Course number and title: APS111H1 F – Engineering Strategies & Practice I  

Course description: This course introduces and provides a framework for the design process. Students are introduced to communication as an integral component of engineering practice. The course is a vehicle for understanding problem solving and developing communications skills. This first course in the two Engineering Strategies and Practice course sequence introduces students to the process of engineering design, to strategies for successful teamwork, and to design for human factors, society and the environment. Students write team and individual technical reports and give presentations within a discussion group. 

 

Posting end date: July 17, 2026 

 

Number of Positions: Up to fourteen (14) positions. 

 

Estimated TA support: TAs coordinate tutorial and mark design documents. CIs and TAs coordinate closely.  

 

Estimated course enrolment: 1,200 students, in tutorial sections of up to 36 students each.  

 

Class schedule: Students attend 3 one-hour lectures, and 1 two-hour tutorial per week.  

 

Dates of appointment: September 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 

 

Hours: Up to 150 hours 

 

Salary: CUPE minimum salary rates are: Writing Instructor 1 - $56.46/hr plus 4% vacation pay; Writing Instructor 1 Long Term - $60.69/hr plus 4% vacation pay; Writing Instructor 2 - $60.69/hr plus 6% vacation pay; Writing Instructor 2 Long Term - $62.15/hr plus 6% vacation pay; Writing Instructor 2 (priority) - $62.48/hr plus 6% vacation pay and Writing Instructor 2 (priority) Long Term- $63.95/hr plus 6% vacation pay. Should rates stipulated in the Collective Agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the Collective Agreement shall prevail.   

 

Minimum Qualifications: include at least a master's degree in an appropriate discipline (such as, but not limited to, Communication, English, English for Specific Purposes, applied linguistics, Engineering, Education, Technology Studies) with strong written and oral communication skills, and a demonstrated commitment to teaching communication and demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.  

 

Preferred Qualifications: include a PhD in an appropriate discipline (as above), TESL or CELTA certificate (or equivalent in ESL specialization or development of ESL curricula), familiarity with engineering communication practices and/or experience as an instructor or communication specialist in a technical field. Also considered assets are experience in curriculum development, tutoring and/or working with a diverse group of students. In addition, extensive teamwork, team teaching, and teamwork instruction are an asset.  

 

Description of duties:  

Attend up to 10 hours of general training sessions in early September (in person, online or hybrid) 

Attend up to 5 ninety-minute (1.5 hrs) training and benchmarking sessions throughout the term (mid-September and late October/early November) 

Attend 10 or more whole-teaching-team meetings (Mondays 10-11 AM) 

Coordinating with 2 assigned TAs to provide their students (approximately 60-70) and student teams (10-12) with pre-and-post-assignment assistance and debriefs 

Visiting up to 10 tutorials for student support and/or helping facilitate select in-tutorial activities (time and date tbd) 

Visiting 4 or more work session and active lectures before major deadlines (Fridays 2-5 PM, before assignment deadlines—exact dates tbd) 

Grading 60-72 of each of two individual assignments and 10-12 Team Charter assignments (September and November) 

All teaching and lectures must be conducted/attended in-person, with varying degrees of flexibility in scheduling and some opportunities to provide online support  

While some duties—such as marking, communicating with students and teaching team colleagues over email and MS Teams, and preparation—may or must be done online, these duties are dependent on the instructor’s ability to attend in person at required times. Therefore, there are no online-only duties for this position.  

Teaching team meetings and benchmarking meetings may be conducted online, but if they are conducted in-person, candidates are required to be in-person for those meetings.   

Collaborate with Communication Coordinator on strategies of support for students, as well as delivering that support, including for those identified as requiring Professional Language Development support. 

A required 15-minute check-in (on workload, timing, processes and any other relevant issues) will be conducted in October. 

 

Application Procedure: Applicants should submit: 

Unit 3 application form 

Application documents must be submitted via the link found in the application form in one (1) file. 

 

If during the application and/or selection process you require accommodation due to a disability, please contact Chanelle Small-Reid at istep.academic@utoronto.ca.   

  

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.   

   

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.    

    

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Writing Instructor 2 or Writing Instructor 2 (Priority) in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement. Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.  

 

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities. and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the position. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.