About University of Calgary
What is the University of Calgary?
The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a public research university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 as an autonomous institution (previously a branch of the University of Alberta), UCalgary is a member of the U15, Canada's coalition of leading research universities. Campus footprint covers ~12 hectares in northwest Calgary plus satellite locations in Doha and Edmonton.
UCalgary employs ~3,000+ Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) plus academic staff (faculty) and Support Staff (AUPE). Annual operating budget ~CAD $1.5bn. Major research areas include energy, biomedical engineering, veterinary medicine, social work, and brain science (Hotchkiss Brain Institute).
Where will I work?
Main campus in northwest Calgary, Alberta. UCalgary supports hybrid working for many MaPS roles via the Flexible Work Arrangement Program; on-site expectations vary by team and faculty.
What is the UCalgary team like?
~3,000+ MaPS (Management and Professional Staff — the cohort most knowledge workers join), plus ~2,000+ academic staff (TUCFA), ~3,000+ AUPE support staff, and ~1,000+ graduate assistants. Distinct collective agreements per cohort.
Work-Life Balance
UCalgary sits in our Generous PTO category for its MaPS cohort. The MaPS Employee Handbook 2024 states the vacation entitlement verbatim:
"First 7 years: 20 days. Year 8: 21. Year 9: 22. Year 10: 23. Year 11: 24. Year 12–21: 25. Years 22+: 30 days."
MaPS staff also get 10 named paid holidays (New Year's Day, Alberta Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, August Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day) and a paid December closure (Dec 25–31, approximately 5 working days, explicitly additional to vacation). Total time off for new MaPS hires = 35 days/year, scaling to ~45 days at 22+ years.
Caveat: AUPE-classified support staff and academic staff have separate entitlements via their collective agreements; the MaPS number cited here is the canonical professional-staff cohort that maps onto the 4dayweek.io audience.
Perks and Benefits
- 20 days vacation Year 1 (MaPS), scaling to 30 days at Year 22+.
- 10 named paid holidays (Alberta-observed, including Easter Monday).
- Paid December closure (Dec 25–31, additional to vacation).
- Comprehensive health + dental group benefits.
- Pension — UAPP (Universities Academic Pension Plan) or LAPP for MaPS.
- Personal Leave Days (PLD) for unforeseeable circumstances.
- Tuition support for staff and dependents on UCalgary credit + continuing-education courses.
- Employee & Family Assistance Plan.
- Flexible Work Arrangement Program (currently under review per HR site).
- Career-development support including ULearn and Connect to Perform programs.
How to Apply
Apply via UCalgary Careers. Listings span academic, MaPS, postdoc, and support-staff roles across all faculties.