Reporting to the Director, Talent Development within Human Resources, the Employee Career Advisor and Learning Specialist (ECALS) will provide employees with comprehensive career support and coaching, aligned with talent development programs and initiatives. The role involves guiding individuals and groups through career planning, development and exploration to help them achieve their career goals at the University. The ECALS has experience and knowledge of the university’s talent development processes and supports available both internally and externally to support employees on their career journey.

In addition to individual support, the ECALS is part of the Talent Development team and works collaboratively with colleagues in Organizational and Human Development to design, develop and facilitate career programming, materials, and initiatives to provide employees with comprehensive career and employment coaching.

The incumbent understands the importance of working in a manner that builds and maintains strong relationships with employees across the university and works proactively to cultivate relationships across campus with key partners.

Support UW employees in their career planning, development and exploration

• Supports employees with understanding career journey mapping at Waterloo in alignment with the strategic talent and performance framework
• Develops strong, supportive coaching relationships that are adaptable to people of all identities and experiences. 
• Cultivates trust with people in one-on-one and group environments, centering attention on the values and needs of those seeking support 
• Creates a non-judgmental and safe environment for employees that encourages reflection and that promotes the development of self-efficacy, resilience, and hope 
• Facilitates reflection and self-assessment through active listening and interviewing skills to help people identify and synthesize self-information for use in a variety of career, employment, and lifelong learning settings
• Guides individuals in accessing and using resources that will help them to identify and/or pursue their priorities and goals
• Supports individuals with understanding and navigating employment and institutional systems at Waterloo

Career Development Programming

• Design, development and deliver career development programming and initiatives 
• Builds capacity and community through group interventions supporting career growth and development   
• This includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Collaboration with campus partners (Centre for Career Development), Human Resources team members, and subject matter experts
  • Maintain accurate records and organization of all program/offering documentation and materials
  • Provide program support services (eg: arrangement of facilities physical or virtual, preparation of materials for participants, communication with participants, and related supports for program/offering experience)
  • Manage participant processes from registration/application through to celebration for applicable programming
  • Provide ongoing coaching to program participants
  • Manage and coordinate the annual term over term planning for the calendar of offerings
  • Manage service arrangements with internal/external providers to ensure cost effectiveness and exceptional service delivery 
• Contribute to any required travel arrangements/accommodation for external facilitators and program guests
• Contribute to the development and execution of the measurement and evaluation for all programming

Support Talent Development Initiatives   

• Remains current on organizational development, talent development, career coaching, employee learning, training, instructional methodologies through research and outreach to ensure the University is using best practices in coaching, development methods and programs
• Shares trends with Talent Development team to ensure alignment between initiatives and employee needs
• Contributes to Talent Development events 
• Participates as an active member of the Talent Development team and has input on mid- and long-term planning for the unit
• Participates in and contributes to regular team and department wide meetings as appropriate

• Completion of a master’s degree in counselling (or related field) required or equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
• Background in adult education, instructional design, and/or organizational development or other relevant disciplines preferred
• Training / professional development in trauma-informed service provision, ethics, career development and/or social work
• Experience in career coaching and advising
• Experience in design, coordination, implementation and evaluation of creative learning and development programs, events, and experiences 
• Experience in a post-secondary environment an asset 
• Active listening and intentional verbal and written communication skills, toward supporting individuals and groups in their own learning and reflection 
• Non-judgmental, empathetic, and trauma-informed and person-centered approach to working through challenges is a must 
• Experience creating safe spaces for trusting/helping conversations
• Commitment to deepening advising and coaching skills through individual reflective practice and professional development
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, facilitation skills, and strong interpersonal and advising skills
• Awareness of own social location and how it affects the power and privilege in advising relationships
• Manage confidential and sensitive information with integrity 
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and the ability to design learning programs for adult learners
• Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to collaborate and work well with other team members
• Requires ability to develop relationships and align strategy with key campus partners. (e.g., ability to know when to refer to others or other resources
• Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and manage competing priorities simultaneously
• Ability to excel in an independent, highly confidential, ever-changing work environment

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+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

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.