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.
The successful candidate will provide leadership for the management, administration, educational quality, and community relationships that support field education within the BSW program. They will ensure that student practicums, field-related courses, policies, documentation, and evaluation processes align with CASWE accreditation standards, the CASWE Core Learning Objectives, institutional policies, and the mission and goals of the BSW program.
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 list of least three references.
Please upload all required documents to Additional Documents if no designated area is listed. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Click here to apply. Applications must be received by 11:00PM on October 28th, 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 marginalized 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.
1250 Grand Lake Road,
Sydney, NS B1M 1A2
