Position Overview

The Faculty of Social Work (FSW) is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Associate Director, Social Work Accelerator for approximately 12 months.

The Accelerator implements the faculty’s strategic plan with an emphasis on supporting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) and social justice. Activities focus on community-based (and global) collaborative research projects, fee-for-service contracts and professional development. The Accelerator is a hub for building relationships, collaboration, and effective knowledge creation and exchange through community-facing programs and research hubs operating across disciplinary and institutional boundaries, operating fluidly in response to and in recognition of changing social issues and available funding. Indigenous Elders and leaders of community organizations will be included in guiding the direction of the Accelerator.

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Operations, the Associate Director will provide leadership and management for the development of the Faculty of Social Work Accelerator, which includes the Social Work Continuing Education & Professional Development program.

This is a complex role that leads the development of community partnership and several interdisciplinary initiatives while navigating University of Calgary units and processes. The Associate Director develops and manages a cost-effective community-based hub for research and continuing professional education to implement the FSW strategic plan related to professional development, community-based research relationships/hubs, and fee-for service contracts. This position will plan, develop, resource, market, deliver, and evaluate the Accelerator to build interactive community and public partnerships to serve sector and FSW goals. The incumbent provides this outward-facing Accelerator program on behalf of the University of Calgary and will convene stakeholders and build the operational structures and processes. The work volume is high, with a high negative impact if errors are made, involving multiple simultaneous demands, supervision of staff, project management, fundraising, business planning and establishing fiscally viable program budgets.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Formulates the Accelerator’s business plan, operating a business in a non-business environment, making recommendations to the FSW on innovations and revenue generating possibilities.
• Strengthens connections and collaborative working relationships across Alberta for FSW community research, field education, and the social work profession. Assists community organizations and government with accomplishing their EDID, research, and professional development goals. Strengthens, expands, and institutionalizes existing community stakeholders and system partnerships.
• Creates and revises Action Plans according to the FSW Strategic Plan and how the accomplishments and goals align with other Action Plans to ensure success.
• Catalyses and imlements increased knowledge transfer/engagement as an infrastructure and a pathway for social service partners to collaborate with the University of Calgary.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities and partners in seeking federal, provincial, local, and foundation grant opportunities for the purpose of advancing the Accelerator, ensuring that the Accelerator contributes financially to the FSW through fee-based services.
• Provides mentorship, direction and supports related to submitting fee-for service proposals and conducting collaborative, interdisciplinary, community-based research.
• Works closely with team members and Faculty partners on matters of strategic planning and direction and provides business and operational leadership for cost-recovery programs.
• Mobilizes the remarkable research of the FSW in the service of civil society around the world. Acts as an agent to increase collaboration with programs and community-based organizations aligned with the FSW mission, vision, values, and priorities.
• Cultivates new and maintain ongoing cooperative relationships and partnerships with community organizations, government, professional associations, agencies, and allied faculties to encourage collaborative professional development and research endeavors.
• Leads an efficient and effective Social Work Continuing Education & Professional Development program. Oversees the planning, marketing, and delivery of Social Work Continuing Education & Professional Development program courses and programs and ensures a range of self-financing short courses, workshops, and conferences aimed at meeting the lifelong learning needs of professional social workers and allied human service professionals.
• Works with project teams to ensure adherence to timelines and reporting on project and program milestones. Creates and maintains comprehensive project documentation, plans and reports. Designs and manages outcome evaluation tools and systems to determine program effectiveness.
• Follows university policies and guidelines and supports UCalgary improvements to achieve the Accelerator goals. Proactively initiates and champions change within the University of Calgary, with a focus on continuous improvement, reducing systemic racism, and building stakeholder engagement.
• Develops and executes marketing action plans in collaboration with the Social Work Professional Development Coordinator and Manager, Communications and Marketing. These plans will assist the Associate Director, Development to promote the Accelerator as a community connector and build on potential donations.
• Provides ongoing analysis of the Accelerator and associated programs with recommendations for improvements. Provide regular Accelerator activity reports to the Dean, noting issues, trends, analysis, and recommendations for future direction of the Accelerator.
• Maintains membership on appropriate committees/boards internally and externally, as well as being an integral leader for the Accelerator team.
• Establishes budgets that are fiscally viable and ensure programs completed on budget.
• Leads the development, coordination and maintenance of various University of Calgary Memorandum of Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with community partners, government, global institutions, and funders.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A master’s degree in social work or related discipline is required. A PhD in Social Work, Leadership, Public Policy, Public Health or related field is preferred.
• Minimum 3 years experience in research and continuing professional education delivery in a post-secondary institution or similar organization structure that is revenue generating.
• Demonstrable ability to progress organizations in respecting diversity, equity, and inclusion with a preference for a candidate with lived experience from an equity-deserving group.
• Proficient project management and leadership skills with excellent oral, written, analytical, interpersonal and organizational skills required.
• Five or more years of relevant experience managing programs, including budgets, financial plans, milestones and metrics.
• Demonstrated experience in community-engagement and partnership development with at least 2 years experience coordinating or conducting projects in a community setting.
• Experience with partnership development with communities outside of Calgary to facilitate a province-wide program.
• Minimum 3 years experience supervising teams and individuals is required. Supervision in a union environment is a strong asset.
• Committed to community driven research practices that respect the autonomy of community goals and perspectives.
• Committed to collaborative research relationships that are responsible, relevant, respectful and reciprocal.
• Committed to co-creation, as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, in research design, execution, evaluation, and mobilization.
• Excellent skills in quantitative and qualitative research in community-based settings. Coursework in multivariate statistics preferred.
• Ability to oversee and lead a thriving, diverse, innovative, and entrepreneurial team.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and manage funding from a variety of sources.
• Understanding of University of Calgary processes for research and community- based MoUs an asset.

Application Deadline:  July 25, 2022

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is classified in the Management and Professional Career Band, Level 4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. 

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Faculty of Social Work.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

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