Department of Human Resources
OPSEU Job Description
Job Title:
Job Number:
NOC:
Band:
Department:
Supervisor Title:
Demonstrator/Technician
SS-069
4012
08
Anthropology
Chair, Anthropology
Last Reviewed:
August 26, 2008
Job Purpose
Assist in the delivery of academic services by instructing in laboratories/seminars, preparation of
teaching manuals, assignments, and handouts, supervision and coordination of Teaching
Assistants, marking of undergraduate assignments, tutoring undergraduate students
individually, managing purchasing and equipment budgets, provide technical and curatorial
support for teaching and research facilities.
Key Activities
Curriculum Development/Coordination;
1. In co-operation with faculty and under general supervision of the Chair, organizes,
researches, designs, prepares, demonstrates, instructs and supervises first-year
undergraduate students. Includes instruction of complex concepts and problem solving
skills in a formal classroom setting.
2. Designs and prepares lab manuals, handouts and assignments as directed.
3. Acts as a computer resource person; specifically focusing on how computers can be
used in teaching and how to implement this technology in classroom situations. Creates
and maintains webCT site for first year courses.
4. Evaluates students on the basis of written work, lab reports, tests, essays, exams and
oral presentations. Coordinates and invigilates tests and exams.
5. Supervises, coordinates and trains Teaching Assistants. Weekly organisation and
supervision of Teaching Assistants with respect to laboratory/seminar instruction,
objectives of the lab/seminar components of the course and background information.
6. Develops and maintains database of student marks, including final marks in the course.
Technical Support;
1. Provides technical support in laboratories and in the field.
2. Curatorial duties for the artifact, skeletal, and faunal collections. Manages new
acquisitions and accessions to the teaching collections. Is responsible for the day-to-day
maintenance and operation of the Teaching Collections and Department equipment.
Job Number: SS-069
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Last updated: June 10, 2009
3. Designs and maintains database of teaching and research material, equipment and
other inventory held by the department.
4. Planning and update of Departmental Emergency Response plan with regards to
collections and equipment.
5. When necessary, instructs/assists faculty and graduate students in logistics of research
projects and in the use of various field and analytical equipment.
6. Supervises/organizes student and casual labour as required.
7. Maintains and repairs all departmental field and analytical equipment.
8. Responsible for department equipment/collections bookings and policy.
9. Maintains and keeps inventories of departmental equipment and supplies.
10. Maintains the Program's equipment, supplies and laboratory teaching budgets.
11. Manages departmental equipment budgets and financial statements.
12. Liaises with technicians and demonstrators of other departments regarding joint
projects, joint course and sharable equipment.
13. Liaises with Physical Resources regarding physical plant requirements, changes or
repairs.
14. Participates in any internal or external committees as mutually agreed upon with the
Chair.
15. Prepares reports and proposals for fundraising campaigns, program projects, Academic
Innovation Fund, and joint departmental projects.
16. Provides assistance with design/development of department webpage as directed by
Chair.
Teaching Support;
1. In co-operation with faculty and under general supervision of the Chair, instructs and
supervises first-year undergraduate students. Includes instruction of complex concepts
and problem solving skills in a formal classroom setting.
2. Advises/assists graduate students with implementation of computers and/or equipment
to their research plans/coursework.
3. Is available for one-on-one instruction of undergraduate students who need assistance
with course-related material, assignments and computer-related problems.
4. Designs and pulls teaching modules from Department teaching collection for use in
anthropology classes.
5. Prepares reference modules, supplies, field and analytical equipment, and computer
equipment for undergraduate courses.
6. Works with chair with regard to recruitment and on-going contact with high schools.
Research Support;
1. Assists in and collaborates with faculty in planning and execution of research programs.
2. Performs research including data collection, sample preparation, analysis and
publication of results.
3. Maintains inventory of equipment and reference material loaned to undergraduates,
graduate students and faculty.
4. Investigates and purchases laboratory supplies and departmental scientific equipment
based on need.
Job Number: SS-069
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Analytical Reasoning
Indicate degree of complexity or difficulty of thinking and reasoning required by the job. Provide a
relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job (i.e. not an occasional duty).
Decision Making
Indicate the degree of freedom to exercise initiative or act independently in making day- to-day decisions.
Provide a relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job (i.e. not an
occasional duty).
Impact
Indicate the impact or consequence to the department or University of typical actions or decisions taken by
the job incumbent. Provide a relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job
(i.e. not an occasional duty).
Education
Masters Degree in Anthropology with strong broad-based knowledge of Anthropology across all
four fields.
Experience Required
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At least 1 year teaching experience (at least at the teaching assistant level).
Demonstrated skills in, and commitment to, customer service and continuous
improvement.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Must have skills to develop and manage electronic databases, such as Microsoft Excel
and Access and have a working knowledge of WEB CT.
Excellent presentation skills and working knowledge of presentation software, such as
Power Point.
Experience and facilitation and management of both large and small groups.
Good writing, editing, evaluation and feedback skills.
Demonstrated evidence of an ability to attend to details.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Willingness to upgrade skills as needed.
Responsibility for the Work of Others
Direct Responsibility
 Teaching Assistants
 OWSP students
 Casual labour
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Indirect Responsibility
N/A
Communication
Internal:
 Students: teaching, assignment and report critique
 Finance Department: Purchasing
 Staff, Graduate Students and Faculty: answer queries
 Faculty: department business
 Teaching Assistants: explanation of assignments
 Technicians from other departments to discuss sharing of equipment/space/resources
 Computer Technicians: Hardware/software problems
External:
 Suppliers: gather information and order equipment
 Trent Community: act as a resource
 High School teachers: act as a resource
 Parents and prospective students: act as a resource in recruitment efforts
Motor/ Sensory Skills
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Fine Motor Skills - manipulating equipment and measuring devices, keyboarding and
data entry
Dexterity - precision in sample preparation and data collection, precision in
manipulating equipment and measuring devices
Gross Motor Skills - Moving field equipment/collections
Hearing - responding to student and faculty queries
Sight - reading reports, precision in manipulating equipment and collections
Touch - precision in manipulating equipment and collections
Effort
Mental:
 Sustained concentration - marking assignments, reading new material, analyzing
problems, collections processing, debugging software and working with equipment
Physical
 Standing, Walking - administering labs
 Lifting - Moving equipment and rearranging labs/classrooms.
Working Conditions
Physical:
 Injury - Operation of dangerous equipment
 Monotony - data entry
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Injury - Exposure to dangerous materials, noxious smells
Noise, poor lighting and noise conditions
Psychological:
 Complaints - Complaints from faculty and students
 Conflicting work - labs, manuals, assignments, priorities and deadlines
 Handling of student appeals - Angry students upset with grades
 Lack of control over pace of work - academic term “end rush”
 Multiple competing demands - managing collections and equipment along with course
instruction.
 Interruptions - Interruptions from students and faculty during a task
Job Description Approved by Human Resources (as per Article 17.1):
Name (print):
Signature:
Date:
Signatures - indicating that the job description has been read and understood:
Incumbent
Name (print):
Signature:
Date:
Immediate Supervisor:
Name (print):
Signature:
Date:
Department Head/ Dean:
Name (print):
Signature:
Date:
Job Number: SS-069
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Last updated: June 10, 2009