Asst Dir, Advising Services (Term)

Date Posted: 12/17/2024

Req ID:41139

Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga

Department: UTM: Accessibility Services

Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Description:

About Us:

U of T Mississauga—the second largest campus of Canada’s top-ranked university and the only research university in Ontario’s booming Peel Region—is one of the world’s great catalysts of human potential.

Our employee community hums with the energy of 3,400 faculty, librarians and staff, who power our campus with curiosity, connection and care. We work together to spark life-changing research and innovation, make an indelible mark on the world by building equitable cities and societies, enable healthy lives, create a sustainable future and ignite entrepreneurship. Above all, we prioritize student success, and seek to give our 16,500 students the lift of a lifetime through learning and discovery.

We love to open opportunities available nowhere else for our community to achieve their ambitions and make their unique contributions to Canada and the world. This work all comes together on a spectacularly green campus, alongside the Missinihe-ziibi (Trusting Creek or Credit River), where we seek to honour truth, reciprocity and reconciliation on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We’re thrilled to welcome those who want to learn more about us and to be part of what we do.

Position Summary:

A minimum of five years’ administration and management experience related to the delivery of service to persons with disabilities; extensive experience in case coordination and accommodation of people with disabilities with a range of disabilities including mobility, sensory and mental health required, in a postsecondary setting. Three years experience supervising staff and following confidentiality guidelines. Experience must include human resources, labour relations and financial management; supervision in unionized and non-unionized environments and interpreting and applying collective agreements. Strong understanding of the professional standards of a multi-disciplinary team (e.g., Social Workers,Occupational Therapists). Experience in supporting and coaching staff. Considerable experience working with people with varying disabilities in a community or institutional context with a solid and articulate understanding of disability issues required. A clear understanding of human rights and human rights law, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), government administrative processes, equity and the role of advocacy.

Under the general direction of the Director, Accessibility Services the Assistant Director, Advising Services is responsible for managing the daily operation, programming and advising staff in the department ensuring programs, services and processes adhere and lead on best practices.

The incumbent assumes overall responsibility for human resources and labour relations including dispute resolution and compliance with collective agreements. The incumbent has direct managerial responsibility for the department’s Advising, and Professional Services including all advising staff and professional services staff. The incumbent evaluates the effectiveness of the advising services, associated programs; identifies opportunities for improvements and engagement of the student population. The incumbent also provides recommendations to the Director regarding new strategic initiatives, initiates and implements organizational changes as required.

The incumbent develops and monitors the budgets for the Professional Services (e.g. sign language interpreting, closed captioning, computerized and real-time notetakers) used by the department, and makes recommendations to the Director for operational expenses.

Serves as a point of contact for all UTM academic programs (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) regarding questions specific to advising services including accommodation planning. Consults with individual faculty on specific students with complex accommodations and how to support the student in lectures, labs and practicals.

This position takes on a leadership role and assumes full responsibility for ensuring that specific programs and services through Accessibility Services satisfies the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities under the University’s equity policies, the provincial best practices including management and support for staff providing accommodations, services and supports related to accommodations and the guidelines of the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The Assistant Director case manages the accommodations process for students with disabilities in challenging situations, such as those that require liaison with several areas of the University in consultation with the student’s Accessibility Advisor and University partners.

The Assistant Director collaborates with Accessibility Services leadership team (Director and AD Operations and Exam Services) on new technologies to streamline the accommodation process for students, staff and faculty.

The Assistant Director is responsible for statistics information for Ministry reports and monitoring budgets and serves on committees on issues related to the daily management of Accessibility Services at UTM.

The position is also responsible for contributing to and executing the vision of the department and developing an enhanced profile of the service to students, staff and faculty.

In the absence of the Director, the position is the Acting Director for Accessibility Services.

Essential Qualifications: 

Education:

Master’s degree in a disability-related professional discipline such as: Counselling, Social Work, or acceptable combination of education and experience. Training in project management an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years’ administration and management experience related to the delivery of service to persons with disabilities; extensive experience in case coordination and accommodation of people with disabilities with a range of disabilities including mobility, sensory and mental health required, in a postsecondary setting.
• Three years experience supervising staff and following confidentiality guidelines.
• Experience must include human resources, labour relations and financial management; supervision in unionized and non-unionized environments and interpreting and applying collective agreements. Strong understanding of the professional standards of a multi-disciplinary team (e.g., Social Workers, Occupational Therapists).
• Experience in supporting and coaching staff. Considerable experience working with people with varying disabilities in a community or institutional context with a solid and articulate understanding of disability issues required. A clear understanding of human rights and human rights law, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), government administrative processes, equity and the role of advocacy.

Skills:

• Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, data management system, internet, email).
• Experience with assistive technology an asset.
• Demonstrated skills in managing effective administrative processes and service delivery in a university setting and in project management.
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, communications and organizational skills.
• Strong tact, diplomacy, and mediation skills.
• Superb problem solving skills.

Other:

• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of judgement and initiative identifying potential issues, risks and areas of concern with respect to the individualized and dignified provision of accommodations with a commitment to the principles of equity and inclusion.
• Ability to communicate clearly, convincingly and professionally.
• Ability to negotiate challenging situations in a calm and persuasive manner.
• Knowledgeable about University policy and procedures and application of the Ontario Human Rights Code in post-secondary university settings.
• Ability to prioritize work, ability to deal with multiple demands with time-sensitive pressure, ability to work under constant pressure and stress; proven ability to exercise sound judgment, proven ability to deal with matters of extreme sensitivity and confidentiality.

Closing Date: 01/10/2025,11:59PM ET

Employee Group: Salaried 

Appointment Type: Budget – Term 

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 4 — Hiring Zone: $104,818 – $122,290 — Broadband Salary Range: $104,818 – $174,698

Job Category: Student Services

This is a 24 month term position.

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