Assistant Manager, Geering Up Camps, Clubs and Events

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Geering Up & Outreach, the Assistant Manager, Geering Up Camps (Assistant Manager) is responsible for overseeing the administration, delivery and strategic plan of the Geering Up Camps Programs (camps, clubs and community events). Geering Up Camp Programs reach over 6,000 youth a year through a team of 125 student staff annually. Key duties include overseeing the program budget of $1,900,000 dollars, managing community relationships, applying best practices for safety and the wellbeing for staff and participants.

Organizational Status
UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach is the flagship outreach program of the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science and a key part of Applied Science's diversity and community engagement strategies. Geering Up Programs promote science, engineering, math, and technology to children and youth in British Columbia through fun, innovative, hands-on experiments and projects. In alignment with Applied Science's goal of student recruitment, Geering Up strives to reach all children and youth, regardless of gender, ethnicity, culture or socio-economic status, with special outreach for those groups traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering. Geering Up provides valuable work experience to its employees, and enriches the university and community. Geering Up Camps, Clubs and Events Programs are well-established with a 31-year history, and a large returning clientele that grows every year.

This position oversees a staff team including the Geering Up Vancouver Camps Coordinator, Geering Up Offsite Camps Coordinator, Administrative Support & Recruitment CUPE 2950 staff, student employees and hundreds of volunteers.

Due to the nature of the work, vacations are limited during the months of May-June; and are largely restricted in July and August. Working hours are typically Monday to Friday but may occasionally include Saturday for summer staff group interviews, clubs, and events, reflecting operational needs as required. Ability to travel to other locations in BC and other remote work locations as required.

Work Performed
Operational planning and management

• Oversee Geering Up Camp/ Clubs/Events programs, ensuring that the portfolios work aligns with the mandate and mission of the Geering Up organization as a whole, and the Faculty of Applied Science outreach goals.
• Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the portfolios programming and services.
• Manage an annual budget of $1.9 million for Geering Up Camps Programs
• Create systems for the Geering Up Camps/Clubs/ Events teams to facilitate delivery of camp programs at UBC, all satellite communities and online camps through a team of over 125 seasonal student staff. This team delivers over 100,000 hours of face-to-face programming annually.
• Oversee the implementation of the administrative policies, procedures, and practices for the efficient operation and administration of Geering Up programs.
• Oversee the full-cycle recruitment of Geering Up Camps student staff and volunteers. Identifies staffing requirements, schedules and conducts interviews, oversees onboarding, and manages performance and development of staff; liaising with APSC Human Resources and the Senior Manager, Geering Up & Outreach as needed.
• Manage direct reports and provide oversight to indirect reports.
• Manage training, supervision, evaluation, development, discipline and termination of Camp Program staff.
• Develop and lead staff training initiatives to ensure effective orientation, team building, ongoing development and retention of staff.
• Establish a positive, healthy, and safe work environment which encourages diversity, inclusion and people engagement.
• Maintain a performance management process for all camps staff which includes monitoring, coaching, and mentoring staff on an on-going basis and conducting an annual performance review
• Coordinate research initiatives with the Cultivating Inclusion in Engineering Lab and other external research groups. This may include participating in the data collection process, or contributing as a co-author in research as the Manager feels comfortable.

Leadership of an Administrative Program Unit

• Responsible for coordinating the marketing, communication and promotion of programs with the Geering Up Marketing & Communications team and other operations teams
• Oversees the programs promotional strategy, development of communication materials that reach 10,000 families across BC via our website, email, social media, and online video campaigns.

Community relations/advocacy

• Develop new and maintain current working relationships and collaborative arrangements with a variety of partners organizations to help achieve the goals of Geering Up.
• Participate as a member of the Actua network

Risk management

• Works with the Senior Manager and APSC Safety and Facilities Officer to develop and implement policies.
• Oversees safety and supervision of camps program participants.
  

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Manages Geering Up programs. Negotiates contracts, sets policies, oversees program finances, and establishes hiring and training systems for staff.

Decisions made create legal and financial liabilities for the Geering Up Outreach Program, UBC Faculty of Applied Science and the institution. These decisions affect these parties’ reputation within the academic and surrounding community. Errors in decision making can adversely affect Geering Up’s, UBC Faculty of Applied Science and the larger institution’s interests in each of these respects. Safety and security of persons and projects with Geering Up is a primary responsibility of this position.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Senior Manager, Geering Up & Outreach. Receives high level support on administrative and safety policy, budget decisions, partner agreements, reporting and team management.

Supervision Given
Manages a large staff team and is responsible for hiring, discipline, evaluation, and performance management of the team. Consults with APSC HR on HR matters including the potential termination of employees. Directly supervises the Geering Up Vancouver Camps Coordinator, Geering Up Offsite Camps Coordinator, 2 CUPE staff and student employees. Provides oversight supervision to indirect reports including (approx. 125-150) student employees and volunteers across multiple remote work sites.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years’ experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience overseeing child and youth programs. Experience in the STEM outreach ecosystem is a strong asset.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a diplomatic multi-tasker with excellent judgement, broad communications skills and is strategically-minded. Working largely autonomously, the incumbent will deliver on yearly outreach targets, and will develop and supervise outreach programs, bringing with them an understanding of, and experience with, pedagogy for supporting diversity and positive programs.

• Proven ability to work independently in problem solving and managing multiple projects. Superior communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform financial planning functions.
• Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources.
• Authentic leadership with demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff.
• Exceptional relationship building and team-building skills.
• Ability to interface with and engage diverse volunteers, educators, community partners and funders.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Capacity to work calmly under pressure.
• Capacity to support Geering Up’s high level outreach goals.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to drive is required to supervise camps at 5 locations in the Lower Mainland. Access to a personal vehicle is preferred.
• Experience in outreach program delivery, event planning, training, and STEM pedagogy are all desirable.

All Geering Up staff who work directly with, or potentially have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults are subject to a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sectors in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act. The successful applicant must be able to produce a valid criminal record check.