Status: Special Project (June 2023 – June 2026)

Hours: Monday to Friday; 35 hours/week

Home Campus: Fennell

Pay Band: 11

Rate of Pay: $88,308 - $110,384

Posting Date: May 16th, 2023

Closing Date: May 26th, 2023 at 7:00pm EST

We support and encourage the contributions of our diverse employees. Supported by our strategic plan we are committed to nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk. We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.

Mohawk College is currently recruiting for our next

Manager, Experiential Learning

The Manager, Experiential Learning is responsible for leading the coordination and expansion of a broad range of experiential learning opportunities across Mohawk College, with a focus on work-integrated learning. This role is responsible for managing the development and operation of work-integrated learning placements, developing and enhancing employer partnerships related to experiential learning, and streamlining internal practices across academic schools to improve consistency of practice and achieve efficiencies.

The incumbent is responsible for improving student access to impactful experiential and work-integrated learning activities and enhancing student engagement in hands-on experiences, that connect theory to practice. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the quality and relevance of experiential and work-integrated learning activities, academic integration, risk mitigation, and student preparedness.

This position requires collaboration with multiple internal and external stakeholders, sound judgement, exceptional attention to detail, adaptability, problem solving, and an ability to work in a complex environment under challenging time constraints and conditions.

Leading a team of placement support staff, this pivotal role will help to position Mohawk College as an exemplar for experiential and work-integrated learning within the postsecondary sector for both students and employer partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties of this position will include, but are not limited to the following:

Staff Leadership and Operations Management

• Direct supervision of unionized support staff related to experiential and work-integrated learning.
• Leads, supervises, trains, and supports direct reports within a union collective agreement.
• Responsible for employee recruitment, hiring, retention, performance management, professional development, ongoing feedback, and supervision of unionized staff, as well as non-unionized contract personnel.
• Demonstrates a high degree of skill in managing people, building teams and ensuring a departmental culture characterized by teamwork, enthusiasm, positive communication and collaboration, respect, fairness, transparency, trust, collective confidence, recognition, and empowerment.
• Provides direction while inspiring and supporting others to achieve the vision and objectives of the area and the College as a whole.
• Uses a consultative and collaborative approach to advance service delivery for the division and college. Sets and communicates clear goals, and achieves results by encouraging, supporting, and recognizing the contributions of others across the college.
• Supports prudent budget and resource use, as delegated by the Director of Co-operative Education and Experiential Learning.
• Conducts performance tracking and reporting for experiential learning and work-integrated learning activities.
• Partner with Institutional Research to support college-wide and Ministry (SMA3) reporting related to experiential learning.
• Collaborates with Marketing and PR to ensure webpages, marketing materials, and press releases showcase experiential learning activities at Mohawk.

Academic Engagement & Internal Process Improvement

• Collaborates with Deans, Associate Deans, and program coordinators on issues related to work-integrated learning including student participation rates, placement eligibility criteria, program design, and supports for students.
• Participates in program reviews, Program Advisory Committees (PACs), and new program development meetings to ensure experiential and work-integrated learning is represented.
• Identify institution-wide implications for experiential learning and recommend appropriate changes to policy, processes, and practices that positively impact student experience and student success.
• Ensure the appropriate use of technology to support work-integrated learning activities (ie. Learning Management Systems, Web forms, Experiential Learning Management System).
• In collaboration with IT and external software vendors, reviews and recommends changes and process improvements related to the college’s Experiential Learning Management System.
• Establishes a repository of resources, tools, and training documents to support experiential and work-integrated learning activities for both internal and external stakeholders in order to create efficiencies and improve satisfaction.
• Identifies quality standards for experiential and work-integrated learning and develops processes to increase adoption of quality practices.
• Recommend process improvements that will address stakeholder feedback and improve the experience for students, placement employers, and employees.

Partnership Development

• Act as a key conduit and central contact point with respect to experiential learning and identify, initiate, evolve and sustain partnerships with government, employers, community, education, non-governmental organizations, and sector councils to advance experiential and work integrated learning activities.
• Develop and sustain a supportive employment model for experiential learning and work-integrated learning activities, in conjunction with industry, community, government, and other partners to enhance students’ essential employability and workplace ready skills, including those who are traditionally underrepresented.
• Manages support staff team who source and secure high-quality work-integrated learning opportunities that benefit both the employer partner and student.
• Evaluate performance indicators, costs, and risks associated with existing and potential partnership opportunities.
• Refers industry partners to additional resources at the college, as appropriate (ie- Co-operative Education, Applied Research, Foundation, Corporate Training).
• Engages and assesses the utilization and impacts of external experiential and work-integrated learning platforms to provide additional opportunities for students (ie- Riipen).
• Contribute to the success of Mohawk’s collaborative CityLAB partnership with the City of Hamilton, Redeemer College, and McMaster University.
• Engenders strong linkages by contributing to relevant internal and external committees and associations.
• Maintain expertise and knowledge of experiential learning trends in postsecondary education through attendance at webinars and conferences, leading presentations at events, and participation in other professional development opportunities.

Other Duties

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful applicant must have:

• A 4-year degree in education, public administration, business, or related field; Master’s degree in education, public administration, MBA, or related field – preferred.
• Designation of Career Development Practitioner (CDP) – preferred.
• Experience related to managing WIL/EL portfolio either in a postsecondary environment or industry context would be considered is preferred.
• Active member in Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) or Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada – preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience. Experience in leadership and management of human resources, budgeting, and project management, preferably in an academic environment is critical, as is the ability to organize complex statistical information.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing work-integrated/experiential learning initiatives in a postsecondary environment.
• Teaching and curriculum design experience at the postsecondary level is desired.
• Knowledge of external community and critical sectors within the regional economy.
• Valid driver’s license.
• High degree of conceptualization, analytical ability, initiative, independent action, and presentation skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including report and proposal writing skills at an advanced level.
• Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills combined with a good understanding of Collective Agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to influence others, create alignment, generate commitment to goals, and inspire others to action.
• Excellent organizational, monitoring, and assessment skills.
• Proficient use of computer applications including MS Office, Orbis Outcome, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-aware, think creatively, and cultivate a collaborative and productive team culture.
• Experience leading complex and multi-stakeholder projects.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively inter-culturally with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.

Mohawk College prioritizes recruiting and retaining diverse employees. With this in mind, the College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.

Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (905) 575 - 2047.

Mohawk College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, S2LGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

For more information concerning the Mohawk College strategic plan, please see: strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/