AI Strategy Specialist

The University of British Columbia; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking an AI Strategy Specialist to lead the development and implementation of AI initiatives that enhance student services. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure ethical and effective application of AI technologies, promoting operational excellence and inclusion within the university's framework.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years related experience or equivalent education.
• Experience in business systems analysis and project management.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate AI and emerging technology initiatives within Student Services.
• Provide training and capacity building on AI technologies.
• Manage project planning and execution for AI projects.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Analytical

Facilitation

Interpersonal

Project Management

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Certificate in Business Analysis

Tools

MS Project

JIRA

Confluence

Microsoft Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Information Systems and Technology, Level C

Job Title

AI Strategy Specialist

Department

UBCO | Program Administration | Strategic Initiatives

Compensation Range

$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

May 22, 2025

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

Job End Date

Mar 31, 2028

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

The purpose of this position is to coordinate the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technology initiatives within UBC Okanagan’s Student Services. This role will be pivotal in advancing innovative, AI-driven and emerging technology solutions that enhance the student experience, promote operational excellence, and align with the AVPS Mission, Vision, and Values. Collaborating with staff, faculty, researchers, and students, this position will identify and execute AI and emerging technology projects that address systemic needs, foster interdepartmental collaboration, and support the goals of the UBC Student Strategic Plan.

A core focus of the role will be on the adoption of innovative, effective and ethical application of AI and emerging technology within Student Services, ensuring that projects adhere to principles of transparency, equity, and accountability. This includes addressing critical issues such as data privacy, bias mitigation, and inclusive design to ensure AI and emerging technologies serve all students safely and equitably. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI and emerging technologies in higher education and to create systems and tools that reflect the values of inclusion, excellence, and sustainability.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the Director, AVP Students Office and works collaboratively as a member of the AVPS Office, including Student Communications, Administration, and Strategic Initiatives as well as portfolio wide directors and managers.

Work Performed

AI and Emerging Technology Capacity Building

• Provide technology use and adaption training and capacity building among staff and faculty, addressing a variety of knowledge and proficiency levels in order to enhance AI and emerging technology skills.
• Create and implement a training curriculum that covers a wide range of technology topics, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. The curriculum will be designed to be engaging and interactive, incorporating hands-on activities and real-world examples.
• Develop and deliver workshops and training sessions based on research findings to educate staff and faculty partners on AI and other emerging technology applications. These sessions will be tailored to different levels of AI knowledge, ensuring that both beginners and advanced users gain valuable insights and skills.
• Research and implement best practices for fostering a community of AI and emerging technology practitioners and enthusiasts within the organization.
• Offer change management as it relates to adopting new technology, including education and training.
• Conduct business needs analysis and evaluate use cases for AI and emerging technologies in administrative and student-facing services. This includes identifying functional requirements, process gaps, and opportunities for optimization based on research and stakeholder feedback.
• Document user stories, process flows, and system requirements for new technology implementations, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and user needs.
• Use data analytics to assess the impact of capacity building initiatives, training effectiveness, and adoption trends across user groups.
• Stay up to date with the latest AI and emerging technology trends and advancements by participating in industry conferences, webinars, and workshops in order to provide cutting-edge insights and recommendations to the University.
  
  

Artificial Intelligence Innovation

• Provide subject matter expertise to the AVPS portfolio regarding AI solutions and platforms, digital transformation and the impacts on the post-secondary landscape.
• Lead business process mapping, gap analysis, and requirements gathering for AI and emerging technology projects to improve automation and efficiency within the AVP Students (AVPS) portfolio, in partnership with other administrative units and faculties.
• Offer expert advice and consultation on AI and emerging technology related projects and initiatives across the University, on behalf of AVPS and the student experience. Collaborate with the AVPSO and departments to identify challenges and apply AI and other emerging technologies to address them, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of AI innovation.
• Collaborate with department heads and project sponsors to identify specific opportunities for technology solutions integration. This involves determining how AI and other emerging technologies can address current challenges and processes and may involve collaborating across the AVPSO to conduct needs assessments, and understand departmental goals and other emerging technologies.
• Translate complex business problems into technical specifications for developers and solution architects, ensuring clear understanding of scope and objectives.
• Develop cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies for proposed solutions to inform decision-making and prioritization.
• Develop data flow diagrams, system models, and functional specifications to support technology planning and procurement.
  
  

Project Related Work

• In collaboration with other members of the AVPSO, employs project management tactics, processes and methodologies in alignment with AVPSO guidelines to manage the planning of new AI and emerging technology projects throughout the project life cycle from initiation through to closure. This includes all elements of proper project documentation, anticipating & mitigating potential risks, providing tactical advice on the resolution of issues as they arise and acting as necessary to ensure project targets are met.
• Prepare project plans and aspects of contingency plans, and maintain project logs, produce written reports outlining project progress, and compile information for schedules and timelines in collaboration with the AVPSO Project Manager.
• Define project scope, goals and deliverables in conjunction with stakeholders and in alignment with institutional, campus and portfolio priorities.
• Manage issues and investigate areas of risk through use of a risk mitigation strategy.
• Develop, facilitate and maintain positive and productive working relationships with project stakeholders to ensure strategic aims and objectives of the project are continuously managed.
• Investigate and participate in developing procedures and operational methods to meet project objectives.
• Synthesize information from stakeholder engagement, data analysis, systems assessments, and best practices to inform actionable business and system recommendations.
• Liaise with stakeholders and all members of the project team on relevant developments, requirements and actions of the project.
• Identify and address key opportunities to promote project objectives.
• Provide leadership in problem solving, project planning and management; development and execution of identified goals, priorities and objectives.
• Take corrective action when needed to ensure desired project performance and outcomes are achieved.
• Ensure objectives, decisions, actions, schedules and budget are recorded, completed on time and on budget, and communicated appropriately.
• Develop and maintain an active network of internal and external contacts across campuses, including industry stakeholders and community partners.
• Collect, analyze and summarize information from stakeholders and others on relevant project data, and write reports and briefing notes for project sponsors, the project team and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Liaise with stakeholders and members of the campus community on relevant developments, requirements and actions of the project.
• Develop and recommend policies and processes to improve efficiencies in the management and coordination of special projects.
• Serve as the key liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams, ensuring that system functionality meets user needs and is aligned with institutional objectives.
• Develop testing protocols and support user acceptance testing (UAT) to validate system changes and ensure solutions meet requirements.
• Evaluate post-implementation success through performance metrics, user feedback, and continuous improvement loops.
• Develop and maintain documentation including business requirements documents (BRDs), functional specs, current and future state process maps, training materials, and post-project evaluations.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder interviews to elicit business requirements and validate solution designs.
• Support data governance, integration planning, and change management practices to ensure sustainable, scalable implementation of emerging technologies.
  
  

Perform Other Related Duties, As Required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors in project estimates and scheduling could impact project budgets and timelines.

Supervision Received

This position reports to the Director, AVPS Office.

Supervision Given

This position does not supervise staff or students.

Minimum Qualifications

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

• 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.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as Business Analysis, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Certificate or formal training in Business Analysis, Project Management, or related fields (e.g., PMP, CBAP).
• Demonstrated experience with business systems analysis, including requirements gathering, process mapping, and stakeholder engagement.
• Foundational knowledge of generative AI, chatbots, large language models, and automation technologies.
• Experience with enterprise AI platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.
• Familiarity with open-source tools and solutions.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in post-secondary or public sector environments.
• Strong understanding of change management and project management principles.
• Proficiency in project and collaboration tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Confluence).
• Experience working with open-source platforms and tools.
• Knowledge of student development theory and experience with student-facing systems or services.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of systemic inequities (e.g., racism, colonialism, ableism) and a commitment to ongoing learning in equity and inclusion.