The University of British Columbia

Program Specialist

Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
  • 1-2 years of related experience preferred.
  • Strong project management skills to oversee multiple priorities.
  • Experience with faculty, clients, and learners in an educational setting.
  • Familiarity with learning management systems, CRMs, and virtual platforms.

Responsibilities

  • Manage end-to-end delivery of professional programs with excellence.
  • Serve as primary contact for learners and faculty throughout program cycles.
  • Advise learners on education plans and ensure smooth course selection.
  • Oversee logistics, engagement, and technical support for programs.
  • Coordinate instructor recruitment, onboarding, and training.
  • Develop promotional materials and represent the program at public events.
  • Participate in operational meetings, contributing to process improvements.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Collaborative work environment with diverse perspectives.
  • Comprehensive support and resources for program execution.
Full Job Description
Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level A

Job Title
Program Specialist

Department
Program Support 2 | Professional Growth | UBC Sauder School of Business

Compensation Range
$5,692.25 - $8,179.50 CAD Monthly

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
August 31, 2026

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

Job End Date

Ongoing

 

Job Summary

The Program Specialist is a key operational leader responsible for managing the effective delivery of open enrollment and custom programs, ensuring high-quality, learner-centered professional development experiences and operational excellence.

 

The Program Specialist provides expert-level program delivery, learner experience leadership, and technical and administrative oversight to ensure programs are executed with precision and professionalism.

 

This role requires deep coordination with faculty, external instructors, clients, learners, program coordinators and internal and external stakeholders.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Account Manager. This role requires deep coordination with faculty, external instructors, clients, learners, program coordinators and internal and external stakeholders.

Work Performed


Program Operations and Learner Experience

  • Serves as a first point of contact for learners and faculty/instructors before, during, and after program delivery.

  • Advises clients on admission and program requirements and oversees the recruitment and admission processes.

  • Advises learners on certificate completion pathways and course selection to tailor their education plans and meet their specific interests and business goals.

  • Manages all aspects of the end-to-end delivery of assigned programs, ensuring excellence in logistics, learner engagement, and overall execution.

  • Collaborates with Account Managers and faculty to support scheduling, onboarding, and instructional coordination.

  • Oversees day-to-day operations of in-person, online, and hybrid programs, including preparation of course materials, LMS setup, technical support, and classroom/venue coordination.

  • Manages the effective delivery of front-line services and program support, which includes developing, implementing, reviewing and evaluating the services provided by Program Coordinators to ensure successful service delivery.

  • Participates in the recruitment and training of the support and student employees.

  • Leads operations meetings with the program management team.

  • Identifies, recommends and implements improved processes, policies and systems to enhance efficiency of program operations and program effectiveness.

  • Ensures technical readiness for online programs, troubleshoots issues during program delivery and quality checks LMS content to ensure seamless learner and instructor experience.

  • Manages and maintains course data and student records across LMS and student information systems.

  • Plans and implements orientation and onboarding processes and activities for learners to set expectations, enhance experience and maximize engagement.

  • Develops and initiates evaluations to gather feedback from learners. Monitors satisfaction through surveys and informal feedback loops, analyzing data to improve future delivery.

  • Organizes events and workshops as part of program delivery or learner experience strategy.

  • Prepares program reports and supports data analysis to guide decision making; provides advice and ideas to the leadership team on how to enhance experience for clients and instructors.

 

Faculty and Instructor Support

  • Coordinates instructor recruitment, onboarding, and training for assigned programs, with a focus on instructional alignment and experience.

  • Liaises with faculty and external instructors on the development of teaching schedules, classroom requirements, and pedagogical tools; resolves complex related issues.

  • Provides detailed faculty briefings and serves as ongoing point of contact for instructional needs.

  • Collaborates with the faculty and instructors to ensure content quality and alignment with program goals.

 

Marketing, Communications and Outreach

  • Contributes to the development of promotional materials, program descriptions, and communication plans.

  • Represents the unit at info sessions, alumni events, and community or industry-facing activities.

  • Builds and maintains relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, and acts as a program ambassador with campus partners and professional associations to build visibility and support enrollment efforts.

 

Team Collaboration

  • Contributes to the operational planning, process updates and internal training across the delivery team.

  • Supports the implementation of process improvements through cross-team collaboration.

  • Participates in weekly operational meetings and special projects that enhance the unit’s goals.

  • Provide mentorship to new or junior team members when needed.

  • Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Incorrect or poor decisions will have a significant and direct impact on the financial performance and reputation of the business unit, UBC Sauder and University in general. Poor judgments could result in legal liability of the University. Poor hiring decisions could affect quality of courses, reputation of the University, which could affect client satisfaction and the financial viability of the department.

Supervision Received
Reports to and receives day to day supervision and guidance from the Account Manager.

Supervision Given
May provide supervision, guidance and instruction to Program Coordinators, course consultants and the instructors. 

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of one to two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

- 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

  • Experience in program coordination, learner services, or educational delivery.

  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated ability to work with faculty, clients and learners in a professional education setting.

  • Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas), CRMs, and virtual delivery platforms (e.g., Zoom).

  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

  • Proven experience analyzing feedback and improving operational processes for better outcomes.

About The University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, UBC is British Columbia's oldest university. The university is ranked among the top 20 public universities worldwide and among the top three in Canada. UBC is a research-intensive university and has an annual research budget of over $600 million. The university offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of academic fields. UBC has a diverse student population, with over 65,000 students from over 160 countries.
Learn more about The University of British Columbia
Size
17,000 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at The University of British Columbia

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Program Specialist jobs: