Description

The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) is a non–profit organization that offers the Bar admission program in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. Students must article and complete CPLED’s Bar admission program, Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP), to be called to the Bar.

 CPLED is dedicated to helping students hone their practical skills and assessing how well they can apply their legal knowledge and skills in everyday situations. This helps ensure new lawyers are well-equipped to meet the demands of the workplace. CPLED maintains a high standard of programs and services for students to ensure a strong transition into the legal profession.

 As a key member of CPLED’s leadership team, the Program Manager will oversee the delivery and execution of all CPLED programs and courses and manage all employees within that team. The Program Manager will manage processes and technological improvements to achieve and increase efficiency, effectiveness, and the quality of program and course delivery. 

Success in this position requires thorough knowledge of CPLED’s strategy, programs, policies, continuous improvement mindset, and strong leadership, communication, organizational and analytical skills.

Key Responsibilities 

Program Delivery

• Oversee the successful delivery of the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) and CPLED courses, including accommodations, professional integrity matters, and results reporting to the law societies and the Federation.
• Oversee technologies and tools, such as the learning management system, to deliver programs and courses and analyze data. Ensure that student data integrity is maintained and monitored with respect to results and status, such as completion time.
• Oversee the hiring, training, and retention of external contractors. Review and approve external contractor contracts and invoices.
• Develop and execute yearly work schedules for all CPLED programs and courses.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives of business processes. Identify and implement process improvements and technologies that increase efficiency, effectiveness, and quality.

Leadership

• Supervise, manage, train, and mentor direct reports.  
• Monitor and report on determined program metrics, goals, and objectives.
• Promote CPLED education programs to various audiences, e.g., information sessions.
• Respond to stakeholder inquiries.
• Demonstrate flexibility and leadership in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment.
• Create and maintain a supportive and collaborative learning environment within CPLED through high professional and ethical standards, customer focus, a positive service attitude, and attention to CPLED’s strategies and objectives.
• Support the CEO with other projects and tasks as required.

Management and Reporting

• Report program delivery progress and issues regularly and on time to the CEO.
• Work collaboratively with the CEO, Content Manager and Operations Manager.
• Participate actively in business planning, significant business decisions, and oversight of the Program’s budget.
• Conduct risk assessments and support policy development.
• Attend CPLED User Group meetings and work collaboratively with group members from the Law Societies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia’s Barristers’ Society.

Requirements 

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure that one’s behaviour and the behaviour of others are consistent with these standards and align with the organization’s values.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen, and write clearly, thoroughly and timely using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve the organization.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, make recommendations, and resolve the problem.
• Timeliness: Commit to a deadline and meet those deadlines in a timely manner.
• Compassion: Treat internal and external customers with dignity and compassion and work with customers to find solutions within the guidelines of CPLED’s policies.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent
• 5+ years’ experience delivering professional education programs
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory, team lead, or project lead experience
• Experience with process improvement techniques and methodology, such as Six Sigma, total quality management
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong aptitude for computers combined with Microsoft Office knowledge and experience in managing database systems.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
• Strong attention to detail allied to a demonstrated professional and quality outcome work ethic.
• Critical thinker, able to evaluate situations and recommend solutions.
• Manage workload while working on multiple initiatives with multiple priorities.

Who We Are 

The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) is a non-profit organization that provides the training needed before being called to the Bars of Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.

Before becoming a lawyer, students must complete their articling requirement and the Bar admission program, the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP).

The CPLED Board of Directors comprises individuals from the four respective provincial law societies.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive compensation package
• Work-life balance benefits that allow you to balance your career and personal commitments.
• Access to a free onsite gym and tenant lounge.
• Private Reflection Rooms to observe religious or cultural beliefs, meditate or take a mental health break.

Current Hybrid Work

Our current Hybrid work model requires staff to have in-person time in the office and work remotely on other days. Attendance in the office is mandatory on Wednesdays and Thursdays for all staff unless it is an exemption day due to live student sessions or indicated by your Manager. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays remain flexible, allowing you to work remotely. However, you are also welcome to work three, four or five days in the office. We believe this hybrid model will provide staff with the best of both worlds and allow us to maintain strong connections, collaboration, and productivity.

Additional Information

The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) is partnering with the Law Society of Alberta on this search. Interested applicants should apply here. CPLED thanks all applicants, however, only selected candidates will be contacted. CPLED values diversity in its workforce and equal access to opportunity. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the highest level of confidentiality.