Education And Outreach Coordinator

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits .

Location

North Campus Edmonton. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Position

Through URI, Students Can

The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) supports undergraduate students’ engagement in research and creative activities at the University of Alberta. Undergraduate research is a high-impact experiential learning opportunity that can support students’ career development in a variety of ways, regardless of their discipline or future career goals. Undergraduate research can take many forms, and yields benefits similar to work experience, practicums, internships, and other hands-on learning experiences.

• Develop technical and transferable skills that can be applied in a wide range of careers.
• Share the outcomes of their research with academic and non-academic audiences
• Meet researchers and peers in their areas of interest, find mentors, and develop their professional networks
• Learn about research across disciplines, the benefits of research and innovation to society, and how to get involved in research as a student
• Apply their classroom learning to real-world, hands-on projects, explore possible career options, and clarify their career goals

Reporting to the URI Team Lead, the URI Education and Outreach Coordinator ensures existing programs are delivered with a high quality of service and develops and implements new programming. They develop and maintain collaborative relationships with a variety of partners to build awareness of undergraduate research and enhance delivery of undergraduate research-related programming across campus.

The URI Education and Outreach Coordinator engages in ongoing research and professional development to maintain knowledge of emerging/best practices in undergraduate research, experiential learning, and career development approaches. The incumbent provides expertise, advising, and brokering to students, staff and faculty, as well as alumni and community volunteers who wish to provide support to students. The incumbent also solicits feedback from partners and clients to ensure responsive and relevant student-centred programming.

Duties

Program Coordination & Delivery

• Coordinates and provides functional direction to student staff and volunteers assisting with programs and services
• Makes recommendations on the targets, structure, workflow, policies, and procedures of programs and services to the Team Lead, URI
• Develops and maintains detailed program plans and workflows for URI programs/events
• Plans and implements several types of events per year (e.g. seminars, workshops, multi-day conferences, research celebrations, oral presentations, poster presentations, guest speakers, training, etc.) including scheduling, guest invitations, room booking, catering, parking, staffing, and other logistics ensuring all participants’ needs are met and resources are used effectively
• Works collaboratively with Internal Communications staff to design, update, distribute, and evaluate the effectiveness of promotional materials and campaigns (including e-newsletter, social media platforms, website, and print materials)
• Creates and updates program plans, educational materials and other resources to support program delivery
• Researches and identifies education and outreach priorities and new opportunities to strengthen URI’s influence and impact, increase faculty and student awareness, support student skill development, and expand access to undergraduate research opportunities
• Contributes to evaluation for URI programming, solicits feedback from clients, partners, and other interested parties, maintains relevant program statistics and testimonials, and contributes to reports to funders and partners
• Recruits, trains, and coordinates student volunteer teams to support education and outreach events/activities, and ensures continuity of student-led initiatives
• Supports integration of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations in URI education and outreach activities/programs

Relationship Management

• Initiates and supports collaboration and partnerships with individuals and groups (both on and off campus) invested in undergraduate research and related activities, including student research skill development, knowledge mobilization and dissemination opportunities
• Establishes and maintains relationships with campus and community partners (e.g. academic units, student service providers, student groups, high schools, etc.)
• Responds to inquiries about URI education and outreach activities
• Develops and delivers targeted education/outreach presentations for diverse audiences both on and off campus
• Represents URI at education and outreach events both on and off campus
• Coordinates ad hoc working groups to support URI strategic initiatives, including developing terms of reference, identifying appropriate membership/composition, and coordinating scheduling and logistics for working group activities
• Engages with students as partners in the development and delivery of undergraduate research-related programming (i.e. designing programs with students, not just for students)
• Supports fundraising and donor stewardship initiatives, and works proactively with Communications, Advancement, Alumni Relations, and others as needed to showcase URI’s impact

Administration & Client Service

• Assists students with the advising intake process, scheduling of appointments, and assignment of URI staff or peer advisors, based on the nature of the students’ needs.
• Advises students about URI programs and services, and refers students to resources and services, both on and off campus, that will assist them in meeting their research and professional development goals
• Supports student peer advisors with navigating unusual or complex client needs (for which a policy or precedent may not be readily available or familiar to peer advisors), exercises judgement in escalating students to staff advisors, and facilitates a smooth and cohesive experience for students when such referrals are necessary
• Monitors URI Opportunity Board on campusBRIDGE to review and approve new postings, and assists potential employers/partners in advertising undergraduate research opportunities

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with coordinating volunteers and managing events
• Interpersonal communication, including the ability to communicate with and support clients from a wide variety of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various abilities, lifestyles, experiences, and interests
• Exceptional commitment to supporting students.
• Undergraduate degree, and a minimum of 2 years of experience working in a post-secondary student affairs (or similar) environment. Prior experience with experiential learning programs and/or undergraduate research is an asset.
• Understanding of and experience working with technologies used to enhance service delivery and communications (e.g. eClass, Zoom, Google Suite, social media platforms, etc.).
• Ability to be reflective, creative and innovative in program design and delivery
• Excellent time-management skills and adaptability to function effectively in a busy work environment with strict deadlines, and where information and procedures may change often.
• Strong attention to detail, organization and record-keeping skills
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of creating equitable, diverse and inclusive practices
• Exceptional communicator with the ability to influence a broad and diverse range of collaborators and partners through effective relationships
• Demonstrated experience with developing and delivering education sessions and materials
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment and decision-making with a wide range of clients and partners.