Manager, Education

Department : Programs

Posting Date : August 23, 2024 - until filled

Term : Indefinite-term contract

Hiring Range : $80,000-90,000 annual salary

Benefits : Extensive benefit package inclusive of health, dental, RRSP matching, and paid personal days. Hybrid working options available for team members to work up to 3 days per week from home.

Background

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable non-profit organization that partners with the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, and Schlegel Villages to enhance care and quality of life for older adults.

Through engagement with key partners and collaborators, RIA supports practice-relevant research and knowledge mobilization.

Research evidence is used to inform programs, education and training, and influence practice and policy.

RIA Programs aims to spread and scale best practices and evidence-informed education, resources and products. Our resources are co-designed collaboratively with people with lived experience, health and social care providers and community members.

The overall goal of the program’s department is to enhance the well-being of older adults in collaboration with RIA team members, researchers, and key partners through education, research and resource development.

Primary Purpose

The Manager will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership to an educational team. The role will be accountable for the successful development of a variety of educational resources in partnership with people with lived experience, care partners, health and social care providers and community members to enhance the well-being of older adults.

As an experienced leader, you will guide a team of professionals to develop and design curriculum and learning aids for e-learning and instructor-led in-person and virtual education.

This role will collaborate internally and externally with partners and with people with lived experience to ensure best practices in education design, quality and accessibility are being met.

This role will be accountable for reporting to our funders, monitoring expenses and ensuring alignment and collaboration across teams to ensure educational resources are maximizing their potential impact and align with the goals of the RIA.

The role will support RIA’s vision, mission, and values as well as have an interest and passion for enhancing quality of life and care for older adults and those who care for them.

Key Accountabilities

Leadership : Provide strategic and operational leadership to a team of people in alignment with educational projects and organizational strategic priorities, including the development and implementation of a comprehensive learning strategy.

Regularly monitor and evaluate educational programs and knowledge management practices to continuously improve initiative to align with RIA’s strategic plan and program needs.

Work collaboratively with and provide supervision and mentorship to team members to ensure project success in alignment with RIA’s cultures and values.

Curriculum Design and Development : Provide strategic direction and support to the development and delivery of education and resources such as e-learning, instructor-led, videos, case studies, webinars and other educational resources using adult learning principles, best practices for in-person and online learning, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Develop and maintain quality standards, including AODA, and make recommendations for improvements or adjustments that could provide an enhanced learning experience.

Ensure learning initiatives support the theory of change, logic models, and program monitoring & evaluation frameworks. Oversee the continuing development, administrations and maintenance of the Learning Management System (LMS) and its integration with other platforms.

Knowledge Mobilization and Partner Engagement : Establish and maintain a knowledge management system that facilitates the collection, analysis, sharing, and updating of program insights and best practices.

Build and maintain partnerships with external and internal partners to support the successful development, implementation and delivery of various educational projects in alignment with RIA goals.

Ability to co-design resources and work collaboratively with older adults, health professionals, care partners with lived experience and researchers.

Budget management : Manage multiple project budgets. Provide regular reporting of expenditures to leadership and funding agencies, as required.

Responsible for management of spending related to each project and that all spending is in alignment with RIA policies and funder guidelines.

Ability to effectively source and work with consultants and vendors to ensure successful outcomes. Responsible for all funder financial reporting.

Communication and Reporting : Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences.

Present and discuss matters with partners through a variety of virtual and in-person events and meetings. Proactively report to funders, team members, and key partners on activities, and contribute to the writing and dissemination of various written products, including grant applications, technical reports, and program reports.

Ability to chair or facilitate meetings and document meeting outcomes.

Other : Take on additional tasks, activities and special projects, as they arise.

Position Requirements

Education :

University degree in education / pedagogy / instructional design. Training or equivalent experience in project management, evaluation and / or knowledge mobilization an asset.

Skills and Experience :

• A minimum of 5 years of experience providing strategic direction and leadership to projects in alignment with organizational and funder priorities.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in leading and supervising a project team in alignment with organizational values and project goals.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing project budgets.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working with online learning environments, preferably with adult learners, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles.
• Demonstrated knowledge of educational development tools including eLearning authoring software (e.g. Articulate), animation tools (e.

g. Vyond, Adobe Animate), learning management systems (e.g., Learn Dash or other), video, audio, photo and graphic editing tools (e.

g. Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, Audacity).

• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for adult education and group facilitation and practices.
• Highly motivated, detail-oriented individual with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet tight deadlines within a high demand environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with internal and external teams, vendors and partners.
• Experience with knowledge mobilization and tailoring resources to various target audiences.
• Experience with program / project evaluation reporting.
• Experienced at agenda setting, chairing meetings and driving collaborative decision-making.
• Experience using databases, CRMs (e.g. Hubspot) is an asset.
• Knowledge about the senior living sector is an asset.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and various software applications including, Google, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), webinar platforms.
• Fluent in English. Fluency in French is an asset but not required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be available for occasional travel.
• Eligible to obtain a successful police background / criminal record check.

Scope of Work

• Interpersonal Skills : Communicates effectively with internal team members and external partners; professionally represents the RIA in all communications and at events.
• Level of Responsibility : Responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation and budget management of multiple projects.
• Decision-Making Authority : Responsible for the day-to-day operations of a variety of projects with support from a director for strategic decisions.
• Physical and Sensory Demands : Minimal demands, typical of a position operating within an office environment; periods of extensive sitting at a desk and in meetings and concentrated use of visual senses;

substantial repetitive keyboard / mouse movement; high sensory demands because of required concentration and attentiveness to detail and regular distractions and interruptions.

Working Environment : Much of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunities to move about.

Office is located in a comfortable indoor area and options for hybrid work are available for this position . The work is varied and assignments may change frequently.

Work will involve regular interaction with RIA team members and external partners and collaborator s. There are deadline pressures, while at the same time there is a demand for thoroughness and accuracy.

Occasional travel is required.

Vaccination Statement

All researchers, employees and students of the RIA who will work with long-term care homes, colleges, universities and other partners are required to comply with the vaccination policies of those external organizations to complete their work.

Of note, vaccination policies are subject to change.

Equity Statement

The RIA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion within its community and organization. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities and people from other equity-deserving groups

The RIA is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) within our recruitment process.

If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.

How to Apply

RIA invites applications (cover letter and resume) to be submitted by email to [email protected]. Please include the job title in the subject line of the email.