Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist

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

Job summary

Mount Royal University is seeking a Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist to enhance academic advising quality. This full-time role involves designing training programs, developing resources, and collaborating with faculty to support student success. The ideal candidate will have a master's degree and expertise in instructional design.

Benefits

Paid training

Vacation benefits

Wellness benefits

Access to campus amenities

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• Expertise in instructional design and adult learning theory.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead training initiatives for Academic Advisors.
• Design and deliver student-facing resources.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and make improvements.

Skills

Facilitation

Instructional Design

Data Analysis

Project Management

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in education or related field

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Digital Content Development Tools

Job description

Join to apply for the Training, Development, & Continuous Improvement Specialist role at Mount Royal University Career Services

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

About The Department Of Academic Advising
Academic Advising is a developmental process assisting students in the clarification of their educational goals and the implementation of 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.

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

About The Role

The Training, Development, and Continuous Improvement Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing the quality, consistency, and impact of academic advising at Mount Royal University. Reporting to the Associate Director, Academic Advising, this position is responsible for designing and delivering Advisor training programs, developing accessible and effective student-facing resources, and leading evidence-informed efforts to improve advising practices. Drawing on expertise in instructional design, facilitation, and data collection and assessment, the Specialist ensures that advising programs meet professional standards, align with student needs, and evolve through continuous feedback and evaluation. This position serves as an internal consultant and change agent, advancing the culture of learning and excellence across the advising community.

A Note On Centralized Coordination, Decentralized Delivery

The incumbent is expected to work in collaboration with Faculties across campus to ensure advising practices align with both institutional standards and Faculty-specific needs. Advising is delivered in partnership with academic departments, and success in this role requires strong, trust-based relationships with Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and other Faculty leaders. The Specialist must demonstrate respect for the values, priorities, and academic integrity of the Faculty, and adapt training, materials, and resources to support shared goals for student success. This collaborative approach ensures consistency in advising quality while remaining responsive to the unique contexts of each academic area.

Responsibilities

• Advisor Training & Development (40%)
  This role is responsible for leading the strategy, design, and delivery of all training initiatives for Academic Advisors across the institution. High-quality advising requires consistent, intentional, and ongoing professional development that aligns with evolving student needs, institutional policies, and professional advising standards such as the NACADA core competencies. The Specialist ensures that all training is grounded in sound instructional design principles, delivers meaningful learning outcomes, and includes mechanisms for feedback, reflection, and evaluation. Through collaboration and continuous improvement, this role empowers Advisors to confidently and competently support students with clarity, accuracy, and care – ultimately enhancing the student experience and the credibility of advising at MRU.
• Maintain an internal training hub with modular, accessible, and up-to-date resources that serve as a central source of truth for new and experienced advisors, supporting continuous learning and knowledge transfer.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate a comprehensive onboarding experience grounded in instructional design best practices. Ensure onboarding includes sequenced learning objectives, scaffolded knowledge development, opportunities for reflection, and clear alignment with NACADA core competencies and institutional advising goals. Lead the design of meaningful, ongoing development opportunities that deepen advisor expertise, foster curiosity and growth, and respond to emerging student needs and institutional priorities.
• Deliver high-impact training initiatives that build on foundational knowledge and reflect current advising challenges, institutional shifts, and student trends. Evaluate effectiveness through outcome measures, feedback, and data-informed adjustments.
• Collaborate with advising leadership to ensure training content is accurate, relevant, and aligned with institutional policies, Faculty-specific needs, and student feedback. Create a feedback loop to keep training adaptive and impactful.
• Ensure learning objectives are connected to outcomes in all training initiatives, with clear progression, scaffolding, and assessment to measure impact on advising quality.

Student Resource Development (25%)

Design, maintain, and evaluate student-facing advising resources that empower students to make informed decisions, navigate institutional systems, and engage meaningfully in their academic journey. Resources should reduce barriers, foster autonomy, and reflect diverse student needs.

• Lead development of advising tools prioritizing clarity, accessibility, and usefulness for diverse student populations.
• Apply user-centred and equity-informed design principles to ensure materials are inclusive and easy to navigate.
• Create multimodal learning assets—videos, interactive modules, infographics, guides—that promote student self-advocacy.
• Collaborate with Advisors and campus partners to surface student challenges and co-design resources.
• Review and refine resources based on usability testing, analytics, and student feedback.
• Ensure all materials align with institutional messaging, advising best practices, and accessibility standards.

Assessment, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement (25%)

• Develop systems to assess the impact of advising programs, training, and resources. Connect objectives with outcomes, gather data, analyze, and present findings for continuous improvement.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations of training and resources, translating findings into insights for future enhancements.
• Prepare reports and recommendations to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
• Partner with Institutional Research and advising leadership to co-create data-informed processes.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based practice, reflection, and shared accountability.

Collaboration & Institutional Support (10%)

Contribute to a collaborative advising ecosystem by engaging with colleagues and supporting shared student success goals. Serve as a trusted partner, offering guidance on training and continuous improvement, and collaborate across teams to align initiatives with broader strategies.

• Support advising managers and advisors with evidence-based guidance.
• Collaborate with committees and teams to align initiatives with institutional goals.
• Maintain knowledge of advising trends, NACADA standards, and instructional design tools.
• Organize and share training materials and evaluation data to promote transparency and scalability.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, instructional design, adult learning, or a related field is required.
• Expertise in instructional design and adult learning theory.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
• Experience with learning management systems and digital content development tools.
• Ability to analyze data and develop actionable insights.
• Knowledge of academic advising models, NACADA core competencies, and student development theory.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills for training and student materials.
• Ability to manage complex projects independently and collaboratively.
• Familiarity with Canadian post-secondary policies and academic structures.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and universal design principles.

This position is foundational to the success of Academic Advising Services and involves high complexity, accountability, and judgment, requiring advanced skills in instructional design, facilitation, and evaluation. The incumbent must navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and make evidence-informed decisions impacting institutional practices and student 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 document, titled as: [Last Name], [Requisition Number].pdf (e.g., Smith, Coordinator, 999999.pdf).

We encourage all qualified applicants, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents, to apply. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Check application status via your Career Centre after the deadline. For accommodations during the recruitment process, contact [e-mail].

About MRU

Founded in 1910 in Calgary, Alberta, MRU is a student-focused undergraduate university known for teaching excellence, liberal education, and experiential learning. Serving approximately 15,782 students, MRU offers 13 bachelor’s degrees across various faculties, with notable programs including AABI-accredited aviation. The university values diversity and provides a supportive environment for staff and students.

What We Offer

We offer a competitive total compensation package, including paid training, vacation, wellness benefits, and access to campus amenities. We promote a healthy, inclusive workplace supporting ongoing learning and development.