Officer, Community Based Experiential Learning

Staff – Non Union

Job Category

M&P – AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried – Student Management, Level C

Job Title

Officer, Community Based Experiential Learning

Department

Strategy and Learning | Centre for Community Engaged Learning | Student Engagement | VP Students

Compensation Range

$6,253.50 – $9,009.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

May 10, 2021

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Job Description Summary

The Officer, Community Based Experiential Learning (CBEL), liaises & advises on the development and delivery of CBEL experiences across the UBC campus. The officer works closely with partners at UBC, and in the community to co-develop, evaluate and assess Community Engaged Learning (CEL) initiatives and partnerships. The officer provides direct support to faculty seeking to embed CEL within their courses and programs – including designing curricula, developing learning objectives, identifying appropriate CEL models, and developing critical reflection activities. The CBEL officer collaborates with other staff at the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), as well as colleagues across the Vice President Students Portfolio to support faculty and students to engage in CEL- both curricular and co-curricular.

The CBEL Officer is responsible for maintaining an accurate and current knowledge of best practices in CEL and related pedagogical practices. Additionally, the CBEL Officer represents the Centre for Community Engaged Learning on university project teams and committees and may be involved in other key university activities to enable high quality engagement between the university and community-based organizations.

The incumbent will have strong educational consulting and capacity building experience within an educational context, and will be an exceptional communicator in a complex network of partners.

Organizational Status
The Officer reports to the Director, Centre for Community Engaged Learning. The Officer works independently, with initiative and considerable autonomy, The CBEL Officer is a member of the cross-functional CCEL team, a unit within Student Engagement, and contributes directly to the development of policy and priorities for that team. The incumbent will interact closely with UBC Faculties and departments, UBC staff units, community partner organizations, other VP Students staff, and UBC students.

Work Performed

1. Provides expert advice to faculty and community partners on developing and delivering discipline-specific CEL experiences that are fully integrated into course and/or program curricula, and directly serve course and program learning objectives.

2. Identifying and articulating CEL’s place within current teaching and learning priorities at UBC, such as flexible learning.

3. Assessing and evaluating the Centre’s current CEL offerings and providing direction in re-designing current programs and opportunities. Linking models of effective CEL initiatives across campus, and across community partners, in an effort to translate knowledge, systems, and lessons learned.

4. Developing, delivering and disseminating CEL resources to guide faculty members and community partners through the process of creating CEL experiences, including providing examples of key documents such as learning objectives, critical reflection exercises and grading rubrics.

5. Developing and delivering trainings, workshops, and resources for faculty, staff, community partners, and students intended to increase capacity and expertise across the University, and in the community, to advance CEL initiatives and relationships.

6. Engage in and resolve complex matters that arise preceding to, and throughout the implementation of CEL initiatives with the goal of enabling the application of best practices.

7. Advising and coaching students interested in engaging in CEL and raising awareness about the full range of curricular and co-curricular CEL opportunities.

8. Developing faculty members’ understanding of the role of community partners as co-educators.

9. Monitoring, documenting, and evaluating CEL experiences for students, community partners and faculty; identifying success factors, and embedding these factors into CEL processes.

10. Connecting to other individuals and units across campus in instances where the addition of partners holds the potential to advance the work well beyond what could be achieved alone.

11. Training and supervising students, project leaders and other volunteers associated with CEL and community based research (CBR) initiatives as necessary.

12. Maintaining knowledge of CEL best practices by engaging with relevant literature, connecting with other universities as appropriate, and attending and presenting at conferences and workshops.

13. Analyzing data, and communicating finding and recommendations via prepared briefs and reports related to CEL initiatives.

14. Other related responsibilities as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Must exercise tact and diplomacy when interacting with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. Errors in judgment may cause identifiable deterioration to faculty and student relations and to relationships between the university and community partners. UBC’s community engagement activities have a high profile in the community and engage program participants in situations that may be new. The incumbent must be attentive to risk management in all situations; must be aware of the need to minimize risk to participants and maximize the perceived and actual sensitivity of programs/initiatives and the university to community issues. As the department is handling confidential information, must understand and respect the principles of confidentiality. Errors in judgment or the disclosure of confidential information could have very public consequences resulting in embarrassment to the University
of British Columbia.

Supervision Received
This position works under the direction of the CCEL Director according to established objectives. The incumbent works independently, with initiative and considerable autonomy. Recommendations are normally accepted as accurate and feasible. Work is reviewed for achievement of university goals, soundness of advice and judgment, and effectiveness of results.

Supervision Given
As required, responsible for supervision of part-time student assistants, student leaders and volunteers. Participates in hiring and/or selection of paid staff, student assistants/leaders, and volunteers as required.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of four years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in educational consulting and the development and delivery of post-secondary programs and curricula.

• Experience in community service learning, community development and engagement or student engagement an asset.

• Excellent knowledge of experiential learning theory, particularly community service learning and other forms of experiential learning that involve community engagement.

• Knowledge of key theories of student development an asset.

• Experience designing and delivering educational workshops and information sessions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and cross cultural sensitivity, and the ability to use these skills and sensitivity in working with students, staff, faculty and community partners.

• Knowledge of research ethics and administering evaluative tools and analyzing data.

• Demonstrated experience working with community based organizations.

• Demonstrated ability to envision and implement innovative programs and initiatives and to maintain connection between a long-range vision and day-to-day functions.

• Knowledge of research ethics and administering evaluative tools and analyzing data.

• Experience designing and delivering educational workshops and information sessions.

• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.

• Proven ability to take direction, lead others and to function as an effective team member who will take initiative and support others in their initiatives.

• Excellent work ethic and demonstrated ability to balance cycles of planning, action, and reflection: ability to plan ahead, anticipate problems, and meet deadlines efficiently.

• Demonstrated ability to develop the capacity of others to engage in new activities, methods or approaches.

• Ability to manage the complexity inherent within a multi-faceted work environment focused on broad outcomes for participants.

• Communication skills (listening, written and verbal), to effect positive student-community placement relations, facilitation and negotiation skills, organization and time management, and presentation skills.

• Ability to communicate credibly and persuasively with University personnel and members of the external public.

• Professional attitude, demonstration of integrity, confidentiality and excellent work ethic.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

• Proficient with MS Office suite (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel); proficient use of internet (e.g. performing searches); proficient use of email required.