Academic Skills and Writing Specialist - Queens University

A Brief Overview

Student Academic Success Services (SASS) provides academic skills support to undergraduate and graduate students at all stages of program completion and levels of ability, including specialized programming for multilingual, first-year, and students at Queen's. SASS offers 1:1 appointments online, in-person, and asynchronously, as well as workshops and supports across Queen's campuses. SASS assists students in developing their skills in critical thinking, reading, learning, studying, writing, and self-management. Reporting to the SASS Manager, 1:1 Programs, the Academic Skills and Writing Specialist (ASWS) works collaboratively with the SASS and Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) teams and across the Division of Student Affairs to support a variety of programs and services and develop resources aimed at facilitating student academic success at Queen's. In particular, this position has expertise in and responsibility for supporting students with ADHD, Autism, and other disabilities affecting their academic success.

This position provides academic skills advising and writing consultation services to undergraduate and graduate students that assist them in enhancing learning, writing, and self-management and foster academic confidence and success at university. This position designs, develops, delivers, and evaluates programs, workshops, training, and services for students and other stakeholders. This position advises students on a variety of self-awareness and coping skill exercises and techniques. This position also supports students presenting with academic challenges and/or cognitive challenges related to learning disabilities, attention deficits, traumatic brain injury, or illness that have a direct bearing on their academic functioning.

What you will do

• Delivers individual and/or group academic skills strategies advising and writing consultations to undergraduate and graduate students that assist them in enhancing learning, writing, and self-management and foster academic confidence and success at university.
• Designs, develops, delivers, and evaluates programs, workshops, training, and services for students and other stakeholders.
• Advises students on a variety of self-awareness and coping skill exercises and techniques.
• Provides support to students presenting with academic challenges and/or cognitive challenges related to learning disabilities, attention deficits, traumatic brain injury, or illness that have a direct bearing on their academic functioning.
• Builds partnerships and collaborates with departments across the university and with community partners to promote and implement programs and initiatives that support student success.
• Conducts consultations with other advisors to ensure knowledge and support services are aligned with best practices.
• Develops resources to support student's academic skill development.
• Evaluates and researches comparators and best practices in student development and experiential learning.
• Chairs and/or participates on committees.
• Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.

Required Education

• Master's Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires a professional designation, certification, or other qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.
• in adult education preferred. and
• in disability studies preferred.

Required Experience

• More than 3 years and up to and including 5 years of experience.
• Experience working at a post-secondary education institution considered an asset.
• Experience advising students considered an asset.
• Experience developing and implementing group support programs for post-secondary students with Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities considered an asset.
• Experience providing 1:1 learning strategies support to students with Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities considered an asset.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check required.
• Vulnerable Sector Screening required.

Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Knowledge and Requirements

• Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or substantial work experience.
• Provide effective consultation and advice on non-straightforward and/or complex issues.
• Interaction with others requires interpersonal skills and the ability to understand and influence.
• Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
• Builds relationships, trust and credibility.
• Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
• Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
• Actively participate in project team meetings and develop individual and unit project plans.
• Lead procedural or technological change within a unit.
• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
• Seek information and input to fully understand the cause of problems.
• Appropriately assesses risks before making a decision.
• Contribute to the creation and evaluation of possible solutions.
• Take action to remove obstacles and address problems before they impact performance and results.
• Apply equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion and Indigenization considerations to decision making and planning.
• Promote a work environment that is free from sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, and the ability to show empathy for those who have experienced trauma.

Please apply online at:
https://clients.njoyn.com/CL4/xweb/xweb.asp?clid=74827&page=jobdetails&jobid=J1125-0558&BRID=EX431395&SBDID=21474&LANG=1.