A Brief Overview

Reporting to the Department Head, Public Health Sciences, the Professional Development Officer will be responsible for arranging, managing and evaluating practicum placements for students in the Department of Public Health courses and programs. The practicum is a required graduate course for students in the Master of Public Health (MPH) professional program, comprised of a minimum 400-hour placement with a public health agency, including internal and external research institutes. The Professional Development Officer will be required to communicate and negotiate with Senior Managers of agencies like Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada and to liaise with internal Departments including Queen's legal counsel and the experiential learning hub. The Professional Development Officer will develop and maintain positive working relationships with these agencies and organizations, and will facilitate the matching of Public Health Sciences students with these agencies and the guiding of hosts, students and preceptors toward practicum completion. The Professional Development Officer will be responsible for ensuring the academic integrity of the practicum placement and for assisting to resolve any problems that may arise. The Professional Development Officer may also receive guidance from the MPH Program Director and course instructors.

This position acts as the contact for students, staff and other departments regarding the program including requirements, standards, processes, and enrollment. This position oversees student academic progress including registration, course enrollments, grading, extensions, academic integrity issues, and degree completion. This position analyzes, develops, recommends, and implements approaches, measures, and plans for the program. This position also establishes and maintains relationships with universities, industries, clients, program participants, corporations and/or alumni for the purposes of identifying opportunities, and building awareness and connection to the program.

What you will do

• Acts as the contact for students, staff and other departments regarding the program including requirements, standards, processes, and enrollment.
• Oversees student academic progress including registration, course enrollments, grading, extensions, academic integrity issues, and degree completion.
• Analyzes, develops, recommends, and implements approaches, measures, and plans for the program.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with universities, industries, clients, program participants, corporations and/or alumni for the purposes of identifying opportunities, and building awareness and connection to the program.
• Plans, initiates, and/or attends recruitment events.
• Develops, recommends, and implements recruitment marketing campaigns.
• Participates in planning for department website content updates.
• Coordinates data collection and/or maintains information databases.

Required Education
• Four-Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent.

Required Experience
• More than 5 years of experience.
Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Knowledge and Requirements
• Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or substantial work experience.
• Provide effective consultation and advice on non-straightforward and/or complex issues.
• Interaction with others requires interpersonal skills and the ability to understand and influence.
• Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
• Builds relationships, trust and credibility.
• Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
• Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
• Actively participate in project team meetings and develop individual and unit project plans.
• Lead procedural or technological change within a unit.
• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
• Seek information and input to fully understand the cause of problems.
• Appropriately assesses risks before making a decision.
• Contribute to the creation and evaluation of possible solutions.
• Take action to remove obstacles and address problems before they impact performance and results.
• Apply equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion and Indigenization considerations to decision making and planning.
• Promote a work environment that is free from sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, and the ability to show empathy for those who have experienced trauma.