Manager, Partnerships & Engagement

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Calgary's Signature Learning Experiences Office seeks a Full-time Regular Manager to lead external partnerships for work-integrated learning and global experiences, reporting to the Manager, Operations and Impact. The role focuses on community, industry, and international university partnerships with a data-driven approach.

The Manager will supervise one Partnerships Specialist, guide OSLE's engagement strategy, and collaborate with academic units, UCalgary International, and

Qualifications

• Graduate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of experience in partnership engagement, preferably in WIL or student mobility.
• Progressive leadership experience with supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strategic partnership engagement approach for SLEs across UCalgary.
• Identify opportunities to grow SLE partnerships and improve practices.
• Review partnerships using a data-driven approach to inform renewals and terminations.
• Collaborate with internal units and external partners on global experiences.
• Supervise and develop OSLE staff to support partner engagement goals.
• Promote efficient use of resources and ensure alignment with university priorities.

Skills

Partnership engagement

Supervisory experience

Intercultural sensitivity

Communication skills

Office365 proficiency

Education

Graduate degree or equivalent

Tools

Orbis Outcome

Job description

Description

The Signature Learning Experience Office in the Office of the Provost & Vice-President (Academic) is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Manager.

The Office of Signature Learning Experiences (OSLE) is a central hub at the University of Calgary dedicated to connecting every student with transformative learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. OSLE advances four Signature Learning Experiences (SLEs): work-integrated learning (WIL), undergraduate research, entrepreneurial thinking, and global experiences in close partnership with academic units and external organizations. By providing visible, accessible leadership and shared infrastructure, OSLE enables UCalgary to offer these high-impact opportunities to students at scale, and equips graduates with the curiosity, confidence, and real-world experience to shape what comes next.

Reporting to the Manager, Operations and Impact, the incumbent leads the strategic development and management of external partnerships with a focus on community & industry partnerships for WIL, and international university partnerships for global experiences. This manager's work in partnership engagement complements activities in the broader OSLE team, the Office of Partnerships, WIL programs in the academic units, UCalgary International (UCI), and University Legal Services. The Manager supervises one Partnerships Specialist, with the expectation that the team will continue to grow. As a new position, this role is essential to developing a strategic, central engagement model for community & industry engagement in WIL, and international universities for a diversified set of global experiences for UCalgary students.

The Manager has a moderate to high degree of decision-making and plays a critical role in stewarding UCalgary's reputation with industry and community organizations as well as international partner institutions. The incumbent determines their own priorities, deadlines, and objectives and guides those of others. They perform complex and multiple tasks requiring attention to detail and a high level of interaction with academic units and faculty members, as well as administrators and service providers on campus and overseas. Their work requires meeting multiple demands and deadlines in keeping with the cycle of activities that occur on- and off-campus.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management

• With a focus on scaling SLEs and enhancing UCalgary¿s reputation as a partner, develop a strategic partnership engagement approach for SLEs across UCalgary with input from academic units and related units (Office of Partnerships, Alumni & Engagement, Centre for Career and Personal Development, UCalgary International and Legal Services).
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to grow quality SLEs through partnerships, as well as opportunities to improve practices.
• Regularly review partnerships and apply a data-driven approach to make recommendations for the development, renewal, and termination of agreements in alignment with UCalgary's priorities and students' interests.
• Collaborate with UCalgary International, academic units, and UCalgary Legal Services on the development and stewardship of partnerships for global experiences.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for team-related concerns, resolving challenges and facilitating effective solutions.
• Along with other OSLE leaders, work with faculties and departments to better integrate SLEs into students' degree programs, including the identification and development of preferred partners, ideal program timing, intensity, and duration.
• Review policies and procedures for external partnerships and recommend strategic changes to OSLE leaders based on knowledge of best practices.

Team Management and Operations

• Direct, motivate, and manage the activities of one senior unionized position, with the possibility of additional direct reports; manage recruitment, hiring, development of annual work plans, and ongoing performance management. Ensure continuous development of staff skills and abilities to fulfill annual portfolio commitments. Identify and support professional development opportunities for team members in alignment with OSLE's strategic priorities and individual growth goals.
• Manages one senior unionized position, with the possibility of team growth.
• Hires, trains, mentors, and develops a small staff team to support OSLE's strategic vision for partner engagement, while working collaboratively across the broader OSLE team.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team culture that encourages collaboration, engagement, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Develop processes to promote efficient use of staff resources and maximize partner engagement.
• Provide recommendations to the Manager, Operations & Impact to ensure the efficient and effective use of the unit's resources, both human and financial.
• Collaborate in short- and long-term planning to meet University goals for SLEs.
• Stay appraised of university-wide IT initiatives, programs, and services to ensure OSLE can access broader opportunities that will improve efficiencies.
• Ensure compliance with information security and record management protocols.
• Ensure operations adhere to University policies and procedures, including the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and related regulations, University financial policies and procedures, the International Travel Policy, academic and non-academic misconduct and harassment policies, and other University and provincial statutes and regulations as required.

Tracking, Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting

• Support program and process evaluation and data collection with leadership from the Manager Operations & Impact.
• Monitor and report on partnership engagement and use a data-driven approach to make recommendations for improvement to OSLE leadership.
• Make recommendations as appropriate to improve (or develop new) programs and services, mitigate risk, address barriers, ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and increase participation.
• Develop, implement, and assess plans for increasing and diversifying partner engagement in WIL.
• Remain current with trends in partnership engagement in higher education (for student mobility and WIL) to further develop and enhance programs and services.
• Work closely with other leaders, campus partners, and the Sr. Communications Specialist on promotional material, handbooks, and presentations for external partners. Ensure materials are reviewed annually and validated where required by academic units, ensuring accuracy and effectiveness.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  3+ years of progressive experience in partnership engagement, preferably in WIL and/or student mobility/study abroad.
• Progressive leadership experience with 1+ years of supervisory experience, preferably in a unionized setting.
• Engages, motivates, coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
• Demonstrated collaborative, team-building skills, and proficiency in building effective connections with academic units and external organizations.
• Thorough knowledge of best practices and current research related to WIL and/or student mobility/study abroad, preferably with a focus on partnership development.
• Excellent project and program development and management with a vision for the future, attention to detail, and a commitment to success.
• Proven ability in establishing individual and team priorities and dealing with competing deadlines to meet goals and objectives.
• Demonstrated experience and competence in the areas of consultation and relationship building, creative problem solving, innovation, and constructive dialogue.
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills with the ability to nurture positive working relationships with a diversity of campus and external partners are required.
• Intercultural sensitivity and awareness with the ability to interact in a professional and respectful manner with individuals and groups from diverse populations.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills in English, and the ability to engage diverse audiences with confidence.
• Expertise with Office365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, SharePoint) required.
• Experience with Orbis Outcome is considered an asset.

Application Deadline:

October 16, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level 1 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to Office of Institutional Commitments and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([e-mail]).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.