Senior Partnerships Specialist

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Calgary's Signature Learning Experiences Office seeks a Senior Partnerships Specialist to lead external relationships and optimize engagement across work-integrated learning and global experiences.

Reporting to the Manager, Partnerships and Engagement, you will develop strategic partnership strategies, monitor agreements, and provide data-informed insights to expand opportunities for students and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in international education, business, public administration, or a related field.
• 3+ years of progressive experience in partnership development or management with industry/community organizations.
• Experience supporting work-integrated learning (WIL) and international education/student mobility is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders such as employers, community organizations, or international institutional partners.
• Strong data management and analytical skills, with experience using tracking systems, CRMs, or similar databases.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work across diverse cultural contexts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of external partnerships for WIL and global experiences.
• Coordinate renewal and terms of partnership agreements with legal and academic units.
• Monitor partner engagement metrics and provide data-informed recommendations.
• Support the Manager and OSLE in developing new international partnerships and expanding global opportunities.
• Coordinate logistics, communications, and materials for partner visits and exchanges.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to team members involved in partnership activities.

Job description

Description

The Signature Learning Experiences Office in the Provost & Vice-President (Academic) is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Partnerships Specialist.

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, work-integrated learning, 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, Partnerships and Engagement, the incumbent leads the coordination, stewardship, and optimization of a diverse portfolio of external relationships with industry, community, and international partners. The role provides specialized partnership expertise and strategic recommendations that influence partnership priorities, engagement approaches, and resource allocation decisions across OSLE's work-integrated learning and global experiences portfolios. The incumbent works within the strategic direction established by the Manager while independently determining partnership engagement strategies, identifying opportunities for growth, mitigating partnership risk, and advancing initiatives that contribute to institutional partnership objectives. The incumbent exercises considerable professional judgment in prioritizing activities, resolving complex stakeholder issues, and recommending partnership actions. This role is essential to delivering a professional, consistent partner experience across two partnership streams that differ in geography, sector, and agreement type but share a common need for relationship stewardship, data-informed management, and responsiveness. The Specialist plays a critical role in shaping and advancing an institutional "Hire UCalgary" partnership model, influencing collaboration among academic units and external stakeholders to expand and scale experiential learning opportunities across the university.

The role requires a high level of interaction with academic units and faculty, industry and community organizations, international institutional counterparts, and campus partners including the Office of Partnerships, UCalgary International (UCI), and University Legal Services. Work is subject to multiple concurrent deadlines tied to academic terms, application and exchange cycles, and partner reporting requirements occurring on- and off-campus, and occasionally requires participation in events or communications outside standard business hours, including across international time zones.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Partnership Development - Work-Integrated Learning (Industry & Community)

• Identify, research, and cultivate prospective industry and community connections to expand quality WIL opportunities across academic programs at UCalgary (co-operative education, internship, practicum, service-learning, project-learning) in line with OSLE's strategic priorities.
• Conduct initial outreach and relationship-building with prospective partners; qualify opportunities and bring forward recommendations to the Manager.
• Support the development, execution, and renewal of WIL partnership agreements, working with academic units and University Legal Services as needed.
• Maintain an accurate, current inventory of WIL partners, agreements, and opportunities to support the matching of employers and community organizations with academic units and students.
• Maintain an accurate, current inventory of UCalgary WIL programs and their specific requirements.
• Develop and maintain onboarding materials, guides, and standard communications to support a consistent, positive partner experience.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of external partnership trends, labour market needs, and sector opportunities, providing strategic recommendations to support partnership growth and program development; and Represent OSLE at networking events, employer information sessions, and community engagement activities to build UCalgary¿s profile with WIL partners.

Partnership Development - Global Experiences (International Exchange)

• Manage day-to-day relationships with international exchange partner institutions, serving as a primary point of contact for routine matters.
• Monitor exchange agreement terms, renewal and expiry timelines, and reciprocity/balance data; flag agreements requiring review, renewal, or termination to the Manager.
• Analyze utilization, reciprocity, engagement, and partnership performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and provide recommendations that inform partnership decisions as well as international engagement strategies.
• Support the Manager and UCalgary International in developing new international partnerships and expanding global opportunities linked to other SLEs (entrepreneurial thinking, undergraduate research, WIL abroad).
• Coordinate logistics, correspondence, and materials for partner visits, delegations, and international communications, exercising cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

• Cultivate and maintain productive working relationships with academic units, faculty, and campus partners (Office of Partnerships, UCalgary International, Legal Services, Centre for Career and Personal Development) to support a coordinated partner engagement approach.
• Serve as a knowledgeable, responsive point of contact for inquiries from community & industry, international postsecondary institutions and from internal staff and faculty, including inquiries from various levels within organizations.
• Exercise judgment to resolve routine and moderately complex issues, and elevate sensitive or precedent-setting matters to the Manager.
• Contribute to a unified, Hire UCalgary style engagement approach by sharing partner intelligence and coordinating outreach with others across campus involved in industry and community engagement.

Data, Tracking & Reporting

• Develop an approach for collecting and responding to partner feedback.
• Collaborate with the Platforms Specialist and Data Analyst to improve partner data quality and collection processes.
• Maintain partnership databases and tracking tools for both the WIL and global experiences portfolios, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare regular reports, dashboards, and summaries on partner engagement, agreement status, and student participation for the Manager and OSLE leadership.
• Identify trends and emerging issues in partnership data and bring forward recommendations for improving practices or addressing gaps.

Process Improvement & Materials Development

• Contribute to the development and refinement of processes, templates, and tools for partner outreach, onboarding, and stewardship.
• Work with the Manager and Senior Communications Specialist to develop and update promotional materials, handbooks, and presentations for external partners, ensuring accuracy and currency.
• Recommend improvements to operational and functional practices within the team, drawing on day-to-day experience and knowledge of best practices at other institutions.

Team Support

• Provide functional leadership, training, and mentorship to team members and student staff involved in partnership activities, contributing specialized expertise and promoting consistent partnership management practices.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team culture within OSLE.
• Support the Manager with special projects and initiatives related to partner engagement as required.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (international education, business, communications, public administration, or a related field), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of progressive experience in partnership development or management with industry/community organizations.
• Previous experience supporting WIL required; experience with international education/student mobility considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders such as employers, community organizations, or international institutional partners.
• Sound working knowledge of partnership agreement/MOU structures and processes, with experience coordinating their development, renewal, and administration, including liaison with Legal Services on complex terms.
• Strong data management and analytical skills, with experience using tracking systems, CRMs, or databases to monitor partner engagement and produce reports.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve complex or ambiguous partner issues using precedent and established practice, and to recognize and elevate novel or high-risk matters.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex or sensitive information to a range of internal and external audiences and to build consensus.
• Intercultural sensitivity and awareness, with demonstrated ability to engage professionally and respectfully with individuals, groups, and institutions from diverse cultural and international contexts.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with proven ability to manage a varied portfolio and competing deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Experience developing partner-facing materials (e.g., handbooks, proposals, presentations) considered an asset.
• Proficiency with Office 365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, SharePoint); experience with Orbis Outcome or similar exchange/partnership management systems considered an asset.
• Ability to travel occasionally and to work outside standard hours to support partner events, delegations, or engagement across international time zones.

Application Deadline:November 2, 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 part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

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 the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([e-mail]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

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