Term: 2 years

The Co-op Student Experience Manager is responsible for developing, in collaboration with Co-operative & Experiential Education leadership, Faculties and Students, a Co-op student engagement and success strategy for students in programs supported by Co-operative and Experiential Education. The Co-op Student Experience Manager ensures efficient and effective collaboration and consistency of process and service in areas of co-op student interaction. In alignment with the Co-operative & Experiential Education (CEE) student success strategies, the Co-op Student Experience Manager develops, plans, and executes tactical plans to focus efforts on the areas of greatest priority.

This role will focus on identifying and reducing discrimination and barriers to enable greater access to work-integrated learning opportunities for students from equity deserving groups, including, but not limited to: women, racialized peoples, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people living with disabilities, people who identify as members of a racialized community, who exercise cultural and/or religious practices and any intersection of these identities. This work includes strengthening Co-operative and Experiential Education’s (CEE) capability to better understand, support and enhance the student experience and perspective towards co-op and work-integrated learning (WIL) based on lived experiences and intersectionality. As a student-facing role, the Co-op Student Experience Manager (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism) (CSEM (EDIR)) will build relationships with students to co-create programming and resources in support of their WIL journey. Through collaborating with the University community, partnership with the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism, and building on reciprocal, respectful, long term, and continuous relationships with students, the CSEM (EDIR) will lead the strategic work to shape our engagement, partnership and outreach to support and build our diverse student, employer and community relationships. As CEE seeks to future-proof students, employers and ourselves, we are committed to creating a supportive environment with resources and opportunities that are inclusive, accessible and support intersectionality of identity.

The successful candidate will have lived experience and experience with employing formal and informal mechanisms to address disclosures of racism and discrimination. Experience working with students will be considered an asset.

Drive co-op student success

• Develop metrics and service standards to set targets and goals
• Ensure CEE understanding and integration of program/faculty co-op requirements
• Develop consistent strategies and programs to support development of skills and self-awareness to navigate the future of work and lifelong learning in collaboration with CEE colleagues and campus partners
• Develop and implement consistent, proactive processes on all aspects of CEE student interaction that enhance and support access, wellness, and inclusion
• Ensure ongoing engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., WUSA, CEE staff, campus partners) to recognize barriers and collaboratively identify/implement sustainable processes, policies, and practices
• Develop and maintain relationships with student groups, societies, WUSA, Graduate Student Association, and Co-op Student Council
• Develop and continually improve co-op student feedback process and use to inform practice and processes that support student engagement, experience, and learning outcomes in WIL

Facilitate the integration of work and academic learning experiences to support access to Work-Integrated Learning/Co-op

• Ensure CEE engagement with understanding and integration of co-op with student attainment of competencies and learning outcomes (i.e., UDLEs), working together with relevant University of Waterloo stakeholders
• Ensure, as appropriate, support for academic program reviews and co-op feasibility studies
• Support program enhancements as required (e.g., Co-op Education Research Certificate, FlexTerms, Accessibility standards)

Lead and manage direct reports and ensure the delivery of results in support of CEE mission, vision and guiding principles, including:

• Providing information and context needed for the employee to be effective
• Hiring, developing, and retaining the best qualified staff available from inside or outside CEE
• Setting goals and expectations and helping employees create clear paths to success
• Developing effective work team dynamics
• Ensure appropriate back up, support and cross training to manage capacity
• Managing performance through both formal (performance appraisal) and informal methods such as regular feedback, coaching and one-to-ones
• Identifying development opportunities in others and co-creating with the employee a development plan; regularly following up on the progress of development

Provide overall leadership to the organization by:

• Personally championing mission, vision and guiding principles and playing a leadership role in bringing them to life
• Providing leadership, direction, and strategic planning for Co-operative Education
• Monitor business practices to ensure that Co-operative Education has the appropriate practices and processes to work effectively internally and represent the University of Waterloo externally
• Lead the development of new capabilities required by the introduction of new systems, tools, or processes
• Develop productive, collaborative working relationships across CEE, external partners, and the University of Waterloo
• Lead the identification, development, and implementation of projects to improve access to coop, service quality, relationships, stakeholder satisfaction, timeliness, staff capability and performance
• Develop internal/external customer service standards, monitors satisfaction with service delivered and take action to restore and enhance service quality

• University undergraduate degree
• Minimum 5 years working with students in an advisory capacity
• 3 years of experience working to advance student success via engagement, development, Work-Integrated Learning, or other initiatives within a post-secondary setting preferred
• Experience managing and coaching student teams
• Experience in research design and methodology (e.g., about business, surveys, market domains)
• Demonstrated experience related to programs designed to support underrepresented student populations, non-traditional students and students who are academically at risk
• Strengths in relationship building, interpretation of data, process analysis, communication, presentations, collaborative teamwork, and knowledge of the Waterloo student experience will all be required for this role
• Familiarity with student development theory, student engagement practices and pedagogy as it relates to Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning will also be considered important
• A record of and commitment to participating in ongoing learning and engagement in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility
• Knowledge of business analytics
• Knowledge of program / project management
• Advanced technical skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Leverages a continuous improvement mindset with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with others, as both a team player and a team leader
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage and align stakeholders and their input on issues
• Demonstrated ability to use data to understand and relate information to business needs and objectives

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

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.