MANAGER, CAREER EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPME

Manager, Career Education & Professional Development 

Engineering a Brighter Future 
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/ 

About The Faculty of Engineering: 

Consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and internationally, McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is known for its leadership in innovation, research, and experiential learning. With a strong emphasis on hands-on, project-based education, the Faculty prepares future-ready engineers through one of the country’s largest co-op programs, world-class research opportunities, and a vibrant student community with over 70 clubs and teams.  

The Faculty comprises three schools offering a wide range of programs and degrees designed to cultivate global citizens who are socially conscious and professionally agile. Home to over 200 faculty and 200 full-time staff, the Faculty supports over 7,600 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students and secures roughly $65 million in research funding annually. Research and learning span more than 20 interdisciplinary centres, institutes, and networks, with active collaborations involving universities, government, and over 120 industry partners worldwide. 

About the Centre for Career Growth & Experience: 

The Faculty of Engineering’s Centre for Career Growth & Experience office supports all students in the Faculty with career education services and programming, experiential learning and work-integrated learning. The Centre administers, facilitates and manages more than 4500 co-op work experiences annually at the undergraduate and graduate levels across all degree programs. In addition, the team delivers course-based and workshop programming as well as appointment-based services to support the career readiness of Engineering students and equip them for success in seeking and engaging in employment opportunities. Further, the Centre delivers programming to engage students in professional and skill development opportunities and partners with student clubs, teams and societies in the delivery of meaningful extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. 

About the Position:

The incumbent focuses on leading the execution of strategic priorities related to the development and implementation of career curriculum and career programming that support students in building experience, developing skills and producing tangible professional development outcomes in preparation for the workforce. In this role, the individual supervises a team of career practitioners and team leads in the delivery of career and work-integrated learning programming and management of student issues/escalations in relation to co-op work experiences. This position is also responsible for the ongoing development/enhancement of software applications and supporting the development of the Centre for Career Growth & Experience’s strategic plan to enhance career education and employability programming for all students in the Faculty of Engineering. 

This position is vital in developing an intentional strategy that focuses on early intervention by promoting career development and skill building opportunities that produce tangible professional outcomes for our students. This position is responsible for researching market trends, best practices in service delivery and program assessment, including quantitative and qualitative measures. 

Core Areas of Accountability: 

Strategic Planning/Leadership: 

1. Manage strategic initiatives to support career programming including portfolio management, reporting metrics and benchmarking and developing processes and procedures. 
2. Lead the process for addressing and resolving on-work-term situations by engaging and guiding other management peers in the process, including providing expertise on national co-op guidelines, Faculty/University protocol and alternative approaches/accommodations to support both standard and unique situations. 
3. Forge strong partnerships with faculty, Outreach colleagues, community and industry leaders to enrich programming opportunities for students across Engineering. Respond to the dynamic and changing needs of the new workplace, employer expectations and market conditions; lead research and scan current employment trends to identify opportunities and job gaps and the impact of social media and technology in the labour market. 
4. Develop and implement an annual plan that includes strategic initiatives, new program/events, metrics & benchmarking identifiers and resourcing needs.
5. Develop a service delivery approach that maximizes our resources and increases services/supports during absolute peak and critical times. Consider online service delivery and joint partnerships with employers, community partners and alumni, and student-to-student support models. 
6. Demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and diversity by ensuring that the specific needs of our student populations (undergraduate and graduate students) and equity-deserving groups are met. 

Career Education Strategy: 

1. Enhance the career education model for all levels of students; leading a team of professionals to create enhanced career programming and appointments, workshops that include but are not limited to information fairs, networking events, information panel events, various career fairs, employment preparedness and so on. 
2. Deliver a coordinated approach to cross-functional programming to support a collaborative and integrated service delivery model. 
3. Train and develop all team members on the implementation of career appointments, workshops and education using theoretical career models. 

Work-Integrated Learning Work Opportunities: 

1. Manage student escalations and problem resolution in relation to issues arising while engaged in domestic and international work-integrated learning; including consultation with other university departments/offices, as required, and ensuring program compliance in alignment with academic policies and standards set out by externally accrediting bodies (i.e. CEWIL Canada). 
2. Review, evaluate and approve/decline special requests, exceptions, and petitions for students in relation to co-op work term experiences and/or sequencing. 
3. Establish, refine and maintain systems, procedures, and policies to guarantee compliance, manage critical situations effectively, and escalate emergencies as required. 
4. Strategically liaise and coordinate with units across the university (i.e. International Student Services/Immigration, Legal Services, University Health & Safety, Academic Advising, Registrar’s Office and academic departments) to mitigate and/or bring resolution to issues that arise in relation to co-op work experiences and to collaborate on and bring synergy to joint initiatives and shared priorities. 

Human Resources Management: 

1. Responsible for the daily supervision and performance management of 13 full-time continuing staff and up to 10 student staff supporting students at all academic levels with career advisory and support. Manage staff turnover and transitions through recruitment, onboarding, and cross-training initiatives. 
2. Provide development opportunities and training to support practice development aligned with the career curriculum while fostering professional growth. 

Requirements: 

• University Degree/and or equivalent experience. 
• Minimum of 5 - 7 years of people leadership experience. 
• Experience with work-integrated learning within a post-secondary education environment. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to interact and collaborate with team members and partners at all levels of the university. 
• Ability to provide effective guidance and mentorship while setting clear expectations. 
• Excellent problem solver with sound judgment and ability to analyze complex and sensitive situations. 
• Ability to navigate and manage complex student situations that are both sensitive and confidential in nature. 
• Workshop development and facilitation skills - ability to deliver to diverse groups of stakeholders - employers, students, Faculty, advisory boards, professional associations, conferences. 
• Experience in program development and assessment/evaluation strategies. 
• Well versed in CEWIL guidelines, Canadian labour law, labour market conditions, employer best practices and emerging trends. 
• Experienced at executing on strategic priorities and leveraging an innovative and collaborative approach. 
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to use analytics to inform decision-making and assess program effectiveness. 
• Passionate about serving students and the world of employment. 

Assets: 

• Human Resources Management Diploma/Adult Education Diploma. 
• Ontario Certified Career Development Certification or similar. 
• Expertise in developing diverse and comprehensive career programming including instructional design and delivery. 

What We Offer: 

In addition to joining a top ranked university, McMaster offers a very competitive total compensation package that includes but is not limited to: 

• Employer Paid benefits such as Extended Health, Dental, Emergency Out-of-Country Travel Coverage & Basic Life Insurance. 
• Participation in a Group Retirement Savings Plan. 
• Training, coaching and professional development opportunities  
• Employee tuition assistance for continuous development and education  
• Opportunity to be a part of an academic environment working alongside professionals who share a passion for learning 
• Progressive paid annual vacation plan 

How to Apply: 

To apply for this job, please submit your resume and cover letter online.  

Employment Equity Statement: 

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement. 

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. 

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. 

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information. 

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact: 

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or 
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or 
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679 to communicate accommodation needs. 

Hybrid Work: 

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests. 

Interview Experience: 

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.