Employment Terms: Part-Time, 1 year Contract

Start Date: September 2024

Founded in 1829, Upper Canada College is a leading independent school for boys SK- Grade 12, located in the heart of Toronto. The College presents a rigorous, liberal education through the International Baccalaureate Programme and broad co-curricular opportunities to engage students, faculty and staff. Our students are motivated and supported by a well-resourced, exceptional faculty, who bring a diversity of experience to an exemplary professional learning community.

Position Overview:

UCC is looking for a charismatic, collaborative and organized Debate Coach for the Upper School (grades 8-12). This individual will work with both the faculty supervisors and the student debate executives to run UCC’s debate club meetings and tournaments. The coach will develop a curriculum that plans resources, seminars, and debate topics chosen to improve debaters’ abilities and prepare them for competitions. They will supervise and run, in collaboration with the club’s executives, biweekly club meetings, providing feedback for students. In collaboration with faculty advisors, the coach will determine the calendar of tournaments for the year and select teams with feedback from debate club heads. This individual will also be responsible for attending tournaments to supervise and coach debaters during competitions, and to fulfill any judging requirements at the competitions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and attend 2 after school student team meetings per week;
• Devise a curriculum to follow throughout the year to help students improve on debating skills and knowledge of local and global issues;
• Prepare resources for debaters, conduct seminars during certain practices;
• Organize tournament registrations, team selection, and attendance;
• Supervise students on day and overnight Debate Tournaments with Faculty Supervisors;
• Judge Debate Tournaments when required by organizers;
• Provide ongoing feedback and support throughout Debate Tournaments;
• Work collaboratively with Faculty Supervisors to enable travel and competition;
• Organize and host tournaments at UCC or elsewhere in collaboration with faculty supervisors.

Key Education, Knowledge and Competencies:

• Debate experience at the High School and/or University level required;
• 1-2 years experience in a coaching position preferred;
• Completion of a University Degree preferred;
• Demonstrated expertise and achievements in debate an asset;
• A Vulnerable Sector Screening clearance is required;
• Proven ability to work with students with varying degrees of experience and to develop their debating skills;
• Commitment to support the character development of club members;
• Excellent communication and problem solving skills;
• Collaborative, effective team player;
• Strong attention to detail, organization and planning;
• Provide a caring and supportive environment.

What We Offer: 

• Opportunities for professional development to support life-long learning of skills and knowledge;
• Floating holidays that recognizes our employees diverse religious and cultural practices; offers three paid floating holidays per year instead of three statutory public holidays of their choosing;
• Excellent mental health, medical and dental benefit plans (including Health Care and Lifestyle Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance programme and onsite wellbeing programming;
• Paid volunteer time off to become involved in your communities, lending  voluntary support to programs; 
• Ongoing community events and employee social events throughout the academic year;
• Fabulous collaborative team members and colleagues;
• Generous pension / retirement plan and paid time off plans: vacation / holidays, personal emergency leave, personal leave, parental leave top-up and flexible self-funded leaves;
• Free on campus parking;
• Opportunity for casual dress days.

UCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, encouraging applications from all qualified individuals and welcoming applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ persons. UCC embraces pluralism – celebrating differences, cherishing similarities, and giving voice to multiple perspectives. If you are contacted regarding a UCC opportunity, please advise if you require any accommodations.

Pleaseapply online by creating a “ECA, EA,Support” profile account by March 6, 2024, 3:00pm. We thank all candidates in advance; however, we will contact only those selected for an interview.  

To learn more about us please visit our site at www.ucc.on.ca