First Year Transition Coordinator

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.

Mount Royal University’s Office of Student Experience works closely with staff and faculty to better understand our students and learn what we can do to ensure their success. Our goal is to help students learn about and navigate campus resources. As such, we are home to Orientation & Transition, the Early Support Program, and Student Leadership.

Reporting to the Transition and Engagement Supervisor, the First-Year Transition Coordinator is responsible for developing and executing programming and initiatives supporting new students as a member of the Student Experience team. This position requires strong event management skills to execute large scale institutional events and is somewhat physical, often requiring work on events in the evenings and weekends. 

This is a full-time replacement term position ending September 15, 2025.

Program Coordination and Development 

• Recruit, train, and supervise student volunteers and mentors.
• Oversee and guide the community outreach, event planning, and communications committees. 
• Create and maintain records of program data and reports (i.e. recruitment, surveys, tracking details, annual reporting). 
• Collaborate with the team to design and deliver training, presentations, and professional development. 
• Maintain and develop strong relationships with faculties, departments, institutes, and offices.

Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships

• Work with on-campus services and associations to develop meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Engage with key stakeholders to promote student success, first-year support and provide timely support based on the student life cycle
• Identify and develop opportunities for exchange of knowledge and resources between MRU and the broader community.

Event Execution, Communication and Marketing 

• Support both online and in-person orientation events for new students. 
• Execute large scale institutional events supporting thousands of students.
• Implement universal design for learning strategies and differentiated approaches for event planning and communication. 
• Conduct assessment of events and initiatives and support research and assessment of programs and activities to inform future program development.
• Use project management best practices to plan and implement student events.
• Develop and implement long-range strategic marketing and communication plans utilizing multiple mediums.
• Conduct digital content performance tracking, analytics, evaluation, and reporting.
• Support all stakeholder engagement including sponsorship and vendor management.
• Act as a member of the Transition and Engagement team making regular contributions to department initiatives.

• Bachelor Degree or equivalent, and 2 - 3 years of related experience.
  • Event / project management experience with proven experience building and executing events.
  • Proven experience engaging and cultivating volunteers.
• Exceptional understanding of program development and assessment.
• Excellent oral, verbal and written communication including formal presentations and diplomacy.
• Ability to conduct research, analyze data and problem solve.
• Understanding of experiential learning and the developmental process.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask while maintaining great attention to detail, organization and meet deadlines.
• Must be a team player with a sense of adventure.

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, fitness classes, climbing, aquatics, sports, tournaments and certifications for students, employees and the public.

Salary:                       $55,982 - $70,841 per annum

Closing Date:           January 10, 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). 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and others currently eligible to work in Canada will be given priority.

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 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp .