Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist

Mount Royal University Career Services; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Calgary seeks a Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist to enhance academic advising quality. This role involves designing training programs, developing resources, and assessing advising practices. Ideal candidates possess strong instructional design skills and a Master's degree in a related field. The position offers a hybrid work environment and a competitive salary.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Professional development

Wellness services

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Expertise in instructional design and adult learning theory.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with Canadian post-secondary policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead training initiatives for Advisors, ensuring alignment with standards.
• Create student-facing advising resources using user-centered design.
• Develop systems to assess impact of advising programs.

Skills

Instructional Design

Facilitation

Data Analysis

Writing

Project Management

Education

Master’s degree in education

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Digital Content Tools

Job description

Job Title

Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist

Job Type

Contract

Union

MRSA

Position Classification

SAC09 Academic Services IX

Salary Grade

$65,500.00 - $82,916.00

FT or PT

Full-time

Hybrid Work

This position is eligible

Position End Date (if applicable)

3/31/2026

Location

MRU Main Campus - Calgary, AB T3E 6K6 CA (Primary)

About This Position
Academic Advising is a developmental process assisting students in clarifying their educational goals and implementing an educational plan to realize these goals. Advisors play a key role in student retention, advising new and continuing students throughout their tenure at Mount Royal University.

About The Department Of Academic Advising
The Training, Development, and Continuous Improvement Specialist role requires a combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership. The Specialist must be skilled at balancing long-term planning with urgent needs, translating institutional complexity into accessible tools and training, and earning trust across diverse groups. While not a formal people leader, this role significantly influences advising practices across the university. Success depends on self-direction, judgment, and a deep understanding of how to drive learning, quality, and change without formal authority.

About The Role
The Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing the quality, consistency, and impact of academic advising. Reporting to the Associate Director, this position is responsible for designing and delivering advisor training programs, developing accessible student-facing resources, and leading evidence-informed improvements in advising practices. Drawing on instructional design, facilitation, and data collection skills, the Specialist ensures programs meet standards, align with student needs, and evolve through feedback and evaluation. This role acts as an internal consultant and change agent, promoting a culture of learning and excellence.

A Note On Centralized Coordination, Decentralized Delivery
The incumbent will collaborate with Faculties to ensure advising practices align with standards and faculty-specific needs. Building trust with faculty leaders is essential. The Specialist must respect faculty values and adapt training and resources to support shared student success goals, ensuring consistency and responsiveness across academic areas.

This is a term position ending March 31, 2026.

Responsibilities
Advisor Training & Development (40%)
Lead the strategy, design, and delivery of training initiatives for Advisors. Ensure ongoing professional development that aligns with student needs, policies, and advising standards such as NACADA core competencies. Use sound instructional design principles, deliver meaningful learning, and incorporate feedback and evaluation mechanisms. Collaborate to keep training relevant and impactful.

• Maintain a training hub with accessible, up-to-date resources for advisors.
• Design onboarding experiences with clear objectives, scaffolding, reflection, and alignment with NACADA standards. Develop ongoing development opportunities.
• Deliver high-impact training, evaluate effectiveness, and adjust based on data and feedback.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure content relevance and alignment with institutional policies and faculty needs.
• Ensure learning objectives are connected to outcomes, with clear progression and assessment to measure impact.

Student Resource Development (25%)
Create and maintain student-facing advising resources that support informed decision-making, accessibility, and inclusivity. Use user-centered and equity-informed design to ensure materials are clear, useful, and responsive to feedback. Develop multimodal assets like videos, guides, and infographics. Collaborate with advisors and partners to ensure relevance and alignment.

Assessment, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement (25%)
Develop systems to assess the impact of advising programs and resources. Conduct data analysis, generate reports, and use findings to inform improvements. Partner with research and advising teams to embed data-informed practices and promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making.

Collaboration & Institutional Support (10%)
Engage with colleagues across the institution to support shared student success goals. Serve as a trusted advisor, facilitate collaboration, and stay current on advising trends and best practices. Share resources and evaluation data to promote transparency and scalability.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, instructional design, adult learning, or related field.
• Expertise in instructional design and adult learning theory.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
• Experience with learning management systems and digital content tools.
• Ability to analyze data and translate into recommendations.
• Knowledge of advising models, NACADA competencies, and student development theory.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Ability to manage complex projects independently and collaboratively.
• Familiarity with Canadian post-secondary policies and structures.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and universal design principles.

This position is foundational to Academic Advising Services, impacting daily operations, student experiences, and advisor confidence. It involves high complexity, accountability, and judgment, requiring advanced instructional and evaluative skills. The incumbent must navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and make evidence-informed decisions that influence practices and outcomes.

Salary: $65,500 - $82,916 per annum

Closing Date: June 02, 2025

A cover letter and resume should be submitted as a single PDF, named as: [Last Name], [Requisition Number].pdf (e.g., Smith, Coordinator, 999999.pdf).

We encourage all qualified applicants, especially Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Check application status via your Career Centre. For accommodations, contact [e-mail].

About MRU
Founded in 1910 in Calgary, Alberta, MRU offers top-caliber programs, high-quality teaching, and a focus on liberal education, experiential learning, and undergraduate research. Serving over 15,700 students, MRU is committed to diversity, inclusion, and excellence.

What We Offer
We provide a competitive benefits package, professional development, wellness services, and a supportive work environment aimed at fostering growth and inclusion.