Job Description

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create


OCAD University, Canada's largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.


It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles -- driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.


Reporting to the Manager, Student Writing, Communication and Learning Support and working closely with the Lead, Co-Curricular and Peer Learning Programs, the Writing Consultant is responsible for providing writing, research and academic skills consultations and other co-curricular programming for OCAD University (OCAD U) undergraduate and graduate students to support their academic success and promote their engagement with scholarly, creative and disciplinary discourses and communities. In consultation with faculty, the Writing Consultant plans, develops and delivers classroom-based workshops to support undergraduate curriculum delivery and the development of students' writing and academic communication skills. The Writing Consultant acts as a resource in the area of writing in studio-based art and design education by collaborating and building relationships with faculty and staff across the university and contributes to training, mentorship and day-to-day guidance to Peer Tutors.


The Writing Consultant works within the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) as part of a larger team delivering a range of programs and services for faculty, students, teaching assistants and other instructional staff. Together, they collaborate with the university community to provide leadership and support that creates and sustains equitable and engaging teaching and learning environments for all OCAD University students.


This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangements; however, a minimum of three days per week of on campus work is required with flexibility to adjust the days and times of work on campus to meet programming needs.

Summary of Responsibilities

:

Participate in portfolio-wide program planning processes with reference to emerging student needs, curricular changes and the OCAD University's Academic and Strategic Plan In consultation with the Manager, Student Writing, Communication and Learning Support develop and deliver writing, academic and/or studio learning support programs and services for the OCAD U community in a range of presentation formats (e.g. in person, hybrid and online) Provide individual and group writing, research and academic skills consultations in person and online to support undergraduate and graduate student success with their coursework; complete related documentation requirements Coordinate, develop and deliver classroom-based writing, research and academic communication workshops to support the delivery of undergraduate curriculum; build relationships and collaborations with faculty and program chairs to ensure that workshops address course learning outcomes and emerging curricular needs and contexts, and to facilitate effective workshop promotion and engagement Contribute to the design and delivery of annual and in-service tutor education; provide Peer Tutors with day-to-day mentorship and support in tutoring pedagogy and program delivery, as required In consultation with the Lead, Co-Curricular and Peer Learning Programs, develop and deliver student skills-building workshops as part of student transition, orientation and retention programming with an emphasis on supporting the success of marginalized students Liaise with the Curricular Innovation team to identify emerging student needs and shifting trends in the sector (e.g., related to Generative AI), and revise and develop new student programs that support their ongoing success and adaptation to new learning conditions Develop student writing, academic and studio learning resources; collaborate with relevant staff to undertake the routine review and revision of resources ensuring that they are accurate, relevant and reflect emerging educational research and promising practices Support the Academic Integrity Specialist to conduct individual academic integrity consultations with students as required to maintain service levels; complete related reporting requirements Contribute to the development and implementation of program monitoring and evaluation tools and participate in critically reflective practice and evidence-informed program development and decision-making Develop web content as required and contribute to promotional and outreach initiatives related to writing, academic and/or studio learning programs and services Participate in reflective practice and professional learning activities, individually and in teams, to integrate equity and sustainability principles across relevant programs, processes and practices Contribute to faculty and staff professional development and training sessions on topics related to writing, academic and/or studio learning pedagogy and the needs of OCAD U students, as required Through reading, research and relationship-building, maintain an understanding of historical and current trends in art and design discourses, disciplines and practices to ensure that student programs and resources are relevant, responsive and grounded in broader community and practice-based contexts Maintain currency in advances and trends in writing pedagogy, studio learning and academic support service provision in post-secondary education with an emphasis on art and design education, including participation and presentation at local and national conferences Liaise with departments across the University to develop and maintain expertise in the demands of the OCAD U curriculum, expectations of faculty, and the writing and academic support needs of students in studio-based art and design education Assist the Manager and Director in other related duties that contribute to the successful operation of Centre and support its strategic objectives

Qualifications

:

Graduate degree in Writing Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Art, Design, or a related field, with a minimum of four (4) years of experience working in a university writing or academic success centre in a post-secondary institution or similar student support unit delivering programs to enhance student learning, or equivalent Post-secondary studies in studio-based Art or Design or a current or past art or design practice an asset Strong knowledge of writing pedagogy and excellent academic and professional writing skills with knowledge of different writing genres and disciplines Knowledge of critical discourses in the areas of art and design and an interest in the relationship between art and design practice and writing Experience supporting advanced academic and research writing, including working with graduate students on discipline-specific projects, master's theses, or doctoral dissertations, with sensitivity to the diverse expectations of supervisors, graduate programs, and interdisciplinary academic communities Demonstrated experience designing and delivering writing, research and academic skills-building workshops for students in both classroom and non-classroom environments; experience providing academic integrity skills-building support to students an asset Strong research and analytical skills with ability to apply findings and analysis to develop relevant and responsive educational programs and resources Excellent group facilitation and instructional skills Knowledge of best practices in multilingual pedagogy and an understanding of the barriers and support needs of post-secondary students studying in a second language; certification in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) an asset Understanding of diverse student needs and experience responding and providing information to students in distress Demonstrated experience producing educational resources to support student writing and academic success across different modes of delivery (e.g. in person, blended, online). Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, and a demonstrated ability to exercise tact, sound judgment and commitment to confidentiality Demonstrated experience building relationships and collaborative partnerships, including experience collaborating with faculty Understanding of peer program development approaches in post-secondary education; experience working with and mentoring student staff (e.g. Peer Tutors) to support service delivery an asset Excellent project planning and coordination skills, demonstrated attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines Demonstrated ability to work both independently and participate collaboratively in a team environment Demonstrated experience developing and integrating decolonizing, anti-racist, accessible and translingual approaches and pedagogies in previous work or study Demonstrated commitment to the principles of anti-racism, equity, access and decolonization and demonstrated experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications; knowledge of Canvas learning management system and Adobe Creative Cloud applications an asset Demonstrated experience with online learning environments and platforms, creating accessible content for students, and familiarity with video editing and captioning an asset Flexibility to adjust hours and location of work as needed to support programs and events outside of regular office hours and location

Mode of Work:

Hybrid Model. A minimum of 3 days per week on campus.

Compensation:

Hiring Range - $53,540.59 to $61,379.79 per annum, commensurate with experience, plus benefits; Salary Range - $53,540.59 to $70,366.75 per annum.

Hours of Work

:

Monday to Friday, for a total of 28 hours per week.

Application Deadline:

Interested applicants are invited to submit an updated

*resume and cover letter (

PDF

), The review of applications will begin

Wednesday October 22nd, 2025

and continue until the position is filled.

Please upload your resume and cover letter

as one PDF. Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Job Code*

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous administrators, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U's Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.