INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT (III)

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 68,000; Part time

Job summary

McMaster University’s School of Rehabilitation Science seeks a part-time instructional support professional to help instructors, TAs and students. The role designs and adapts lab sessions, coordinates labs, and assists with curriculum delivery in a master’s program in occupational therapy.

Responsibilities include tutoring, supervising up to 9 casual staff, and assisting with assessment and online course management. Start date: January 4, 2027; 17.5 hours/week on-site at McMaster Main Campus.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, adapt, and modify laboratory experiments and tutorial sessions.
• Forecast budgets for lab and tutorial courses.
• Supervise up to nine teaching assistants.

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Avenue 2 Learn

Atlas Curriculum Management Software

Job description

Schedule Part-Time, 17.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Education Level Master's Degree in a Relevant Field of Study

Career Level Requires 3 years of Relevant Experience

Hourly Rate Grade 9: $34.99 - $49.20 per hour

Location McMaster University Main Campus

Employee Group UNIFOR Local 5555, Unit 1 Bargaining Unit

Job Type Limited term, less than 12 months

Anticipated Start Date January 4, 2027

Job Description

McMaster University | Faculty of Health Sciences | School of Rehabilitation Science

Unit/Project Description

The Master of Science (Occupational Therapy) Program at McMaster University is an in-person professional graduate program that prepares future occupational therapists to promote health, well-being, and participation through occupation. Through a self-directed, problem-based learning environment, students develop the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours required to practice in a variety of institutional and community settings. Grounded in client centred practice, the program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, evidence-informed practice, and lifelong learning. Students explore the relationship between occupation and health across the lifespan, while gaining hands-on clinical experience and working alongside clients, families, communities, and interdisciplinary teams to support meaningful participation in everyday life.

Job Summary

Responsible for providing pedagogical and technical support to instructors, teaching assistants and students. Designs and modifies laboratory experiments, tutorial sessions, and lesson plans in accordance with the curriculum priorities of the instructor within an academic unit, department, or faculty. Forecasts operating budgets for lab and tutorial courses. Ongoing responsibility for supervising up to nine (9) Teaching Assistants.

Purpose and Key Functions

• Design, adapt, and modify laboratory experiments and tutorial sessions.
• Modify and adapt test procedures and equipment to meet specialized requirements.
• Forecast budgets and proposed expenditures for new program proposals, and for operating lab and tutorial courses.
• Write and design lesson plans in accordance to the curriculum priorities of the instructor.
• Provide formal supervision to teaching assistants and other part-time staff.
• Communicate curriculum to teaching assistants that is to be covered in tutorial sessions.
• Review current educational research literature to ensure curriculum follows best practices in teaching, education and learning.
• Organize and coordinate teaching laboratories, computer-based instruction, and tutorial classes accordingly.
• Introduce and demonstrate labs or tutorial sessions to students.
• Tutor students in programs and assist students with lab work.
• Train others on proper lab techniques, operating laboratory equipment, and on running efficient and effective tutorial sessions.
• Compose test questions and assignments, and prepare solution sheets for review by others.
• Assist staff with the preparation and set up of equipment and supplies for laboratories and tutorial sessions.
• Organize and monitor the on-line learning environment for courses in an academic unit, department, or faculty by ensuring that the appropriate course content information is made available to students.
• Write a variety of documents such as procedure manuals, correspondence, and reports.
• Prepare a variety of lecture materials including presentation slides and handouts.
• Provide guidance, advice, and solutions to teaching assistants when resolving student inquiries.
• Provide teaching assistants with appropriate teaching material as specified by the instructor.
• Ensure accurate grading of assignments is completed by teaching assistants and report discrepancies to the instructor.
• Correspond and meet with students to address concerns related to the course including, but not limited to, the resolution of contested grades.
• Liaise with instructors, teaching assistants, and students to ensure information within the academic unit is understood by all parties.
• Exchange technical and scientific information amongst colleagues.
• Operate, adjust, and maintain a variety of equipment and instruments.
• Troubleshoot equipment and perform minor repairs. Ensure major repair requests are escalated to the appropriate area.
• Assign tutorials to teaching assistants and arrange teaching assistant office hours.
• Section classes at the beginning of the year, dealing with all scheduling changes, room reservations, and scheduling conflicts.
• Assess the need for laboratory equipment and provide recommendations for the acquisition of materials and equipment.
• Calibrate laboratory equipment according to established calibration standards.
• Collect, track, and safeguard student marks and tests.
• Calculate student marks and submit final grades to appropriate areas.
• Input, maintain, and verify information in a variety of databases and spreadsheets.
• Pipette a variety of reagents and media.
• Prepare chemical reagents and biomedical media according to formulae and assume responsibility for accuracy in the preparation and standardization of solutions.
• Ensure that all laboratory waste is disposed of according to established policies and procedures.

Supervision

Ongoing responsibility for supervising up to 9 casual employees at any one time

Requirements

• Master's degree in a relevant field of study
• Requires 3 years of relevant experience

Assets

• Health Professional designation in Occupational Therapy considered and asset
• Experience in problem-based tutorial setting considered and asset
• Experience with data analysis and quality improvement considered and asset
• Experience with Avenue 2 Learn, and Atlas Curriculum Management Software is an asset
• Experience in Inter-professional Education facilitation and curriculum development is an asset

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the "Dish With One Spoon" wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.