March 12, 2025

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST  (BAND LEVEL 10)

Physics in the Rural Classroom (PiRC)

Grenfell Campus

(One- Year Contractual Position)

(Part-time; 21 Hours per Week)

This position is funded through an external grant

The University will consider applications from qualified permanent staff who may be interested in a secondment, subject to departmental approval

ABOUT MEMORIAL &THE CISE ATLANTIC

We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University’s campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.

Atlantic Canada’s most publicly engaged university, Memorial, is a multi-campus, multi- disciplinary, public teaching/research university community. Memorial strives to have a national and global impact while fulfilling its social mandate to provide access to university education for the province's people and contribute to Newfoundland and Labrador's social, cultural, scientific, and economic development and beyond. The University’s mission is to be one of Canada's most distinguished public universities and internationally.

Memorial has more than 19,000 students across four campuses and nearly 90,000 alumni active worldwide. As a respected employer of more than 3,700 faculty and staff, Memorial University provides a progressive and dynamic workplace that fosters innovation and creativity.

The Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) program is a national initiative funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). CISE supports a team of researchers to expand inclusion in STEM fields, primarily by catalyzing networks of supporters, promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion, and undertaking activities to enhance awareness and understanding of barriers and inequities faced by members of equity- deserving groups in these fields.

The CISE-Atlantic team is composed of Dr. Svetlana Barkanova (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Dr. Kevin Hewitt (Dalhousie University) and Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie (Cape Breton University). This program is an expansion of the Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) program, which has active chairholders in various regions of the country.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Curriculum Development Specialist to lead the creation of the Physics in the Rural Classroom (PiRC) curriculum. This initiative aims to enhance science education across Atlantic Canada for grades 7–12. PiRC is a component of the Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering Atlantic (CISE Atlantic) initiative. This program addresses gaps in physics education in rural areas by connecting students with role models and enriching the curriculum with accessible online resources. The curriculum development will aim to address regional priorities and include Indigenous knowledge where relevant. In addition to building a teacher network and learning resources, PiRC will offer four 45-minute online guest talks per year to individual classes to address specific science curriculum objectives. The program is focused on engaging underserved communities.

In this role, the incumbent will collaborate with educational institutions, government bodies, and community partners to develop enriching curriculum content, resources, and learning opportunities that address regional educational needs.

Duties include conducting research and collecting publicly available online resources on physics-related topics covered in grades 7-12 in Atlantic Canada; developing learning experiences or lesson plans for physics concepts covered in grades 7-12; coaching teachers on pedagogical methods, curriculum materials and physics education; conducting needs assessments to identify gaps in the current physics curriculum and propose targeted solutions; engaging with community partners, government officials, and institutional representatives to incorporate diverse perspectives; providing recommendations for science curriculum enhancements throughout Atlantic Canada; providing leadership on curriculum development projects related to PiRC; working collaboratively in a team environment across multiple institutions to achieve project goals; and performing other related duties as required.

Working conditions for the role are typical of an office environment, which may be remote, hybrid, or in-person. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to meet operational needs, with corresponding time off during regular work hours. Limited travel (1–6 overnight trips per year) will also be required. The role involves close collaboration with institutional, government, and community partners.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Experience (minimum 5 years) of teaching in Atlantic Canada, supplemented by curriculum development experience (at least 3 years) is required; or an equivalent combination of experience and training will be considered. The successful applicant must hold a valid teaching certificate for Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick. Working knowledge of grades 7–12 science and physics curriculum across Atlantic Canada is required. The candidate must demonstrate ability to support a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion, while understanding the barriers and bridges to inclusion to support equity-deserving groups and rural communities. Strong project management skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision are essential. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities and deadlines, demonstrating excellent prioritization and time management skills. The candidate is expected to possess excellent organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills; experience with culturally responsive pedagogy and cultural safety or humility; ability to take initiative to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as the capability of collaborating effectively in a team environment. Experience with land-based knowledge, Africentric education, and/or science communication is an asset. Bilingualism in French and English is preferred, as is fluency in Indigenous spoken languages in the Atlantic Region.

SALARY                        $73,551 - $86,281 per annum (Non-Bargaining) 

CLOSING DATE            March 27, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. NST

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. Memorial University is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities.

The personal information requested in your application is collected under the authority of the Memorial University Act (RSNL 1990 c M-7) for the purpose of identifying and recruiting candidates; assessing applicant qualifications; and maintaining records pertaining to the administration of employment with Memorial University of Newfoundland.

If you are a successful candidate, this information will form part of your permanent employment record and will be used for other activities related to the employment process. This information may be disclosed to government departments and agencies as legally required; and to third party service providers, as necessary to administer programs and activities.

If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of the information on this form, please contact MyHR, Department of Human Resources, at myhr@mun.ca.

Inquiries about this opportunity should be directed to Grenfell Campus - Memorial University, University Avenue, Corner Brook, Room AS374, phone (709) 637-4097, or e-mail gchr@mun.ca.

Please be advised that we are unable to provide updates on current competitions.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.