Manager, Career Development

University of British Columbia•Kelowna, BC

1d•CA$7,852 - CA$12,243

About The Position

This position provides strategic and operational leadership to career development professionals on the Academic & Career Development team at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The position works under guidance from the Director and represents the Director and unit in meetings with campus and community groups and at public functions. This position plays a key role in developing and implementing career development programs and services both on and off campus. This role provides leadership to a growing team of career development professionals as well as student staff. This position is responsible for leading the strategic development of comprehensive approaches, programs, and services that advance the University's capacity to prepare career ready graduates, foster student leadership, and enhance students' development of professional capacities. This position builds and sustains crucial external and internal relationships to advance the University's goals of supporting student learning, preparing career-ready graduates, and engaging with alumni to deepen connections to UBC. This position works in close collaboration with Faculties and units both within the Associate Vice President's Students portfolio and across the University, alumni UBC, the SUO and other student groups, and a wide range of faculty and staff in experiential learning programs including undergraduate research, cooperative education, internships, international learning, volunteer programs, and community engaged learning to help build and sustain meaningful connections between students, alumni, and employers.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
Minimum of five years of related, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
Experience in working in strategic planning, and experience and knowledge of university governance, structures, policies and procedures, academic programs and student services is essential, as is experience in planning and facilitating meetings, workshops, conferences and similar events.
Demonstrated administrative and supervisory experience.
Extensive knowledge of educational systems and circumstances affecting students’ progression through their degree and beyond.
Knowledge of financial structures and management is required.
Must have a strong commitment to advancing the educational aspirations of all students, including those from equity seeking groups.
Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and written and oral communications skills, including public speaking.
Demonstrated organizational, administrative, and supervisory capabilities, as well as effective problem-solving and analytical abilities are required.
Ability to take initiative and exercise judgement, and work effectively under pressure to manage multiple priorities.
Ability to work both independently and in a team situation.
Though not frequently required, must be able to travel within British Columbia, and to other national, and international locations and to work at times in evenings and on weekends.

Responsibilities

Leads the development and implementation and evaluation of campus-wide career development strategies and initiatives in collaboration with faculty and university leadership that support undergraduate, graduate, and alumni populations and contribute to student retention, engagement, and post-graduation outcomes. While strengthening connections between students, employers, and the broader community.
Provides strategic leadership for the UBCO Experience and Involvement HUB and associated digital platforms, including system planning, governance, implementation, and continuous improvement. Evaluates emerging technologies, stakeholder requirements, and sector best practices to inform platform enhancements and optimize student and stakeholder experiences. Develops technology-enabled approaches that strengthen collaboration with faculty partners and support the advancement of career development and experiential learning priorities across the institution.
Provides strategic leadership and financial oversight for the University’s Work Study program, including responsibility for an annual budget of approximately $1 million, program growth and evaluation, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the achievement of student employment and experiential learning objectives.
Leads the development of funding proposals and business cases to secure resources for strategic initiatives, pilot projects, and service enhancements that support student success, career readiness, and experiential learning outcomes.
Leads the assessment and evaluation of career development programs using student outcomes data, labour market intelligence, government statistics, and regional economic trends to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.
Provides strategic leadership in the development, review, and implementation of policies and procedures governing career development services, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, regulatory requirements, and best practices in student success and experiential education.
Builds and sustains strategic partnerships with faculty and staff stakeholders to support integrated planning, coordinated service delivery, and effective student referral systems that enhance engagement, progression, and retention.
Participates in the development of innovative communication and marketing strategies and oversees promotions and outreach for A&CD programs and services.
Provides strategic leadership in the development and implementation of comprehensive communication, marketing, outreach, and social media strategies that promote Career Development programs and services, enhance institutional visibility, and increase engagement among students, faculty, employers, and community partners.
Acts as a designate for the Director of Academic, Career, and Experiential Education as required.
Coaches, mentors, and supports staff to achieve performance goals and deliver high-quality services, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and leadership development through feedback, guidance, and role modelling.
Mentors and provides leadership to staff. Ensures the clear establishment of goals for staff and monitors and evaluates staff and unit progress towards these goals.
Assists staff in developing skills necessary to improve job performance. Ensures that liaison and coordination among staff is maintained and, when necessary, clarifies responsibilities and boundaries between roles.
Identifies gaps in service and gathers data to support budgets asks for additional staff, recruits, and on boards staff
Supports the recruitment and onboarding of student staff
Represents the AVPS portfolio and UBC Okanagan in provincial and national forums focused on career development best practices.
Provides leadership, expertise, and mentorship in program planning, training, facilitation, program design, and assessment of services.
Works closely with other leaders and managers in departments in AVP Students in a cross functional capacity, either on a project team or as part of working groups, or advisory committees.
Develops and implements practices and controls to ensure the compliance of A&CD operations with university and government regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and the policies of other regulatory bodies in order to assure the continuing viability of the unit.
Responsible for the efficient and accurate management of operating and staff budgets and holds signing authority for some departmental funding structures.
Plans, allocates, and monitors the use of fiscal, human, intellectual, and technological resources.
Prepares annual budget reports, making appropriate recommendations for budget development, and monitoring expenditures related to the operation of programs and services; reports on quarterly expenditures to the Director and Finance Manager.
Directs the operational management of the career development service stream, including the development and management of budgets and financial processes and systems.
In collaboration with the Director, develops and presents an annual plan and budget to the AVP Students.
Identifies systemic barriers and proposes business process improvements and solutions to foster student success as they pertain to student services.
Works with the department leadership team to ensure continuous program and initiative improvement through assessment and evaluation
Leads ongoing evaluation of programs, services and processes, including developing measures for evaluating service and program effectiveness; identify gaps in services and developing new opportunities.
Chairs and oversees advisory and adjudication committees for departmental programs, ensuring consistent application of policies, sound decision-making, and effective stewardship of program resources.
Creates, monitors, and maintains written goals, objectives, and anticipated outcomes for career development programs and services; manages an annual assessment plan and provides annual department service reports.
Cultivates an information reporting framework, identifies key stakeholders (professors, Program Advisors, Department Heads, Deans, etc.) and distributes data to highlight the strategic intent of academic and career development, and the effectiveness of programs and services.
Represents the Director and unit on university committees (e.g., committees of partner units, unit advisory committees, hiring committees). Performs other related duties.