Job Description

Practicum Coordinator, Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
Primary Purpose: The Practicum Coordinator's primary role is to coordinate, supervise and teach practical components - that is, laboratories and tutorials - of the undergraduate courses offered in VBMS, particularly, but not limited to, VBMS 260 Form and Function and VBMS 324/325 Animal Physiology I/II. The Practicum Coordinator provides leadership with respect to laboratory demonstration and tutorial instruction and acts as a resource to faculty, staff and students.
Nature of Work: Reporting to the Department Head, the incumbent works independently in a deadline-oriented manner and demonstrates professional judgment to ensure the smooth development and delivery of laboratory and tutorial sessions. This position works across several undergraduate laboratory environments with competing needs and so requires the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. The position is also responsible for the management of any ethics and risk associated with the use of animals, and with laboratory safety and as such must develop productive relationships with the appropriate administrative units. Some animal handling may be required.
Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

• Plans, prepares, coordinates, supervises, and executes course laboratory and tutorial sessions, ensuring that students' and faculty's program goals and expectations are met.
• Leads and coordinates the logistics of labs and tutorials and student groupings for each lab.
• Assists the course coordinator and faculty with Canvas course site related matters.
• Liaise with VBMS faculty and WCVM Associate Dean-Academic staff to coordinate (including proctoring) examinations, alternate examinations, and other assessments and release of marks.
• Teaches effectively during laboratory and tutorial sessions and supports faculty in ensuring a high standard of teaching. On occasion, development and delivery of a limited number of lectures might be required. Acting as a small group facilitator in VBMS 208 Biomedical Rounds and/or an OSCE examiner might also be required of the Coordinator.
• Develops and maintains a high level of knowledge/expertise in appropriate areas of the teaching curriculum, as well as awareness of current advances in the academic area.
• Supports the success of instructional efficiency through effective recruitment, training, and supervision of graduate teaching assistants.
• Develops course materials and evaluation methods based on best practices to ensure students can grasp concepts and utilize information correctly.
• Researches and creates effective new lab material and exercises with inclusion of new research and ideas into course content, in collaboration with faculty.
• Develops and marks, or supervises the marking of, student assignments, quizzes and examinations in a timely and accurate manner.
• Evaluates and re-structures teaching lab needs in collaboration with departmental technicians, assists with laboratory preparation as necessary, and ensures equipment is well-maintained and fully functional.
• Prioritizes and addresses emerging issues in consultation with the Department Head, faculty, staff and graduate student teaching assistants as necessary.
• Participates actively, effectively and collaboratively as a member of VBMS instructional staff and on Departmental and College committees as appropriate.
• Provides accurate and timely advice to staff, faculty and students in the specific areas of physiology and histology, administration, and IT training and support.
• Ensures knowledge of, and compliance with, University and department safety protocols and policies when using labs to ensure the safety and well-being of students.
• Ensures knowledge of, and compliance with, University animal ethics protocols and policies to ensure the safety and well-being of animals used in the laboratories.
• Prepare documents to meet organizational and federal regulations.
• Participate in DVM 1st year curriculum scheduling to ensure logistic flow of academic contents.

Education and Experience: The incumbent requires a minimum of an MSc in biological/life/animal sciences, kinesiology, cell biology, or health-related field, or a DVM. A solid foundation in animal physiology is required. Knowledge of animal histology would be an asset. Teaching or related experience in the biological sciences - including development of teaching materials, as well as supervisory experience - would also be an asset.
Skills:

• Strong organizational and management abilities
• Effective teaching skills
• Ability to research and develop new teaching material in collaboration with faculty and technical staff
• Computer skills including learning new software programs, digital imaging and virtual microscopy
• Ability to efficiently train and supervise graduate student assistant
• Strong interpersonal communication skills are necessary to ensure that productive and positive relationships are developed and maintained with faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and other colleagues
• Some situations may be stressful, requiring tact and diplomacy, flexibility and good judgment
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and in a deadline-oriented manner is essential
• The incumbent works in office, lab and potential animal housing environments, using computers and a range of laboratory equipment
• Animal handling may be required

Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Instructional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 6/24/2025
Closing Date: 7/8/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Metis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.