University of Waterloo

Interim MSW Program Manager

University of Waterloo$74K — $93K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master of Social Work degree from an accredited program or equivalent
  • Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers
  • Membership in a professional social work association is an asset
  • Minimum five years of experience in social work practice or administration
  • Substantial experience in social work field education or practicum coordination

Responsibilities

  • Implement and guide aspects of the MSW program
  • Oversee field education and related program administration
  • Manage student advising, progression, and support
  • Ensure compliance with accreditation and legal standards
  • Develop and maintain community partnerships and placement development

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead in a student-centered educational environment
  • Engagement with diverse communities across Canada through practicum placements
  • Participation in program improvement initiatives
  • Professional development opportunities in social work education
  • Supportive and inclusive workplace culture emphasizing anti-oppression and reconciliation
Full Job Description
Renison invites applications for a full-time, 18-month contract position of Interim MSW Program Manager (35 hours per week) with the salary range of: $74,985 and $93,732 per annum. This position is open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

Objectives: The Interim MSW Program Manager is responsible for implementing and guiding key aspects of Renison University College's Master of Social Work program during an 18-month appointment, with primary responsibility for field education and related program administration. The role provides strategic and operational leadership in admissions and orientation, student progression and completion, student advising and support, academic services and operations, and field education administration.

Reporting to the Director of the School of Social Work, the Manager works with minimal supervision, exercises independent judgement in non-routine and confidential matters, and directly supervises the MSW Field Education Coordinators. The Manager oversees practicum quality, student and program processes, community partnerships, policies, systems, and compliance. Renison's primarily online MSW program includes students completing at least 450 practicum hours in approved placements across Canada.

The Manager oversees practicum planning, placement development and quality assurance, student advising and progression, complex student and placement matters, field instructor development, community partnerships, program and field education policies, documentation and information systems, and compliance with institutional, professional, legal, safety, and Canadian Association for Social Work Education accreditation requirements. The Manager also contributes to Summer Institutes, program review and accreditation, recruitment and promotion, and the ongoing improvement of the MSW program.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to student-centred and relational leadership, anti-oppressive and inclusive practice, accessibility, Indigenous reconciliation, anti-racism, and decolonizing approaches to social work education.

Additionally, the incumbent will represent Renison in a manner consistent with the values, goals, and strategic directions of the University College.

Qualifications

Education:

  • Master of Social Work degree from a Canadian Association for Social Work Education-accredited program, or a recognized equivalent.
  • Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
  • Membership in a provincial or national professional social work association, such as the Ontario Association of Social Workers or Canadian Association of Social Workers, is an asset.
  • Ability to travel occasionally to placement organizations, meetings, and professional events.


Experience:

  • A minimum of five years of progressive experience in social work practice, teaching, and/or administration, including managerial or leadership experience.
  • Substantial experience in social work field education, such as field instruction, practicum coordination, placement development, student advising, or management of experiential education.
  • At least two years of experience in administration within a university or other post-secondary setting, or within a social service agency, is preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of academic programming, systems and processes, social work field education standards, the CASW Code of Ethics, risk management, student accommodations, and relevant legal, regulatory, institutional, and CASWE accreditation requirements.
  • Experience managing complex performance concerns and facilitating collaborative resolution processes with diverse students, field instructors, and community partners.
  • Experience developing or implementing policies, procedures, manuals, training resources, or quality-assurance processes. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 and experience using databases, learning-management systems, and records-management platforms. Experience with IPT, LEARN, Quest, and SharePoint is an asset.
  • Experience in graduate education, online or distributed professional programs, accreditation, program review, or program evaluation is an asset.
  • Student-centered, relational, values-based, and accountable leadership that strongly reflects social work values and the CASW Code of Ethics.
  • Exceptional communication, consultation, facilitation, conflict-resolution, and presentation skills.
  • Strong critical-thinking and decision-making skills, including the ability to make independent decisions with tact and sound judgement and to manage confidential and sensitive matters with diplomacy and discretion.
  • Demonstrated ability to assess and respond to complex student, placement, performance, safety, and conflict situations.
  • Excellent organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to coordinate high-volume work, competing priorities, and firm deadlines.
  • Proven ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively across academic, professional, and community settings.
  • Demonstrated commitment to anti-oppressive and inclusive practice, accessibility, Indigenous reconciliation, anti-racism, and decolonizing approaches to social work education.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, exercise initiative, balance competing demands, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, adapt to changing circumstances, and contribute effectively as part of a team.
  • Ability to travel occasionally to placement organizations, meetings, and professional events.


Application Instructions

Applications will be treated confidentially and submitted online as PDF files through Interfolio.

Please include a complete resume or curriculum vitae and a letter of application. Please provide the names of three potential referees who will be contacted should your application moves forward.

References will be solicited at a later stage in the process as needed and with permission. Additionally, the successful candidate will be asked their consent to complete an educational and criminal records verification. The criminal records verification provides an indication of the existence of adult criminal convictions, for which a record suspension has not been granted, within the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records.

Review of applications will begin on July 17, 2026.

A full job description is available here .

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

About University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. The institution originates from the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, established on 4 April 1956; a semi-autonomous entity of Waterloo College, which was an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario. This entity formally separated from Waterloo College and was incorporated as a university with the passage of the University of Waterloo Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959. It was established to fill the need to train engineers and technicians for Canada's growing postwar economy. It grew substantially over the next decade, adding a faculty of arts in 1960, and the College of Optometry of Ontario, which moved from Toronto in 1967. The university is a co-educational institution, with approximately 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled there in 2020. Alumni and former students of the university can be found across Canada and in over 150 countries; with a number of award winners, government officials, and business leaders having been associated with Waterloo. Waterloo's varsity teams, known as the Waterloo Warriors, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports.
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