Academic Associate - Educational Developer

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Faculty / Admin Area: Faculty of Arts

Department / Unit: Office for Arts Education (Foundation Year Program)

Reports to: Dean, Faculty of Arts (Lisa Shapiro)

Classification: Academic Associate (unranked Contract Academic Staff)

Status: Definite term appointment of two years, governed by the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Contract Academic Staff.

Salary: Salary will be negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Posting Period: Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2026; applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. 

Primary Purpose of the Position

Reporting to the Dean and working closely with the Director of the Office for Arts Education as well as relevant Associate Deans, the Educational Developer supports the initial implementation of the Foundation Year Program (FYP), with a goal of ensuring stable ongoing operation, including the development of a community of practice around the pedagogy of the FYP. The rank of Academic Associate reflects the academic qualifications required to support pedagogical practices, as well to support other academic activities such as course development.  The position combines academic and operational work: it provides coordination to the units, committees, and offices that build and deliver the program, and academic support to instructors of the program.  The Educational Developer is a key point of contact for the program development and helps ensure that courses are created, offered, scheduled, and staffed so that students can enrol and progress in its initial years, and helps to build the systems for doing so going forward.

The FYP is the restructured first year for U0 students in the Faculty of Arts, that will serve roughly 800 students in its initial year. The reformed program introduces a set of purpose-built 100-level core courses (one seminar and one lecture per contributing unit), a curated approved list, and a cohort-like first-year experience. The program will launch in Fall 2027. We require added capacity dedicated to academic and administrative coordination in order to launch the revised program successfully and to ensure its sustainability going forward. For additional information regarding the Foundation Year Program revisions, please contact Laura Brassington at [email protected].

Duties

• Supporting course creation and administrative processes for 100-level FYP courses (1 seminar and one lecture course per unit).

• Pedagogical and curricular design. Provide academic support to the FYP design working group, including developing pedagogical resources, documentation of educational goals and strategies for achieving them, and development of rules for scheduling.

• Approved List. Support the curation of the Approved List, coordinating with the Arts Office of Advising and Student Information Services (OASIS), the Office of Arts Education, and other relevant academic offices to build and maintain the list of courses that count toward the approved list.

• Course offerings and capacity. Help build and maintain the mechanisms that ensure enough courses and seats are offered in the first year and in every year after, coordinating with Enrolment Services on classroom space and scheduling.

• Support instructors. Communicate with instructors teaching FYP courses to answer questions and to ensure consistency across sections and contributing units.

• Liaise with FYP students, in coordination with the Arts Office of Advising and Student Information Services (OASIS).

• Teaching. May teach one 100-level FYP course, as appropriate and subject to the relevant terms.

Qualifications and Expertise Required

• Doctorate or equivalent in a relevant discipline, consistent with the Academic Associate classification under the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Contract Academic Staff.

• Knowledge of the University's and the Faculty of Arts' academic policies, curriculum processes, and program structures, or ability to learn quickly.

• Strong communication, coordination, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines and to work autonomously as well as within a team.

• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and a service orientation in working with students, instructors, and staff.

Language

English spoken and written. French is an asset.

Required Documents 

The application should include the documents listed below and must be merged into one single PDF file not exceeding 5 MB. 

• Cover letter 

• Curriculum vitae 

• In addition, short-listed candidates will be contacted for three references 
  
  Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
  
  McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.