Program Manager, French Education

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Title
Program Manager, French Education

Department
Administration & Operations | Department of Language and Literacy Education | Faculty of Education (Ana Susnjara)

Posting End Date
March 1, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date
Mar 10, 2025

This position is part-time (0.5 FTE). As such, the salary and weekly hours will be pro-rated. The duties will be shared with the current French Programs Manager. There is an opportunity for contract extension.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

French education and teacher education programs in the UBC Faculty of Education are housed within the Department of Language and Literacy Education (LLED). Programs are offered in three main areas in collaboration with other units and offices in the Faculty: An 11-month Bachelor of Education program offered through the Teacher Education Office with a French specialization at both the elementary and secondary levels with a projected enrollment of up to 80 students per year; a Master's in Modern Language Education offered through the office of Professional Development and Community Engagement (PDCE) with a projected enrollment of 20 per cohort, and Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in French education offered by LLED. In addition to these degree-granting programs, LLED supports the following co-curricular credit and non-credit courses and institutes for professional development purposes to pre-service and in-service teachers: Institut de franҫais in Québec, Séjour UBC (an intensive workshop series for French pre-service teachers); French Oral Language Support for Pre-service teachers; Gramligne: Learning and Teaching Communicative Grammar in a second language. There have been many challenges to recruit and retain students in French education programs in BC, this position is funded by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training to support the teaching, learning, and professional development of Canada's other official language - French - in an institutionally Anglo-dominant context, while respecting B.C.'s multilingual and multicultural diversity. The Program Manager has an overarching role to provide operational and administrative oversight of the successful and sustainable delivery of the French Programs. The incumbent leads the program resource development (including learning and promotional materials) and communications and marketing efforts to promote the Programs, and oversees recruitment and retention activities for French pre- and in-service teachers, as well as is responsible for the oversight of the Ministry funding.

The incumbent must be fully bilingual in both French and English.

Organizational Status
Reports to the LLED Administrative Manager, on administrative matters. Works closely with the French Programs Coordinator (who is a tenure stream faculty member in LLED providing academic oversight of French programs in the Faculty of Education). Interacts frequently with staff and faculty in LLED, the Admissions Manager and the Teacher Education Office (TEO), and interacts regularly with the Department Head, the Associate Dean, Teacher Education. Connects with school districts and community partners.
Work Performed

French Language Resource Development, Marketing/Promotion and Communication for the Recruitment, Retention and Support of pre-service and in-service FSL teachers in BC and oversight of French program funding and bursaries for preservice French teachers.

French Language Resource Development

Working with the French Programs Coordinator (faculty member) and BEd instructors:

• Adapts and develops French BEd courses for on-line delivery

• Aligns resources with curriculum and assessment activities of the BEd program French specialisation and with the BC curriculum

• Develops, updates and/or translates French resource materials that support pre-service and in-service French teachers' learning and future teaching practices

• Manages course materials for all elementary and secondary BEd French courses, including oversight of the content, completion and delivery of course pack resources for French courses in BEd program

• Documents decisions and policies regarding French programs and appropriately archives resources

• Develops strategies and opportunities to support potential applicants who live in rural settings or out-of-province with online courses to improve their French level with the goal of increasing the number of admissible applicants. As a means to achieving this, creates opportunities for partnership with community colleges in the province to develop courses and extended learning in French for those interested in teaching French, improving French skills and completing needed coursework

• Develops a dedicated French area in the Teacher Education Library

• Collaborates with the librarian to design a section of the library to house French resources and to facilitate study, small group work and seminars for the French cohort.

• In consultation with UBC instructors and French coordinators from various school districts, builds list of French resources in line with BC curricular competencies, and recommends them for purchase.

• Liaises with UBC Teacher Education librarian .to provide ongoing support for French library initiative and as needed

Recruitment

• Works with multiple stakeholders within the faculty, the university and the community to conceptualize, plan, develop and coordinate marketing and recruitment strategies for French programs in the Faculty of Education, and in collaboration with on-campus resources, such as UBC Studios, creates multi-media marketing campaigns and content for print and media campaigns.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of the marketing efforts to inform future recruitment plans

• Manages both the LLED French website and oversees updates of the French Specialisation information on the TEO website on an ongoing basis to ensure information is clear, current and accurate, as well as ease of use and attractiveness, ongoing development of FAQs; creation of graphic organiser to help prospective students navigate admissions process.

• Maintains active connections with the French education community including Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS) at UBC.

• Attends conferences to promote opportunities in French teacher professional development and language development education at UBC (Institut de franҫais, UBC à Québec, Gramligne, etc.)

• Seeks opportunities for French pre-service teachers to gain Community Field Experience in French milieu either in BC, Canada or internationally.

Retention

• Collaborates with UBC and school districts to develop a French language mentorship program for early career French language teachers to recruit, retain and support rural and lower mainland French teachers.

• Develops on-line, open-source teaching resources in French for French language teachers with pedagogically appropriate materials, including the development of resources with Indigenous content and approaches embedding First People's Principles of Learning, in consultation with Indigenous scholars and educators in the Faculty of Education and/or the community.

• Conducts needs assessment amongst educational stakeholders in the field (Sponsor teachers, principals, directors of instruction) to support French program retention, delivery and recruitment.

• Plans, organizes, develops, schedules and delivers on-going French professional learning, language support courses and co-curricular workshops, both face-to-face and online, to support the professional and language development of in-service teachers and pre-service teachers in UBC Vancouver, UBCO and the West Kootenays Teacher Education Program (WKTEP), including:

• Logistical planning, budgetary oversight, bursary administration, resource planning, workshop facilitation; recruitment, selection and assignment of presenters and instructors, and program evaluation for the following programs/initiatives:

  • Séjour UBC, an intensive workshop series for French pre-service teachers

  • French Oral Language Support for Pre-service teachers

  • Gramligne: Apprendre et enseigner la grammaire communicative en langue seconde

  • Other special initiatives for French pre-service and in-service teachers

• Planning, budgetary oversight, bursary administration, resource planning, workshop facilitation; recruitment, selection and assignment of presenters and instructors and program evaluation of the Institut de franҫais, UBC à Québec, a two-week immersion program for French language teachers, including:

• Overseeing registration website and process, admissions to program, accommodation and arrival logistics of participants, as well as online program evaluation platform and analysis of feedback

• Managing contract negotiations and organizing logistics for placement tests, program activities, space/services reservation, as well as all other communications in Québec City

• Liaising with Ministry of Education on annual bursary funding contracts

Administration and Oversight of the Ministry Funding for French Programs

• Accountable for all aspects of the management of the Ministry Funding for French Programs within Faculty of Education, including the Bursary for French Teachers in Training, Post-Secondary Institution Grants based on students contact-hours in Pre-service courses, and special funding for French programs in the Faculty of Education.

• Prepares budgets for various French funds in LLED, monitors expenditures and compares budgets to actuals

• Establishes and implements procedural guidelines for French Program Administration of Funds

• Prepares and conducts program evaluation statistics collection to inform marketing, recruitment and budget decisions

• Monitors BEd program enrolment and graduation numbers through the TEO

• Monitors percentage of French instruction from year to year

• Prepares statistics and summary for the Ministry of Education reports on funding

• Identifies new funding opportunities in support of the program and, working with the French Program Coordinator (faculty), writes grant proposals

• Documents decisions and policies regarding French programs and appropriately archives resources

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position makes managerial and financial decisions related to the French Programs in the Faculty of Education and must exercise a high level of professionalism, judgment and initiative when dealing with the Ministry, various units and departments, faculty members, as well as with non-UBC colleagues and members of the community. This position will work with the French Programs Coordinator in various aspects of resource, recruitment and program development. Failure to follow best practices and exercise sound judgement could result in significant resource and reputation costs to the Faculty of Education and UBC.
Supervision Received
Works independently under the general direction of the French Program Coordinator. Reports to the LLED Administrative Manager on administrative matters.
Supervision Given
Directly supervises the French Program Student Support, TEO (1.0 M&P position).
Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate degree preferred. Degree in Education, Communications, French or related discipline preferred.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

• Candidate must be fully bilingual in French and English and be proficient at a professional level in both languages

• Ability to take initiative, make sound judgements

• Ability to develop strategic engagement processes and develop strategic plans

• Ability to negotiate agreements and contracts. Solid financial management skills and ability to develop budgets

• Proven analytical abilities

• Demonstrated ability to tailor content to different audiences and through different communication channels (print, online, social media)

• Effective project management abilities

• Interpersonal, planning, organizational and problem-solving skills

• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet multiple deadlines

• Ability to maintain accuracy and high attention to detail

• Ability to think strategically and exercise diplomacy, tact and discretion

• Proficiency in Excel, Word and Outlook

• Experience in community relations, public relations, recruitment or sales preferred

• Knowledge of University policies and procedures is considered an asset