Field Education Lead, BSW

Job summary

The Field Education Lead manages, facilitates, and assesses BSW field practicum placements while ensuring alignment with academic standards and program outcomes. They also build and maintain community partnerships to support student learning and professional development within the social work program.

Job details

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY All required documents must be uploaded to Additional Documents with correct titles for each required document. Cape Breton University (CBU) invites applications for a Full-Time Continuing, Field Education Lead in the Department of Social Work, School of Arts and Social Sciences. Program Details CBU’s BSW program is grounded in critical, anti-oppressive, and decolonizing approaches to social work education, with a strong emphasis on: Advancing awareness and meaningful integration of Indigenous worldviews, Ways of Knowing, and Two-Eyed Seeing in practice. Advancing Community-based and relational practice Practice readiness and field education as the signature pedagogy Advancing Social justice and ethical responsibility Serving and including rural and underserved communities The program is situated in Unama’ki (Cape Breton Island), part of Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people, and it maintains close relationships with community organizations, service providers, and Indigenous partners. Position Responsibilities Reporting to and working with the Program Director, the Field Education Lead creates, facilitates, and assesses field practicum placements for social work students. Responsibilities include: Lead the management, administration, educational development, and evaluation of BSW field education, ensuring alignment with CASWE standards, Core Learning Objectives, institutional policies, and program outcomes. Maintain and oversee field education policies, procedures, documentation, learning contracts, evaluation processes, and related materials. Recruit, assess, approve, develop, support, and retain practicum agencies and qualified field supervisors, and assess placement capacity for Field Practicum I and II. Coordinate student placement processes, including meeting with students, assessing placement fit, managing placement decisions, and communicating with students, agencies, supervisors, and the Field Practice Educator. Support placement managers and field supervisors regarding practicum expectations, supervision, student learning, policies, documentation, and evaluation responsibilities. Ensure required student screening and placement documentation is completed and collaborate with the Field Practice Educator to address concerns related to student performance, conduct, attendance, supervision, safety, learning opportunities, or placement suitability. Build and maintain community partnerships with social workers and practicum settings and identify opportunities and trends to strengthen field education. Support professional development, research, collaborative initiatives, and university service related to the BSW program and community partnerships. Qualifications of this role are: Master of Social Work Degree (MSW); A minimum of five years of practice experience in the field of social work; Understanding of social services, practice and placement requirements and standards, and current issues and trends in social work; Demonstrated commitment to the principles of social work education and practice, including, but not limited to, social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization; Understanding of social work education and practice in the context of rural, indigenous, and marginal communities at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels; Ability to work independently and as a team member, including the ability to develop interpersonal, collegial, and relationship-building skills suited to field education, social work education, university, and professional contexts; Flexibility with hours of work based on program operation needs (e.g., special events in the evening, early morning preparation for daytime special events, etc.); Ability to multitask priorities and responsibilities. Applications for the successful candidate will include: a cover letter describing the expertise of the applicant a complete resume (or CV) a statement of teaching philosophy A list of least three references. All required documents must be uploaded to "Additional Documents" with correct titles for each required document All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The union affiliation of this position is with the Cape Breton University Faculty Association (CBUFA). Applications must be received by 11:00PM on October 27th, 2026. Cape Breton University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff, our faculty and its scholarship including, but not limited to, women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply but applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. CBU is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and applicants are encouraged to self-identity if they are part of a marginalised community, or have experience working with Indigenous communities. If we contact you for an interview and you are a person with a disability who requires technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Cape Breton University Human Resources Dept. HumanResources@cbu.ca 1250 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, NS B1M 1A2

What you’ll do

The Field Education Lead manages, facilitates, and assesses BSW field practicum placements while ensuring alignment with academic standards and program outcomes. They also build and maintain community partnerships to support student learning and professional development within the social work program.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and possess at least five years of professional social work experience. A demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and Indigenous ways of knowing is essential for this role.

Listed skills

• Policy development · Preferred
• Relationship Building · Preferred
• Conflict Resolution · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Social work education
• Field education management
• Practicum coordination
• Indigenous worldviews
• Two-eyed seeing
• Community partnerships
• Student assessment
• Policy development
• Anti-oppressive practice
• Decolonizing approaches
• Relationship building
• Conflict resolution
• Academic administration
• Professional development
• Social justice advocacy
• Student Placements
• Ethical Standards And Conduct
• Research
• Teaching
• Management
• Social Work
• Communication
• Multitasking
• Pedagogy
• Relationship Building
• Social Justice
• Social Sciences
• Diversification (Investing)

Job areas

• Education
• Social Services
• Management & Leadership
• Field Educator
• Social Work Professor
• University and Higher Education Teachers
• Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
• Postsecondary Teachers

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