Coordinator, Minds In Motion

Description

The Active Living in the Faculty of Kinesiology is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Coordinator, Minds In Motion.

The University of Calgary Active Living is dedicated to enriching the community by providing exceptional experiences through its facilities, programs, and services, fostering lifelong active living for all. With a vision centered on community enrichment and a mission to excite, educate, and empower through active living, the organization is guided by a set of core values that include respect, inclusion, integrity, leadership, and a commitment to fun.
Strategic priorities focus on delivering excellence in experiences, enhancing the student learning experience, connecting with local and international communities, fostering equality, diversity, inclusion, and indigeneity, enriching facilities and spaces, and fostering world-class research and innovation through collaboration with academics.
Minds in Motion (MiM) is a Schulich School of Engineering (SSE) program hosted by Active Living at the University of Calgary. It is a member of a nationally-organized non-profit organization known as Actua (www.actua.ca). Along with other Actua members across Canada, provides opportunities for children/youth (kindergarten to grade 9) to explore, get excited and broaden their depth of knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), This is done by offering school/classroom workshops (May/June), summer day camps (July/August), and community outreach initiatives and weekend clubs (year-round).

MiM strives to reach all children and youth, regardless of gender, ethnicity, geographic location, or socio-economic status, with focused outreach for those groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. MiM is a well-established program that enriches the University of Calgary and surrounding communities.

Minds in Motion provides various types of programming to over 4,000 participants generating annual revenue of approximately $500,000.00 per year. Coordinating this program requires discretionary decision making about programs, pricing, staffing, resource allocation and resolution of customer complaints. Work is driven by simultaneous deadlines at periods of time during the year. Peak periods (May-September) are stressful because of high volume.

Minds in Motion will manage and provide support to the SSE's Community Robotics Club during the year.SCRP coaches FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams, deliver free-of-charge and low cost robotics and programming workshops for kids 6-12+ years old, host youth robotics tournaments, and are active in the local robotics community. All SCRP programs and events are 100% designed, planned, and delivered by volunteers.

In partnership with the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL)Active Living worked together to create a summer camp called Design Camp. This camp was created to inspire youth about environmental design, introduce them to the faculty and draw in future students.

This position reports to the Youth Programs Manager. This position is full time, Monday to Friday 7 hours per day, 35 hours/ week. There will be times when overtime is required either weekends or evenings. If overtime hours are earned they are expected to be used up within 4 months before that coming January.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• The position requires management of a team of young instructors, leaders, mentors and volunteers who need regular coaching and mentoring
• Full scope of the recruitment and hiring process including screening, making hiring decisions, completing references and offering employment to a variety of those delivering the program, increased responsibilities within this area within the pre-season (March) to the end of the summer (September)
• Responsible for delegation of work and responsibilities to successfully ensure a positive summer experience for those participating in the programs. This includes assignment of work and hours of team members, managing schedules and authorizing any vacation
• Performance management, providing positive feedback and encouragement as well as dealing with any performance issues of the staff
• Formal evaluation of staff through appropriate methods
• Supervising and coordinating staff, specifically schedules and any vacation requests. Authorizing overtime as required and ensuring accurate records
• Public accountability, as the "face" of the program and dealing with partners, funders and sponsors as well as internal stakeholders within the Schulich School of Engineering as well as the University of Calgary, especially as it relates to the summer camps
• Interacting with parents (customer) to answer questions and respond to concerns regarding their children or the camp program
• Ultimate responsibility for the safety and security of the staff, stakeholders and the children while they are participating in programs
• Participate in the University of Calgary Summer Camps team (meeting of coordinators and managers of all summer camps on campus)
• Managing an assigned budget of approximately $500,000.00 for MiM, $95,000.00 for Design Camp, $95,000.00 for Physics Camp, $35,000 for Geography Camp and $35,000 for Business Camp per year. Provide budget updates as requested
• Applying for program funding from donors (through grants or in conjunction with the SSE Development office) and managing operating and short-term / one-time expenses. Complete funding applications and final reporting
• Responsible for procurement of supplies as needed and available through budget
• Managing discretionary funds prudently and responsibly, including ensuring all necessary policies regarding expenses are followed and funds are accurately accounted for
• Overall financial responsibility for the success (financial) of the programs to ensure viability year over year
• Setting the strategic direction for the programs, including introducing new ideas for the programs, staying current on research and findings with regards to the concept of STEM introduction, Environment Design and Entrepreneurship to young minds
• Preparing a clearly articulated annual plan for the programs, with goals, objectives, strategies, tactics and measures that demonstrate the effectiveness and reach of the programs
• Preparing comprehensive annual reports for donors and the public
• Preparing reports for partners/funders and sponsors as needed to ensure ongoing support for the programs. Provide on-site and in person updates and presentations to sponsors and funders as requested
• Responsible to provide immediate feedback and address any urgent media concerns with regards to children in the programs and the quality of the programs
• Accountable for the University of Calgary's reputation with regards to the quality of the programs, ensuring viable marketing and media coverage that encourages registration from parents and community support both internal and external to the university
• Coordinating the Minds in Motion STEM Clubs. This includes delivering a club every weekend over two seasons (8 weeks each), Fall and Winter, to roughly 20 participants in each group. The clubs aim to foster a love of STEM subjects among the young participants. This also involves planning the growth of the workshops in terms of the number of participants in line with the strategic goals of the Schulich School of Engineering and the University of Calgary, as well as activities that engage participants and encourage word-of-mouth publicity for the clubs
• Coordinating community outreach year-round. This includes working with indigenous and rural communities in Alberta, as well as low-performing, under-resourced schools in Calgary and surrounding areas to deliver workshops to children in the communities aimed at inculcating an interest in STEM subjects among participants. Work with the stakeholders to offer case by case support if possible. This may include class specific workshop topics, teacher training, or providing resources that can be used in the classroom once MiM has left
• Running Minds in Motion Professional development sessions for educators, teachers and pre-service teachers year-round. This includes online and in-person sessions to promote STEM in classrooms
• Running the Minds in Motion summer camps in which over 1500 children between the ages of 4 and 14 participate. Run in conjunction with the University of Calgary summer camps, this requires cooperation and coordination with other camp coordinators to ensure Minds in Motions camp quality and experiences are aligned with other UCalgary summer camps. This activity makes a direct impact on our immediate community and works as an early recruitment activity for the school, making it an extremely critical operation in our overall brand and community reputation. MiM also provides winter and spring break camps for youth each year
• Running Design Camp summer camps in which over 300 children between the ages of 7 and 15 participate. Run in conjunction with the UCalgary summer camps, this requires cooperation and coordination with other camp coordinators to ensure Design Camps quality and experiences are aligned with other UCalgary summer camps. This activity makes a direct impact on our immediate community and works as an early recruitment activity for the school, making it an extremely critical operation in our overall brand and community reputation. Programs are run at on-campus and downtown locations
• Running Physics Camp summer camps in which over 300 children between the ages of 10 and 14 participate. Run in conjunction with the UCalgary summer camps, this requires cooperation and coordination with other camp coordinators to ensure Physics Camps quality and experiences are aligned with other UCalgary summer camps. This activity makes a direct impact on our immediate community and works as an early recruitment activity for the school, making it an extremely critical operation brand and community reputation
• Running Geogrpahy Camp summer camps in which over 100 children between the ages of 7 and 12 participate. Run in conjunction with the UCalgary summer camps, this requires cooperation and coordination with other camp coordinators to ensure Geography Camps quality and experiences are aligned with other UCalgary summer camps. This activity makes a direct impact on our immediate community and works as an early recruitment activity for the school, making it an extremely critical operation brand and community reputation
• Running Business Camp summer camps in which over 100 children between the ages of 10 and 14 participate. Run in conjunction with the UCalgary summer camps, this requires cooperation and coordination with other camp coordinators to ensure Business Camps quality and experiences are aligned with other UCalgary summer camps. This activity makes a direct impact on our immediate community and works as an early recruitment activity for the school, making it an extremely critical operation brand and community reputation
• Responsible for determining which camp programs will be offered in the summer, and during which weeks. This will have a strategic impact on those participating, and must take donor requests and obligations into consideration as well as previous summers participation levels
• Designing camp and outreach activities and training staff and volunteers to deliver these effectively to roughly 5,500 children annually between the ages of 4 to 12+
• Responsible for coordinating the online camp registration and club registration to ensure parent satisfaction and maximum efficiency, as well as ensuring that the internal targets for camp registrations are met. This is done in conjunction with UCalgary kids
• Accountable for designing and delivering satellite camp programs which are key to the rural outreach program and fundamental to donor requests as well as the mission and vision of MiM
• Communication responsibilities to provide updates and report program outcomes to funders and internal stakeholders
• Organizing funder recognition as required. This may include media coverage that highlights funder/donor involvement, donor appreciation event or advertising
• Support the Schulich Community Robotics Club through marketing, materials, registration system, risk management, following Occupational Health and Safety policies and training
• Work with the SSE Development team to complete sponsorship proposals and stewardship final reports and updates throughout the year
• Responsible to prepare ACTUA and other eligible grant proposals
• Connect and work well with the development office to approach possible donors and communicate effectively and persuasively about the program and its impact on participating youth, and donor recognition to enable the program to continue to be funded adequately
• Work with the Kinesiology and Schulich School of Engineering marketing and communication teams to raise its visibility and participation from the community. This is a key component that has lasting impact on the brand of the Schulich School of Engineering
• Responsible for marketing workshops to schools, teachers and other community organizations. This utilizes both traditional (poster) and digital media to ensure the information is widely distributed. Advertising campaign requirements may vary from year to year
• Work with the marketing and communications teams to develop materials that communicate the programs and their impact effectively
• Work with media relations and publications officer to communicate the accomplishments of the programs effectively. Set a target for the number of media mentions for the year
  

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Science or a related field
• Experience in and strong understanding of education, and teaching and learning aimed at young learners and young leaders (camp staff)
• Knowledge of university core business systems, especially CSIS and PeopleSoft are essential.
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral communication skills (English fluency is required)
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Previous leadership experience showing initiative preferred, 2 years or more of supervisory experience
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft would be an asset
• Experience working with people with disabilities an asset
• Demonstrated strong work ethic and initiative, ability to be available from May - September for program facilitation
• Strong organizational skills to manage schedules, student activities, donor relationships and intense summer (seasonal) periods
• Experience with financial management or accounting, responsible for budget management
• Background in science, math, engineering, or technology would be an asset
• Previous exposure to camp and/or non-profit work environment is preferred
• Knowledge of marketing and communications is required
• Valid police security clearance with a vulnerable sectors search
• Appropriate first aid
• A valid Class 5 driver's license (cannot be a graduated license) with proven good driving record (abstract required), in order to facilitate program delivery in rural areas

Application Deadline: May 02, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level P1 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.