder relations.
• Strong understanding of employment and labour market trends, particularly in areas of specialization of the School of Public Policy and related industries in Calgary, Alberta, and at a national level.
• Project management expertise, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, prioritize competing deadlines, and operate in a fast-paced, stakeholder-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze employment data, identify trends, and use insights to enhance career programming and employer engagement efforts.
• Adaptability and discretion, with the ability to navigate confidential and sensitive matters professionally and work effectively in a multicultural and diverse environment.
• Proficiency in career services technology and data management tools, such as Symplicity, Handshake, PeopleSoft, or equivalent CRM and database systems.
• A career coaching certification or equivalent training in career advising, coaching methodologies, or professional development is an asset.

Application Deadline:  May 7, 2025.

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 Institutional Commitments ([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.