Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo

*The selection process for this position will follow the provisions for a special program as described by the Ontario Human Rights Code to address the underrepresentation of individuals from equity-deserving groups. Improving the representation, participation, and engagement of equity–deserving groups within our community is a key objective of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

As such, this hiring prioritizes qualified individuals who self-identify as a member of the following designated groups: candidates who are Indigenous, Black, or racialized.

We ask each interested applicant to include a statement if they self-identify as a member of the equity-deserving groups in their cover letter. Please note that our recruitment system has limitations. Hiring managers will only see the last updated version of the application (cover letter and resume) as older versions will be overridden. Therefore, if you are applying to more than one job simultaneously, your self-identification will be available to all hiring managers.

Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Undergraduate and Peer Tutor Programs, the Writing and Communication Advisor is responsible for performing a range of teaching, coaching, and development activities in order to develop undergraduate students’ writing, speaking, presenting, and visual communication competencies for academic work, research communication, and professionalization. These competencies are directly linked to undergraduate degree level expectations. Although they are focused on undergraduate student competencies, the incumbent also advises graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across all academic programs and all levels, and they must be familiar with a significant range of academic disciplinary genres and conventions, as well as with the general expectations for students at different levels of degree completion. Using a range of research-supported pedagogical strategies, the incumbent teaches, coaches, and supports students and postdoctoral fellows in individual appointments and in group appointments. Depending on what is required, they may develop, design, and facilitate workshops and other programs to target specific communication skills and strategies; they may collaborate with faculty to develop and deliver customized workshops for classes, research labs and institutes, and academic programs; and they may produce accessible synchronous and asynchronous virtual sessions, learning objects, and resources using various technologies and platforms. The incumbent works in a collaborative environment with responsibilities for information sharing and teamwork on projects, including taking the lead on organizational initiatives as required.

Responsibilities

Support undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in developing academic and professional writing competencies, speaking and presentation competencies, language learning, and/or visual communication:

Foster strong, respectful, and supportive advising relationships with people from a range of backgrounds, experience levels, language levels, learning experiences, and academic programs
Develop trust with people one-on-one; attend to the values and needs of the person seeking service
Cultivate an environment that supports the equitable development of resiliency, self-efficacy, and agency
Support people in defining and articulating learning goals or outcomes, and with creating pathways to success in meeting those goals
Assess people’s prior learning/knowledge/experiences; adapt teaching to and scaffold learning based on person’s current level/status
Support and encourage reflexive, active, and self-directed learning
Recommend relevant resources, tools, and other supports for the person based on their learning trajectory and goals
Facilitate sessions using relevant and appropriate strategies for the person and situation: directive and non-directive teaching; inquiry/questioning; scaffolding; reflection; genre analysis; rhetorical analysis; etc.
Ensure that principles of equity, specifically related to language and linguistic equity, are upheld in all aspects of teaching and support while promoting writers’ agency
Address teaching to the relevant stage(s) of the composing process; help to identify and define challenging stages of people’s composing processes such as brainstorming/ideation, developing a research focus or question, reading research, taking notes, comparing evidence, planning and outlining, composing components or sections for discipline-specific genres, integrating evidence, signposting and transitioning, drafting and revising, creating data visualizations, integrating visuals, designing documents or presentations visually, editing and polishing, responding to and integrating feedback, practicing public speaking and presenting, etc.
Provide expert advice on such topics and processes as writing productivity, academic publishing, professional communication, presentations, public scholarship, managing large writing projects, etc.
Assist people with understanding and integrating feedback on their writing and communication
Support people in determining future actions and planning next steps for their writing and communication tasks and projects, and for their overall progress and learning
Develop familiarity with various online teaching and tutoring platforms as used by the WCC to support students in virtual remote sessions

Enhance the WCC’s reputation as source for writing and communication expertise and strengthen internal capacity to provide excellent, research-based programming

Build and manage positive relationships with students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and campus partners
Educate campus colleagues on referral processes, resources, and workshop/program opportunities
Facilitate access to writing and communication resources that anticipate and target campus partners’ needs in supporting students
Identify gaps and needs in communication skills and support, and share these with colleagues and leadership, and seek to fill these gaps collaboratively, when possible
Support students registered with AccessAbility as requested and advised by Learning Strategists
Develop a teaching praxis that is supported by current research on composition processes, teaching models and strategies and academic and professional genres
Stay apprised of and review new programs, workshops, resources, etc. developed by WCC colleagues
Advise and support colleagues with teaching observations, reflection on and review of teaching sessions, etc.
Make suggestions for and participate in professional development opportunities to enhance teaching and student development.
Ensure that values of equity and inclusivity are embedded in programs, policies, processes, and relationships

Research and develop teaching programs and workshops to meet general and discipline-specific communication skills and strategies

Propose programs based on identifying needs and gaps in communication skills
Conduct research into genre, composition, and/or teaching models and strategies as needed
Design interactive and practice-based workshops on writing- and communication-related topics
Design and deliver a variety of continuing and multi-day programs, either individually or as part of a team, including
English language programs
Thesis and dissertation writing
Academic speaking support
Publication
Writing groups
Develop program and workshop materials including power-points, handouts, and activities to facilitate learning within a diverse group of learners
Assess the success of workshops and programs based on developed learning outcomes
Develop and maintain writing and communication resources / learning tools

Develop and design a variety of material and digital research-based writing and communication resources

Manage the design and development of projects related to the creation of resources, online modules, or online content
Assess and recommend the use of external resources for use and recommendation by the WCC
Assess the success of resources and/or learning tools and make amendments or recommendations for action as required

Administration and special projects

Assist with schedule management providing timely feedback and input during planning, and by entering or amending information in the online booking calendar
Document activities for metrics and assessment
Write reports about initiatives and programs as required
Assist with marketing and communications plans by writing web content, writing blogs, posting on social media, and/or writing copy for outgoing communications, and participating in outreach initiatives as necessary
Support student peer tutors by participating in training, providing mentorship, and giving feedback as requested

Research and professional development

Stay apprised of research related to fields of teaching, writing studies, writing centre studies, etc.
Participate in relevant professional associations by attending conferences, webinars, and other professional development opportunities
Participate in research projects as appropriate

Qualifications

Master’s degree or equivalent in a field related to language, writing/composition, discourse, rhetoric, linguistics, communication, writing centre studies, TESOL, education, etc., or Master’s degree in any field plus experience teaching or tutoring in writing and/or communication
If the incumbent is designated as the STEM specialist role for this program area, a degree in a STEM field plus experience teaching or tutoring in writing and/or communication is required
Minimum of one year tutoring or teaching experience at the post-secondary level, ideally at both undergraduate and graduate levels
Teaching experience in a writing centre or writing program is ideal
Experience teaching English language learners is an asset
Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as strong
interpersonal and collaboration skills
Demonstrates sound judgement, discretion, and problem-solving skills
Motivated, self-directed, able to work independently and collaboratively
Able to be productive in a fast-paced time-constrained workplace, and can balance multiple priorities
Demonstrates knowledge of writing/composition pedagogy that is culturally competent and grounded in an equity framework
Demonstrates an understanding of workshop and group education

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

University of Waterloo

Open Positions

Writing and Communication Advisor, Undergraduate Students (Writing and Communication Centre)