Knowledge Mobilization Specialist

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Part-time (3 days per week) to potential full-time, 1-year contract
Location: Downtown Toronto location at University and Dundas, near St. Patrick Station (180 Dundas West, Suite 1902) – Remote to start.

About the Employer

Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario’s publicly funded colleges, universities, and Indigenous institutes. As a member organization, we work with those institutions to develop transfer credit policies and practices to ease student mobility. As a non-profit organization created and funded by the Government of Ontario, ONCAT works with postsecondary education institutions to build a seamless system for transfer credit in Ontario and to support student mobility.

ONCAT staff are currently working from home and plan to return to the office gradually in 2021 as we monitor Toronto’s COVID-19 cases. As such, there is a possibility of the position being converted into a full-time, continuing role.

About the Position

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and passionate Knowledge Mobilization specialist: someone able to translate a wide variety of transfer-related data that is also useful for Ontario’s colleges, universities, and Indigenous institutes.

The Knowledge Mobilization Specialist will lead knowledge mobilization activities at the organization based on a solid understanding of our partners and their needs, using creative and diverse approaches to knowledge translation, mobilization, and dissemination. They will also be responsible for sector-based capacity building through the creation and delivery of professional development opportunities. These include, but are not limited to, organizing ONCAT’s learning events (e.g., our webinars, symposia, conferences, etc.) and leading the development of a professional development certificate for transfer personnel, in collaboration with sector partners. Additionally, the incumbent will develop a process to evaluate the impact of knowledge mobilization activities to ensure the quality of our offerings, a positive impact on the sector, and continuous improvement for all involved.

Reporting to the Manager, Sector Engagement, the Knowledge Mobilization Specialist will collaborate across multi-functional groups internally and externally. We are looking for an individual with adult education and knowledge translation/mobilization expertise, who has a keen interest in continuous learning, sector engagement, and capacity building. The ideal candidate will have experience working in the postsecondary sector, and more specifically, an understanding of credit transfer in the province of Ontario. 

Key Responsibilities

Knowledge Mobilization and Dissemination

  • Leads development and implementation of ONCAT’s knowledge mobilization plan.
  • Collaborates with ONCAT stakeholders to support knowledge mobilization and dissemination plans.
  • Collaborates with ONCAT colleagues such as Communications Specialist and the ONTransfer.ca Team to ensure coordination with other stakeholder engagement plans.
  • Designs and develops presentations, programs, and workshops for ONCAT-related activities independently and in collaboration with colleagues, sector partners, and knowledge experts.
  • Works closely with the Manager, Sector Engagement to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, postsecondary audiences, including key stakeholders, postsecondary administrators, faculty members, policymakers, and key influencers to support professional development.
  • Synthesizes key student transfer research and policy knowledge to support and inform knowledge mobilization activities.
  • Monitors and evaluates the knowledge mobilization plan and all related activities.
  • Represents ONCAT at workshops, both internal and external to the organization.

Education Program and KM Event Management

  • Manages the development on ONCAT’s professional development certificate, collaborating with necessary stakeholders and consultants as needed and delivering the content.
  • Coordinates the planning of various ONCAT-sponsored learning events, including ONCAT’s 10th Anniversary Conference.
    • Works with conference/event lead and collaboratively with ONCAT colleagues to develop program agenda.
    • Supports the identification and selection of presenters and keynote speakers; liaises with presenters and keynote speakers once selected.
    • Oversees the development of collateral material for the conference/event.
    • Assists on-site as necessary.

Education and Experience

  • Undergraduate degree required. Post-graduate credential (e.g., Masters, post-graduate certificate) in adult education, education, public policy or related disciplines preferred.
  • A certificate or professional training in knowledge mobilization is an asset.
  • A minimum of five years direct experience in training and curriculum development, adult education, and/or knowledge mobilization.
  • Experience managing stakeholder relations and communications.
  • Experience working in a research setting, provincial/national not-for-profit, or broader public sector organization preferred.
  • While this is not a communications role, the ability to understand complex information, from multiple sources, and translate messages into clear and accessible language for a broader audience is required.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including:
    • Writing
    • Proofreading and editing
    • Ability to clearly communicate information effectively and persuasively.
  • Strong project and time management skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Ability to establish, collaborate, and maintain relationships with a diverse range of people and organizations (e.g., vendors, stakeholders, students, etc.).
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • High proficiency with MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Fluency in French is an asset.

 

Working Environment

While Toronto continues to be under COVID-19 restrictions, all staff will work from home until further notice. When safe to return to work, staff will work in a small office environment and some travel may be required.

Application Instructions

Please email your resume and cover letter to careers@oncat.ca and use the position title as your subject line. In your cover letter, please outline:

  1. Why you are applying for this position; and
  2. How your qualifications relate directly to the requirements of the position.

The deadline to apply is March 1st, 2021 at 11:59pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted. We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted. Additional testing may be required.

ONCAT is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process to applicants with accessibility needs in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require an accommodation during this process, please inform ONCAT of your requirements.