Associate Director Strategic Initiatives

Simon Fraser University•Burnaby, BC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives serves as a key resource within VPA International, advancing an institution-wide approach to internationalization and global engagement. The role is responsible for identifying, designing and implementing a portfolio of high-priority, cross-cutting projects and initiatives that align with and operationalize the university’s international strategy, ensuring coherence between portfolio priorities and broader institutional objectives. Working across the full breadth of the VPA International portfolio, including international recruitment, partnerships, international student experience and global learning, the role provides leadership and coordination to advance both portfolio-specific and pan-university initiatives with a lens to alignment with academic, research and community engagement priorities across the university. The role ensures the achievement of quality standards, timelines, deliverables and risk mitigation. The role manages all phases of the project life cycle, from project planning and development to implementation, leading the delivery of regular updates and communications that support decision-making and strengthen alignment across diverse stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and four years of related experience in managing projects, developing communication strategies, business case development, risk management, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Excellent understanding of best practices in project management methodology.
Strong interpersonal, intercultural, communication, organizational, strategic planning, and project management skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, timelines, and deliverables in a complex environment.
Excellent facilitation, negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders across the university and external partners.

Responsibilities

Identifying, designing and implementing a portfolio of high-priority, cross-cutting projects and initiatives that align with and operationalize the university’s international strategy.
Ensuring coherence between portfolio priorities and broader institutional objectives.
Providing leadership and coordination to advance both portfolio-specific and pan-university initiatives with a lens to alignment with academic, research and community engagement priorities across the university.
Ensuring the achievement of quality standards, timelines, deliverables and risk mitigation.
Managing all phases of the project life cycle, from project planning and development to implementation.
Leading the delivery of regular updates and communications that support decision-making and strengthen alignment across diverse stakeholders.