Science Education Specialist

University of British Columbia - Staff; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dedicated Science Education Specialist to enhance pedagogical practices within the Department of Chemistry. This role involves advising faculty on course development, leading educational research projects, and facilitating professional development workshops. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and a graduate degree in a relevant discipline. Join a collaborative team focused on improving educational outcomes and fostering a diverse learning environment. If you're passionate about education and eager to make a difference, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of related experience in education or instructional design.
• Graduate degree preferred for relevant pedagogical guidance.

Responsibilities

• Advise faculty on course development and assessment methods.
• Conduct educational research and publish findings.
• Facilitate professional development workshops for faculty.

Skills

Pedagogical Expertise

Curriculum Development

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Teaching Experience

Instructional Design

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Relevant Discipline

Graduate Degree in Science

Tools

Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Educational Programming, Level B Job Title Science Education Specialist Department Administrative Leadership | Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science Compensation Range $6,251.00 - $8,986.00 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 23, 2025

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

Job End Date

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 position is a Faculty of Science-funded education specialist embedded in the Department of Chemistry. The person will have disciplinary expertise for that department (preferably a graduate degree in Chemistry or a related discipline), and will bring expertise in pedagogy and evidence-based practices from their own background and bolstered with Skylight-coordinated professional development workshops and ongoing mentoring from Skylight leadership and peers. They will observe and advise the Department’s instructors on historical best practices and current trends in instructional methods and assessment instruments. From time to time, the incumbent will need to participate in the instruction to undergraduates to advance the pedagogy of the way a course is delivered.

This role will be a resource, guide and support within the Department of Chemistry that will lead scholarship of teaching and learning projects, advise the faculty on teaching and learning practices and work with them on course and curriculum revisions, evaluations and pedagogical improvement projects.

Organizational Status

Appointment in Department of Chemistry, in the Faculty of Science. Reports jointly to a faculty supervisor in the Department of Chemistry and to the Director of Skylight or designate. Works closely with faculty members and other members of instructional teams (e.g., teaching assistants) and students who may be hired to help with projects. Interacts with peer members of Skylight in other departments and the central unit. May supervise teaching assistants and/or research assistants.

Work Performed

Instructional guidance:

• Advise and support faculty in new course development and implementation
• Advise and support faculty in existing course presentation and assessment
• Support faculty in information gathering and summarization of Department curriculum at a course and/or program level
• Advise and support faculty’s teaching activities and teaching and learning development projects
• collects, distils, and communicates data to guide faculty/department efforts including the design of evaluation tools (concept questions, surveys, focus group questions etc.)
• advise/collaborate with faculty on teaching and learning project proposal development (e.g., large and small TLEFs, development grants)
• liaises with Skylight and CTLT to coordinate relevant educational technology support and administrative assistance
• prepares departmental reports on pedagogical projects and/or initiatives
• coordinates departmental activities towards the achievement of the departmental vision around teaching and learning

Faculty and Teaching Assistant development:

• coach and consult with faculty to instruct them in evidence-based practices, possibly as part of a paired instructing arrangement
• serves as a resource for evidence-based practice
• provide formative, informal expert feedback to instructors on their teaching
• develops and deliver professional development workshops for faculty and teaching assistants
• Facilitate the professional development of faculty in the area of teaching and learning through workshops and one-on-one consultations, providing expertise and support in the planning, designing and implementing of evidence-based teaching practices and resources, and by measuring the effectiveness of such interventions.
  

Discipline-based education research (DBER):

• design educational research experiments and collect relevant data for course projects and publish newly developed instruments or implementation of novel methods, in both laboratory and lecture courses
• consult and collaborate on scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and DBER efforts undertaken by faculty
• disseminates scholarly work in collaboration with faculty through presenting at national and international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals
  

Community building:

• facilitates faculty members' communication and consensus building around teaching and learning in their department.
• liaises across Science departments and with colleagues at other institutions in the same discipline,
• serving on committees related to departmental teaching and learning activities
• organizes and participate in department activities related to instructional practice such as discussion series, science education seminars, reading groups etc.
  

Participates in centrally-organized work and activities, including collaborating on FoS-wide projects, actively participating in the community of their peers across departments, attending/contributing to Skylight meetings, Supper Series and the Science Education Open House each April, serving on committees as needed.

As part of the larger teaching improvement mission, may be asked occasionally to instruct in courses that are under development/study and have been identified as in need of pedagogical advancement (this would be less than one (up to three credits) course a year, at most twice (up to six credits) in a three-year time span, and would be done under an Honorary Lecturer appointment)

Participates in the assessment of program offerings and evaluations of teaching that will impact the success of the teaching programs and improve the teaching ability of faculty members.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Working below the UBC academic standard of excellence could potentially damage curriculum integrity and jeopardize the learning outcomes of UBC undergraduate students. In addition, the reputation of the institution and the Department would be damaged if the candidate demonstrated consistent errors and lapses of judgment.

Supervision Received

The role reports jointly to both Skylight Director and Department Head, or designates. The incumbent will work under general guidelines. Work is reviewed in term of achievement and effectiveness of the department's educational goals.

Supervision Given

This role provides guidance and advice to faculty members and other instructors on pedagogical skills, teaching practices and curriculum. May supervise TAs, UTAs, GRAs, URAs who may be hired to support DBER and SoTL projects.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four 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 discipline. Graduate degree in science related to department where work will be performed is preferred so that the incumbent will have sufficient knowledge of the subject to better provide relevant pedagogical guidance in the courses taught. Must have knowledge of current pedagogical research and best practices in teaching. Experience working in an instructional capacity instructor or teaching assistant with undergraduates. Experience in curriculum development. Experience in evaluation. Experience with learning management systems e.g., Canvas and other educational technologies would be an asset. Minimum of four years’ experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to lead change by helping to implement a vision and taking appropriate action to ensure acceptance and support.

• Ability to instruct and provide training in pedagogical best practices
• Ability to initiate and conduct research projects.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide recommendations.
• Must have good assessment and evaluation skills.
• Must be able to give effective presentations.
• Must have excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
• Must have good management and organization skills.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.
• Must have experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge or experience of education research methods (ethics/ Behavioural Research Ethics Board approval, study/survey design, qualitative data analysis, sophisticated statistical analysis abilities would be an asset