Director, Experiential Learning & Student Support

Classification & Regular Hours

Hours per Week: 35

Salary Grade: 17

About Western

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff and students to commit to the highest global standards. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities.

About Us

The Faculty of Engineering at Western University is a vibrant teaching and research faculty that consists of six academic units: Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical & Materials Engineering, The School of Biomedical Engineering, and the John M. Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation. It is also home to several outstanding centres and research institutes including the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory (BLWTL), The Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment Research Institute (WiindEEE), the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), University Machine Services (UMS), and the Fraunhofer Project Centre (FPC). Approximately 2400 undergraduate students are enrolled in one of our nine undergraduate programs and close to 850 graduate students are completing degrees at the master’s or doctoral levels.

Responsibilities

The Director of Engineering Experiential Learning and Student Support provides strategic leadership to their team, and directs and oversees the development, implementation and monitoring of activities aimed at enhancing and integrating academic and experiential learning opportunities within the Faculty, and increasing the involvement and engagement, of students in the Faculty of Engineering. The role leads the development and implementation of a strategic plan for an integrated approach to Experiential Learning and Student Support that aligns with the Faculty of Engineering’s overall strategic plan, and ensures that programs, policies, and procedures are in place to ensure the unit is positioned to realize its strategy. The Director oversees all aspects of the operation in the areas of student academic and wellness services, awards and scholarships, career services, community and industry relations, student orientation, events, clubs, groups and teams, and directs and oversees the allocation of financial, human and physical resources, and ensures appropriate controls are in place to manage risks. The role identifies and acts on opportunities for improvement, and ensures that a rich array of programs and services are provided to assist current undergraduate and graduate students with their academic and experiential learning throughout their academic careers. The Director also provides comprehensive and strategic expertise regarding their portfolio, and provides coaching and training to staff to ensure that highly efficient, client-focused and responsive services are delivered to the Engineering and external community.

Qualifications

Education:

- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline

- Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline preferred

Experience:

- 7 years’ of progressive experience in an academic environment leading a team of staff, developing and overseeing student programming aimed at enhancing the student academic and experiential experience (e.g. counselling services, career services, community relations, industry relations, student clubs and teams)

- 3 years’ experience in strategic planning, implementation and operationalization

- Leadership experience in an Engineering or Science academic environment preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Comprehensive understanding of the opportunities, challenges and best practices related to student experiential learning in an academic environment

- Ability to ensure expenditures and resources are within allotments, and to make appropriate modifications when required

- Openness to recognize when change is necessary, and to develop, implement and lead effective change management strategies

- Ability to establish effective routines for excellent communication with all members of the team to maximize productivity

- Communication skills with the ability to converse with, write reports for, and deliver presentations to all levels of the organization

- Competency to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with discretion

- Innovative and flexible critical thinking skills to adjust to and implement new processes or technology to the University’s advantage

- Ability to make decisions and recommendations that are clearly linked to the organization's strategy and goals

- Ambitious with the ability to identify opportunities, develop action plans and set challenging goals in order to achieve desired outcomes

- Ability to quickly re-allocate resources and adjust priorities in response to unexpected events or changing circumstances

- Ability to provide guidance to assist others in solving complex problems

- Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite

- Influential interpersonal skills that build positive and strong relationships at all levels of the organization

- Leadership skills with the ability to inspire employees and develop a shared vision to lead a team to excellence

- Ability to lead and develop rigorous recruitment processes, ensure on-going training and development, and performance management

- Ability to search within and outside the formal boundaries of the organization for innovative ways to improve work

- Project management skills to align projects with strategic goals and operational objectives

- Ability to anticipate new trends and identify opportunities to promote the long term goals of the University

Western Values Diversity

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or phone 519-661-2194.

Please Note:

Interested applicants are asked to visit https://recruit.uwo.ca for further information and to apply online referencing job #32291 by midnight on August 31st, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.