Manager, Student Care

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Student Experience (AVPSE), the Manager, Student Care supports theAVPSEin setting strategic goals and translating them into operational plans for student care coordination at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP).

This position provides leadership to the Student Care, Intake, and Mental Health & Wellbeing teams. The Manager is responsible for highly sensitive and confidential information and is expected to carry out assigned responsibilities with a high degree of independence within a team-based learning environment.

The incumbent leads the delivery of consistent, high-quality services across Student Care, Intake and Mental Health & Wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on holistic, wrap-around support that promotes student retention, persistence, and overall success. Through effective leadership, a student-centred approach, staff training, clear communication, ongoing evaluation, and continuous improvement, the role ensures services are responsive to the diverse and evolving needs of students.

Relationship building and collaboration are central to this position, with regular engagement with internal partners and community stakeholders to strengthen integrated supports. This work ensures services meet high-quality standards, align withRDPpolicies and procedures, and foster student success and belonging.

This position functions collaboratively as a member of theAVPSEteam and engages institutional and community stakeholders to build relationships and improve access to comprehensive student supports for Red Deer Polytechnic students.

• Provides leadership for student care coordination, intake coordination, and mental health and wellbeing education and awareness, informed by best practices, current needs, and available resources.
• Creates and implements operational plans for Student Care, Intake, and Mental Health & Wellbeing services in alignment with the Division’s Business Plan.
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean, Students on the development, implementation, completion and reporting for Mental Health Strategy initiatives.
• Identifies opportunities to gather and use service data, as well as student, staff, and faculty feedback, to support planning, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
• Facilitates innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery.
• Reviews and improves work processes, operations, and systems to enhance student learning and service outcomes.
• Assists staff and faculty in understanding and responding to complex student-related issues, situations, or concerns.
• Engages with internal and external partners to build effective partnerships and collaborations that enhance access to resources and services.
• Ensures services align withRDPpolicies and procedures, applicable regulatory requirements, and best practices that support a strong culture of wellbeing.
• Supports the consistent interpretation and application of student policies and procedures to promote fair, transparent, and student-centered decision-making.
• Develops and maintains work, service, and learning environments that are equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible for the full diversity of the community served.

• Plans, delegates, and coordinates the work of direct reports to ensure services are delivered accurately, efficiently, and in a timely manner.
• Approves, monitors, and reports vacation and other absences for all staff under the direct supervision; arrange coverage for all vacation and long-term absences as required.
• Leads recruitment, selection, retention, coaching, training, supervision, and performance management in compliance with Human Resources policies and procedures,POPA, and applicable collective agreements.
• Supports a high-performing team by promoting professional growth, development, and continuous learning across the portfolio.
• Applies collective agreements and institutional policies to Division operations in consultation with theAVPSEand People and Culture.
• Facilitates discipline and dismissal processes, where necessary, in consultation with theAVPSEand People and Culture.
• Demonstrates accountability for Occupational Health & Safety responsibilities.
• Maintains confidentiality of personal information in accordance with institutional policies, procedures, andPOPA.

• Fosters effective communication, collaboration, consultation, and…