Project Manager, New Student Transition - Jobs in Waterloo, ON

Job Description

Overview:The Project Manager, New Student Transition is responsible for the coordination and implementation of comprehensive and intentional pre-arrival transition programs for a diverse group of first-year students. This includes developing, coordinating, and delivering programs and services aimed at enhancing student success and university readiness for new students and their parents/supporters. The Project Manager is accountable to the New Student Transition Specialist but works closely with all staff in the Student Success Office (SSO). The Project Manager will function primarily in the areas of project coordination, programming and event management, student development and administrative capacities. The Project Manager demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism through their program design, operational practices, and leadership.The Project Manager has three primary areas of focus: 1) Organize, coordinate, and lead the execution of all components of small and large-scale new student transition initiatives, 2) Initiate regular communications with external campus and faculty partners and SSO teams to ensure all stakeholders are well-informed of project timelines, deadlines, and details, and 3) Maintain positive and productive working relationships with students and key campus and faculty partners.Responsibilities:Program Administration

• Responsible for the overall coordination of pre-arrival and transition programs for first-year students including content development, program strategy, and day-to-day operations of in-person and/or virtual pre-arrival programs
• Responsible for the overall coordination of new, and the expansion/revision of current programs that support the successful transition of and ongoing engagement of new students and their parents and supporters
• Manages work and information flow between program contributors (i.e., SSO staff, faculty and campus partners) and other stakeholders
• Knowledgeable with respect to the diverse needs of first-year students and their parents and family and provides a student-centered approach to creating a meaningful, engaging and fulfilling transitional experience
• Coordinate and lead meetings with stakeholders and ensure action items are completed in a timely manner
• Works collaboratively with representatives in each faculty, other departments across campus and staff in the Student Success Office for the planning and implementation of first-year pre-arrival and arrival programs including but not limited to: Waterloo Ready, Parent and Family Orientation, pre-arrival communications and various online initiatives
• Provides extensive program documentation outlining program goals, risk management, program logistics, budget, and evaluation criteria
• Applies an equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism lens to all project management and program administration elements

Project Management

• Implements and maintains project management processes and principles for all transition initiatives and projects
• Develops a project plan, that includes but is not limited to project scope and deliverables, clear outline of roles and responsibilities for all involved stakeholders (internal and external to the SSO), deadlines and the process for moving the work forward and budget to ensure all project deliverables are in place and completed on time and within spending constraints
• Remain technically current with the tools and programs required to organize and coordinate the project, including but not limited to Microsoft Office suite and software that supports the project management process
• Develops and leads a communications strategy among all project stakeholders, ensuring that key information is shared well in advance of deadlines and that all stakeholders are clear of their roles and expectations in relation to the overall project
• Leading continuous assessment and review of process and strategy throughout all new student transition initiatives within the portfolio

Program Assessment

• Knowledgeable and up to date on the needs of all incoming first-year students including Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and other historically underrepresented students and their parents and family members including best practices at other institutions, current trends, and forecasting future developments in student affairs
• Coordinates the collection of information (staff and participant feedback, attendance numbers, etc.) to provide recommendations for future program adjustments and considerations
• Oversees program evaluation and assessment for all programs in the portfolio, to anticipate future programming needs and requirements. This includes but is not limited to survey administration, synthesizing participant and stakeholder feedback, and inputting relevant information into SSO databases as needed

Relationship Building

• Facilitates a strong working relationship with campus partners and collaborates/partners when appropriate on strategies that will support the mandate of the SSO in supporting new student transition; key working relationships include but are not limited to all six Faculties, Campus Housing, Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment, Food Services, Student Financial Services, and Co-operative and Experiential Education, and the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association
• Works closely with faculty and campus partners to ensure the needs of incoming students are being met
• Works closely with other staff in the SSO to ensure there is a coordinated and integrated approach to program development and delivery, and outgoing and internal communications
• Creates and maintains positive working relationships with all direct reports by establishing a clear set of reasonable and mutually agreed upon expectations, effectively measuring, and evaluating performance, and providing feedback
• Participates in and contributes to regular team and departmental wide meetings as appropriate

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma (or equivalent experience) required
• Working towards, or currently holds, a PMI Certification is an asset
• At least 2 years of project-based work and support experience with a proven track record of achievement and success
• Program/project management experience is required. Ideally, demonstrated ability to influence and motivate others. Including knowledge of project management tools or software for managing projects
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively, building consensus, and managing sensitivities, perspectives and interests of diverse teams and stakeholder groups to execute a strategy
• Experience in taking initiative and seeking solutions to complex solutions while working autonomously
• Experience managing/co-ordinating student staff members
• Experience synthesizing data, analyzing, and understanding results
• A record of and commitment to participating in ongoing learning and engagement in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility. Demonstrated experience applying this learning to their work including program development/design
• Ability to co-ordinate multiple projects at once with demonstrated ability to research, summarize, and report information; excellent administrative, organizational, and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven ability to take initiative and be both creative and flexible, working in a team and independently
• Highly collaborative, adaptable and a strong active listener
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, including written, oral, one on one, and group Able to effectively communicate with diverse teams and stakeholder groups in a respectful and professional manner
• Proven ability to manage multiple demands, stay organized and prioritize effectively
• Working knowledge of medium to large organizations is required, with post-secondary institutions being preferred
• Sound knowledge of new student transition principles and best practices is preferred
• Proven facilitation skills and an ability to communicate to diverse audiences both in person and online
• Strong technical skills with the following programs: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and LEARN is considered an asset

Equity Statement:The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.Quick Apply

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