Specialist, New Student Programs

at  The University of Calgary

Description
The Centre for Career & Personal Development in Student Experience and Support is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Specialist.
Reporting to the Manager, CCPD Operations, the Specialist is responsible for researching, planning and successfully delivering a comprehensive portfolio of new student programming, services and activities that positively impact student retention and engagement. This role also develops new programming in line with the priorities in Ahead of Tomorrow, the SES Strategic Plan, and Centre for Career and Personal Development (CCPD) OKRs to further support the successful transition and development of new to UCalgary students throughout their first year on-campus. An expert in the provision of transition support, the Specialist is a strategic partner and go-to-resource across SES and to Faculty, campus partners and the greater community. In addition, the Specialist is responsible for providing transition support resources for parents and supporters of new students.

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

• Develops and implements all key programming for the University’s undergraduate orientation programs, including Fall Orientation (5000+ participants), pre-orientation (the online First Year Resource Guide), the Summer Series, UCalgaryStrong Carnival, Campus Expo and the Ask Me Program in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates and consults with campus units and knowledge experts to develop programming that is accessible and inclusive.
• Coordinates the Parent and Family Hub at You at UCalgary, along with any other applicable parent and family programming and/or provides resources and supports to students through an electronic Parent and Family Resource Guide.
• Develops and facilitates a suite of engaging and impactful first-year student programming supporting transition, and meaningful engagement and involvement with the University community.
• Collaborates with staff in the CCPD to develop innovative programs for new students that provide them with practical tools to shape their university experience in personally meaningful ways. These programs are grounded in the principles of design thinking and promote the mindsets of curiosity, reframing and collaboration.
• Promotes and champions involvement opportunities to student leaders and new students offered via Elevate and ensures registration and tracking of volunteers in Better Impact, a volunteer management system.
• Manage program budgets and ensure all events remain in scope, on brand, on budget and meet critical timelines.
• Develop and execute promotion and communication initiatives in collaboration with SES Marketing and Communications to engage first-year student participation using a variety of traditional and innovative methods to encourage participation.
• Serves as chairperson of a series of Orientation and First Year Experience planning, advisory and information sharing committees comprised of key stakeholders across campus.
• Collaborates and builds strong partnerships with campus stakeholders to provide resources and supports based on students life cycle.
• Liaises directly and maintains strong relationships with faculties and departments, and external partners e.g. (University District, vendors) and ensures timely coordination and communication of program schedules and plans.
• Builds, fosters, and facilitates relationships with revenue generating Orientation sponsors whose donations create additional benefit to the new student experience.
• Provides consultation and support to related institutional orientation programming for Graduate, International, Residence, Indigenous and Neurodiverse students.
• Acts as a resource and expert in student affairs and peer leadership and consults and engages in professional development; stays informed on current student issues, and best practices and resources for new students and transition support.
• Establishes program Key Results aligning to CCPD Objectives, and creates and maintains records for accurate data reporting; Coordinates assessment evaluation of orientation programming, including the development and delivery of an annual comprehensive orientation survey and drafts annual report.
• Engages in annual review and assessment of all orientation programming and provides evidence-based recommendations to the Manager, Operations and to the Director, CCPD on changes and adjustments that are necessary to ensure the success of the program.
• Works collaboratively with offices across campus to deliver new student program assessment tools, interprets data, and develops programs and interventions based on data.
• Keeps up to date on relevant current and upcoming trends and developments with colleagues at other Canadian universities, professional organizations, and government department and agencies.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and manages a team of full time student staff members throughout the annual student life cycle.
• Recruits, selects, trains, and has accountability for approximately 400 Orientation Leaders; also works collaboratively with the CCPD staff and campus partners as appropriate on the planning and execution of training for Senior Orientation Leaders, Orientation Leaders, and Welcome Ambassadors.
• Provides support to the facilitation of the annual You at UCalgary event, through the hiring, training, and organizing of event volunteers to help with day-of-logistics.
• Provides mentorship to students through Student and Enrolment Services (SES) mentorship and professional skill building programs.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in student affairs or a related field is an asset, as well as a minimum of five to seven years experience working in student services within a post-secondary setting.
• A combination of education and work experience will also be considered.
• Experience in planning and executing strategic institutional large-scale events (4,500+) is required.
• Experience with large scale volunteer recruitment, training and management required; Experience with supervision of para-professional (student) staff required.
• Strong working knowledge of student development theory and, in particular, expertise in theory to practice work with students in transition required.
• Completion of training through Stanford Life Design Lab programming is an asset; Experience with TruMotivate also considered an asset.
• Experience with online technology platforms for event registration and delivery is an asset.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple demands and meet deadlines.
• Experience with the development and implementation of student training programs.
• Demonstrates high level of professionalism and personal leadership; ability to represent the office and university with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and comfort working in a busy, collaborative office environment; Excellent interpersonal skills with a commitment to a collegial and inclusive work style.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in critical analysis and independent decision making, and to effectively consult when required including researching of best practices in new student programs.
• Experience communicating (in-person, writing, web-based and via social media) with students, faculty and staff, as well as external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with development of evaluation and assessment tools related to data collection and analysis of programs in portfolio of responsibility.
  Application Deadline: February 3, 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.

• Develops and implements all key programming for the University’s undergraduate orientation programs, including Fall Orientation (5000+ participants), pre-orientation (the online First Year Resource Guide), the Summer Series, UCalgaryStrong Carnival, Campus Expo and the Ask Me Program in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates and consults with campus units and knowledge experts to develop programming that is accessible and inclusive.
• Coordinates the Parent and Family Hub at You at UCalgary, along with any other applicable parent and family programming and/or provides resources and supports to students through an electronic Parent and Family Resource Guide.
• Develops and facilitates a suite of engaging and impactful first-year student programming supporting transition, and meaningful engagement and involvement with the University community.
• Collaborates with staff in the CCPD to develop innovative programs for new students that provide them with practical tools to shape their university experience in personally meaningful ways. These programs are grounded in the principles of design thinking and promote the mindsets of curiosity, reframing and collaboration.
• Promotes and champions involvement opportunities to student leaders and new students offered via Elevate and ensures registration and tracking of volunteers in Better Impact, a volunteer management system.
• Manage program budgets and ensure all events remain in scope, on brand, on budget and meet critical timelines.
• Develop and execute promotion and communication initiatives in collaboration with SES Marketing and Communications to engage first-year student participation using a variety of traditional and innovative methods to encourage participation.
• Serves as chairperson of a series of Orientation and First Year Experience planning, advisory and information sharing committees comprised of key stakeholders across campus.
• Collaborates and builds strong partnerships with campus stakeholders to provide resources and supports based on students life cycle.
• Liaises directly and maintains strong relationships with faculties and departments, and external partners e.g. (University District, vendors) and ensures timely coordination and communication of program schedules and plans.
• Builds, fosters, and facilitates relationships with revenue generating Orientation sponsors whose donations create additional benefit to the new student experience.
• Provides consultation and support to related institutional orientation programming for Graduate, International, Residence, Indigenous and Neurodiverse students.
• Acts as a resource and expert in student affairs and peer leadership and consults and engages in professional development; stays informed on current student issues, and best practices and resources for new students and transition support.
• Establishes program Key Results aligning to CCPD Objectives, and creates and maintains records for accurate data reporting; Coordinates assessment evaluation of orientation programming, including the development and delivery of an annual comprehensive orientation survey and drafts annual report.
• Engages in annual review and assessment of all orientation programming and provides evidence-based recommendations to the Manager, Operations and to the Director, CCPD on changes and adjustments that are necessary to ensure the success of the program.
• Works collaboratively with offices across campus to deliver new student program assessment tools, interprets data, and develops programs and interventions based on data.
• Keeps up to date on relevant current and upcoming trends and developments with colleagues at other Canadian universities, professional organizations, and government department and agencies.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and manages a team of full time student staff members throughout the annual student life cycle.
• Recruits, selects, trains, and has accountability for approximately 400 Orientation Leaders; also works collaboratively with the CCPD staff and campus partners as appropriate on the planning and execution of training for Senior Orientation Leaders, Orientation Leaders, and Welcome Ambassadors.
• Provides support to the facilitation of the annual You at UCalgary event, through the hiring, training, and organizing of event volunteers to help with day-of-logistics.
• Provides mentorship to students through Student and Enrolment Services (SES) mentorship and professional skill building programs