Director, Accessibility Services

Job Title

Director, Accessibility Services

Requisition #

998162.1

Job Type

Permanent (for any group)

Union or Employee Group

Management

Classification

MA

Position End Date (if applicable)

Location:

MRU Main Campus - Calgary, AB T3E 6K6 CA (Primary)

Posting

About MRU

Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. Mount Royal has carved out a distinct niche by offering smaller class sizes, a robust liberal education and unique undergraduate programs. Currently, more than 15,000 credit students choose from 13 bachelor degrees and 36 majors.

Mount Royal University is located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut'ina and the Iyarhe Nakoda. We are situated on land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. The traditional Blackfoot name of this place is "Mohkinstsis," which we now call the city of Calgary. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation.

Mount Royal University is committed to removing barriers and fostering the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged in our society. In support of our belief that diversity in our faculty and staff enriches the work, learning and research experiences for the entire campus community, we strongly encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply and self-identify.

About the Department of Accessibility and Inclusion Services

Access and Inclusion Services supports members of the University in creating an accessible, equitable, and inclusive learning environment. We provide services and support to faculty/staff and students who fall under protected grounds as defined by Alberta Human Rights Legislation.

About the Role

This position is responsible for developing strategies that positively impact the effective and appropriate accommodations of students experiencing disabilities.

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Student Experience and Success, this position provides leadership to the Access and Inclusion Services team. Access and Inclusion Services provides services that must comply with institutional, provincial, and federal policies and legislation. Design and implementation of strategies require effective collaboration with other leaders at Mount Royal University and with external agencies. The incumbent has direct responsibility for decisions regarding academic accommodations of the modification type and responsibility for all aspects of Access and Inclusion Services, including but not exclusively, for human resource management, communication/marketing, policy development, and budget resource management. A key to success will be the incumbent's ability to enable and facilitate the professional and specialized staff in this area to work collaboratively within the Department and throughout the institution to implement reasonable accommodations and support the learning of students experiencing disabilities. The incumbent has direct administrative decision making with respect to a budget of over $1,300,000. The incumbent determines the allocation of funds to programs and services offered by the Department.

This position must effectively handle conflicts that arise due to disagreements with respect to recommended accommodations within the professional staff; resolving these differences of opinion amongst the professional staff is often challenging stress related to external disagreements to accommodate occurs when the vantage point of staff and student do not agree or where there is a conflict between the student and faculty member. The incumbent often has to make decisions based on an institutional perspective but needs to respond very quickly to both internal and external change keeping in mind the requirements of Access and Inclusion Services and its legislated role. The incumbent is involved in establishing and implementing the strategic direction for the development and delivery of services offered throughout the Department. They provide expertise and advice to the Associate Vice-President, Student Experience and Success, and Divisional Leadership team on issues related to students experiencing disabilities. This person assists in ensuring University policies and legislation are complied with and having conversations with senior positions at Mount Royal University on any non-compliance. The reputation of Mount Royal University, the disability community and in the greater community in general, is affected by the decisions with respect to the accommodation process. This is a unique position, not only dealing with administrative issues but requiring a unique set of skills, expertise, and experience to be able to negotiate the legislative and policy environment and to be able to advise at the highest level within the University and be the spokesperson in the external community.

This position is a full-time role working 35 hours per week.

Note: There is a strong Internal Candidate

Responsibilities

Leadership, Planning and Direction

The incumbent is responsible for the leadership and management of Access and Inclusion Services. This includes directing the creation and implementation of the vision, mission, and strategic planning framework of Access and Inclusion Services and being accountable for the achievement of Access and Inclusion Services' goals. The individual ensures any changes required by the revised Policy 517 are integrated into the Access and Inclusion Services Department's service delivery model and provides ongoing analysis with respect to changes in service delivery processes and procedures. The incumbent must lead the Department in partnering with faculty to fulfill its enhanced role under Policy 517, to ensure Access and Inclusion Services representation on the Faculty/School Advisory Committees responsible for hearing academic accommodation appeals and in supporting the development of BFERs.

Program Development and Service Delivery

Mount Royal University has a responsibility to ensure there is reasonable access for students experiencing disabilities to the learning, social, and physical environment. The incumbent takes a lead role in ensuring compliance with the Provincial Human Rights legislation and in understanding and communicating the impact of this legislated duty on University employees. Ultimately the individual is responsible for ensuring students experiencing disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. The individual also assesses the institution's situation relative to external governing agencies and professional organizations. The incumbent must also engage in scholarly activities such as research projects and presenting at conferences (CACUSS, ASSC, etc.). The individual ensures that Mount Royal University and its staff are current with evolving trends and are current on the literature and evolving lines of thought in the field at the post-secondary level to influence and inform program and service development.

Communication and Collaboration

Creating effective liaisons with other academic and service areas is of critical importance to the success of the Access and Inclusion Services Department. The incumbent influences other areas to co-develop programming or support the learning initiatives of Access and Inclusion Services in furtherance of the Academic Plan and in ensuring all Policy and Legislative requirements are met. Developing relationships and effective communication strategies with faculty members or faculties are key responsibilities. The individual will determine who the Access and Inclusion Services' staff representative will be on the Faculty/School Accessibility Advisory Committees. The incumbent provides expertise to internal and external stakeholders on the duty to accommodate students experiencing disabilities in a post-secondary environment and universal instruction design. The internal dialogue includes participating or chairing relevant and related committees; liaising with faculty members, various student service areas, and the SAMRU. External discussions with stakeholders would include Post-Secondary Service Providers to Students with Disabilities (PSSP(Alberta)), Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Post-Secondary Education (CADSPPE), the Canadian Association of Colleges and University Student Services (CACUSS). Further the incumbent networks with disability related not-for-profit organizations (such as, but not limited to, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta; Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and Canadian Mental Health Association) to provide them with information that they can provide their members for the transition of students experiencing disabilities to post-secondary institutions and the accommodation process at Mount Royal University.

Staff Leadership and Development

The incumbent is solely responsible for the direction, leadership and management of the Access and Inclusion Services Department and its staff including recruitment, hiring, assessment, development and supervision. The individual sets performance expectations and ensures the work plan performance cycle is followed. Based on the Department's strategic plan, the incumbent continually assesses the need for and provides appropriate professional development opportunities for staff members in the areas of budget management, fiscal responsibility, and accountability, human resource management, and program and service development, implementation and assessment. The incumbent determines which programs are to be implemented, revised, reduced, or eliminated. The individual also leads the provision of service areas including the Academic Accommodation Advising Service; Access Supports Co-ordination; Academic Strategist Service; Assistive Technology Service; and Accommodated Examination Service.

Resource Management

The incumbent is responsible for the projection and management of the budget of the Department including all budget systems. This requires the planning and tracking of payroll and operating expenses as well as maintaining a comprehensive system for predicting, executing, and tracking external sources of funds from sources such as Student Finance/Student Loans. The individual also provides periodic reports on provincial funding specifically targeted for providing services to students experiencing disabilities.

Divisional Role

As a member of the Student Experience and Success Leadership team the Manager is co-responsible for the development and implementation of the Division's strategic plan. They work collaboratively with departments within the Division to provide comprehensive and progressive programs and services to support the personal and academic success of students, faculty, and staff at Mount Royal University. The individual engages in literature reviews, research, and professional development along with Student Experience and Success leadership to develop models for programming and assessment.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

University Master Degree or Post Graduate Studies in a related field

Experience

6 to 10 years of experience. To be successful, the individual needs to have the requisite skills to work through accommodation issues with students, professors, and others and to create and implement policy at a high administrative level.

Skills and additional requirements

This position requires the incumbent to have specific skills and knowledge in the following areas: policy development and implementation; academic accommodation at the post-secondary level; universal design for learning; universal access; diversity competencies; bona fide educational requirements; strategic planning; program development and implementation; and evaluation skills assessment.

Excellent verbal, listening, writing, and networking skills are needed in order to fulfill the many tasks required.

Networking both inside and outside Mount Royal University.

Strong leadership skills.

Ability to collaborate with others.

Use of Banner, FAST, and Excel software for budgeting, accounting, and payroll.

Analytical and intuitive reasoning to interpret information, resolve problems, or come up with innovative solutions to problems.

What We Offer

Talented and committed employees are the driving force behind student success. We strive to be an employer of choice among Canadian post-secondary institutions.

At Mount Royal University, we recognize that people are a combination of many intersecting identities; we work to cultivate an environment that welcomes the whole person, and harnesses the strength that is available in our diversity, creating a rich and inclusive workplace.

Investing in the learning and development of our employees benefits the individual and the University. A variety of services, resources and programs encourage a healthy, productive workplace. Mount Royal University offers a competitive total compensation package including health and dental benefits, pension, health and personal spending accounts, paid vacation, winter holiday closure, personal days and a free membership in our fully equipped recreation centre.

Our campus offers the convenience of a medical clinic, dentist and pharmacy, as well as a variety of wellness services such as physiotherapists and massage therapists. Campus Recreation offers many activities, including personal training, climbing, aquatics, sports and certifications for students, employees and the public.

Salary: $ 105,845 - 146,064 per annum

Closing Date: April 26, 2024

A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: Last Name, Requisition Number, Document Title.pdf (ex. Smith, 999999, CV.pdf).

Recent Mount Royal graduates who are foreign nationals may be eligible to work on campus. Please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website under Post-Graduation Employment at https:// www. cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp.

If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify [email protected] and we will work together on the accommodation request.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. After the close date, you can check on the status of your application through your Career Centre. New career opportunities arise frequently and are posted as they become available. Please check back often to view our latest postings on our Career Opportunities page. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Mount Royal University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to fostering diversity as a source of excellence, intellectual and cultural enrichment, and social strength. We welcome applications from those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff, faculty and their scholarship including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual or gender identity, ethnic, national or socio-economic background, religion or age.