Canada Job Openings

University of British Columbia

Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary)

Vancouver

FULL TIME

September 4, 2024

Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level C
Job Title
Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary)
Department
Administrative Leadership | Teacher Education Office | Faculty of Education
Compensation Range
$7,283.75 - $10,474.08 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
September 15, 2024
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Education, Teacher Education Office, offers the largest and most comprehensive post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program in British Columbia and Canada. The program provides a broad range of themed cohorts in Elementary and Middle Years education, and various Secondary teachable subjects. The Teacher Education Office provides the administrative and operational coordination of the BEd program as well as dual degree and post-degree options, diplomas, and certificates in collaboration with other faculties. As a centralized unit, the TEO is responsible for coordinating the BEd program with the four academic departments within the Faculty of Education.
UBC’s Faculty of Education delivers several programs, including an 11-month Teacher Education Program on the Vancouver campus, the 11-month West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) in Nelson, the 2-year Remote and Rural Education (RRED) program offered across BC, and the 4-year concurrent Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP). These programs, which alternate between coursework, practicum, and community field experiences, lead to a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, minors, certificates, diplomas, and a variety of graduate programs. Additionally, UBC offers extensive professional development opportunities to a diverse range of students from local, provincial, national, and international contexts.
The B.Ed. program at UBC serves as a certification program in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB), and the British Columbia Teachers’ College (BCTC). This partnership ensures that students receive the accurate and informed guidance needed to successfully complete the program and become certified teachers in BC.
UBC is dedicated to preparing educators for their roles in local, provincial, and global contexts. Completing this post-baccalaureate program results in a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree and a recommendation for teacher certification by the Ministry of Education’s Teacher Regulation Branch. Graduates are eligible to apply for certification in British Columbia and other provinces and countries.
Job Description Summary

The Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary), designs and implement the practicum component of UBC’s Teacher Education Program’s Secondary. This role is essential in ensuring that the practicum program meets the needs of teacher candidates and their future employers. The Program Manager is responsible for developing, delivering, and evaluating the practicum program, which is a critical requirement for completing the Teacher Education Program.
The Program Manager oversees practicum placements organized by students’ teachable subjects, including a broad range of disciplines: Art, Business Education, Culinary Arts (post-degree and concurrent paths), English, French, Home Economics, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Sciences (Biological Science, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics), Social Studies (Geography, History), and Technology Education.
In addition to managing subject-specific practicum placements, the Program Manager is responsible for overseeing practicum experiences for cross-curricular cohorts, which include approximately 100 teacher candidates in specialized areas such as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB-DP), the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB-MYP), and Equity, Diversity, Indigeneity & Decolonization (EDI-D).
Key responsibilities include negotiating practicum placements with school and district partners and working closely with faculty advisors to match teacher candidates with suitable placements. The Program Manager also prepares, advises, and mentors teacher candidates, faculty advisors, and school advisors throughout the practicum experience.
This multi-faceted position demands a high level of expertise in communication, advising, teaching, and research. The Program Manager must provide practicum and career advising, resolve complex issues, and negotiate with school administrators to secure practicum placements. The role also requires effective collaboration with staff and faculty across the Faculty of Education and UBC, as well as direct engagement with students from diverse backgrounds. Strong liaison skills and a solid understanding of public and independent schools, government agencies, regulatory bodies like the Teacher Regulation Branch, and other relevant institutions are crucial.
With approximately 750 BEd students, evenly divided between the Secondary and Elementary/Middle Years cohorts, along with dual degree and updating teacher program students, each student’s unique needs must be carefully considered when securing practicum placements.
The Program Manager must have a thorough understanding of UBC and Faculty of Education policies, as well as the graduation requirements set by the BC Teacher Regulation Branch. Additionally, the role requires excellent communication skills, effective conflict resolution abilities, and a deep knowledge of Indigenous knowledge systems and the BC curriculum. Personal experience as an educator, coupled with familiarity with best practices in education, is essential for success in this role.

Organizational Status

The Teacher Education Office has five Program Managers: a program manager for approximately 375 practicum students enrolled in the secondary program, a program manager for approximately 350 practicum students enrolled in the elementary/middle years program, a program manager for approximately 735 secondary, elementary and middle years students enrolled the Community Field Experience which provides an alternative educational experience in non-school settings in local, rural, and international experiences contexts and a program manager student services advising approximately 375 students in the secondary program, approximately 500 students in the Dual Degree, Diploma and Certificate and Indigenous Teacher Education programs and a program manager student services advising approximately 350 students in the elementary/middle years program approximately 500 students in the Dual Degree, Diploma and Certificate and Indigenous Teacher Education programs. All Program Managers work under the direction of the Associate Dean of Teacher Education and report to the Director of the Teacher Education Office.

Work Performed
Oversight of Practicum Program Design and Delivery:
  • Analyzes key performance indicators each term and evaluates the program's overall success annually. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data, proposes program changes to the Associate Dean of Teacher Education and implements necessary adjustments in collaboration with the Associate Dean, Director, and other Program Managers to ensure the program meets its strategic objectives.
  • Collaborates closely with all Program Managers to ensure optimal synergy in the delivery of services across all Teacher Education Office (TEO) practicum programs.
  • Engages in partnerships with other units within the Faculty of Education and across the university to enhance the practicum programs and create new opportunities for students.
  • Strategically collaborates with other university practicum programs in BC, Canada, and internationally to improve the Teacher Education program. Actively participates in provincial and national education associations to research best practices in practicum programs.
  • Works collaboratively with other Program Managers and staff to oversee the strategic growth and development of practicum experiences, ensuring alignment with the initiatives of the Teacher Education Office.
  • Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including local school districts, government agencies, ministries of education, and the private sector. Seeks their advice, perspectives, and support to foster stronger connections between the University and the external community.
  • Conducts site visits to practicum hosts and gathers feedback to assess the overall effectiveness of the practicum program, keeping current with educational trends and future employer requirements.
  • Addresses workplace safety concerns, employment issues (including harassment and employment equity), intellectual property rights, and confidentiality matters raised by practicum students and/or employers.
  • Sets educational standards for practicum delivery to meet BC Teacher Council standards, the Faculty of Education’s academic goals, students' educational objectives, and employer needs. Contributes to the ongoing accreditation of the program every two years.
  • Develops and enforces policies regarding student discipline, adjudicates student appeals, and advises coordinators and school administrators on performance issues during practicum placements. Oversees these processes to ensure resolution.
  • Directs the development of annual pre-practicum workshops to meet BC Teacher Council standards and address the needs of students and school districts.
Oversight of Practicum and Field Experiences:
  • Manage practicum placements for over 370 secondary teacher candidates, including those in the professional updating program and those repeating their year. This involves:
  • Negotiating with district and school administrators to secure school advisors throughout the Lower Mainland.
  • Hiring, preparing, and monitoring a large team of part-time faculty advisors, matching them with teacher candidates, and assessing their performance.
  • Securing placements at International Baccalaureate (IB) schools for teacher candidates in the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme cohorts.
  • Coordinating practica for visiting exchange students, often from international programs.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with Lower Mainland school district personnel to collaborate on practicum placements and professional learning activities.
  • Coordinate specific accommodations for practicum candidates with the Teacher Regulation Branch and the Center for Accessibility for those requiring support.
  • Deliver monthly large-group seminars to prepare teacher candidates and faculty advisors for practicum, and lead orientation and ongoing professional development sessions for 75 faculty advisors.
  • Assign faculty advisors to supervise teacher candidates, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
  • Review all final reports submitted by faculty advisors and recommend a Pass or Fail grade for each practicum on behalf of the Associate Dean of Teacher Education.
  • Collaborate with software developers to create and continually improve an electronic observation and reporting system, providing ongoing feedback and revisions.
  • Co-manage an annual budget of approximately $200,000 from UBC Central for recognizing school-based practicum supervisors, including offering tuition fee certificates, recognition gifts, and incentives to school district partners and advisors.
  • Establish funding partnerships and associated budgets for the academic year.
  • Seek and secure innovative funding opportunities to support student travel and housing, such as from the Centre for Community-Engaged Learning or Rix donor funding.
  • Create, update, and post all practicum materials on the school advisor blog, maintain the Canvas site for teacher candidates and faculty advisors, and participate in producing promotional videos to showcase the practicum program to prospective BEd applicants.
  • Analyze survey data from teacher candidates to inform and improve practicum practices.
Student Advising:
  • Meet with individual students in the program to provide career advice and guidance while they are on Practicum.
  • Counsel students before, during, and after their practicum, addressing complex cases involving medical, mental health, financial, or familial challenges.
  • Develop action plans to help students strengthen their knowledge and skills before attempting a second practicum.
  • Advise teacher candidates in navigating complex relational and situational issues during their practicum. Ensure that candidates receive due process regarding placements, supplemental practica, failures, deferrals, and appeals. Counsel those who withdraw or fail in their practicum placement, and mediate discussions between school advisors, teacher candidates, faculty advisors, and administrators when concerns arise.
  • Participate in program advising for teacher candidates facing challenges during the program.
  • Provide relevant information to committees involved in student appeals.
Additional Responsibilities:
  • Promote UBC's Teacher Education Program at district and provincial committee levels.
  • Share practicum advances and innovations at BC and Western Canadian conferences.
  • Advise the admissions team on special applications to the BEd Program, as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Teacher Education.
Consequence of Error/Judgement

Failure to effectively advise students regarding practicum placement and performance, interact with school- and district- personnel or make planning decisions in accordance with established policy, regulations and criteria would damage the credibility of the Teacher Education Program, the Faculty of Education and the University.

Advises undergraduate candidates, school advisors and faculty advisors based on interpretation of established University policy and the certification requirements of the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch. Acts as initial contact regarding appeals.

Supervision Received

Works with considerable autonomy. Reports to Director, Teacher Education Office.

Supervision Given

No direct supervision.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

  • Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
  • Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
  • Preference is given to candidates with a graduate degree in a relevant discipline.
  • Extensive knowledge of and familiarity with the BC school system.
  • Experience with educational technologies and/or administration is an asset.
  • Experience providing mentorship in educational settings.
  • Ability to create strong networks with K-12 educators and administrators.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other professionals in the Teacher Education Office.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and work effectively under pressure.
  • Strong listening skills, respectfulness in interactions, and a commitment to transparency.
  • Excellent management and organizational abilities.
  • Commitment to promoting Indigenous perspectives and supporting Indigenous students.
  • Stay informed about current issues affecting Indigenous education, including relevant policies, legislation, and community needs.
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