Associate Vice-President, Student Services

University of Ottawa•Ottawa, ON

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice-President, Student Services exercises strategic leadership and operational oversight in order to plan, implement and evaluate services, business and partnership opportunities that provide high-quality, revenue-generating and cost-effective services to the University community, particularly students. The incumbent is responsible for integrating student services into an overall vision for student life, enhancing the student experience and the engagement of the entire University community. The Associate Vice-President, Student Services ensures continuous improvement of the student experience while providing strategic direction to Student Wellness (Residence Life, Student Health and Wellness Centre, Academic Accommodation), Client Relations (Housing and Residences, Food Services, Conventions and Reservations), Recreation and Varsity Sports. Client Relations encompasses the business side of student residences, including room allocation and the management of residence partnerships. The incumbent develops and implements strategies to meet community needs and ensure the financial sustainability of services, infrastructure, and initiatives. The incumbent focuses on improving student services, measuring student satisfaction, and managing performance, risk and partnerships. As a member of the senior leadership team, the incumbent plays a significant role in developing University strategic and operational plans and leads initiatives and change management related to campus-wide ancillary services. The incumbent works closely with the Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs in supporting the student experience, and with the Vice-President, Finance and Administration and the broader portfolio — including the Associate Vice-President, Facilities and the Chief Investment Officer — on key matters and major projects including student housing development project, financial sustainability, campus development, performance and quality assurance, and internal and external engagement.

Requirements

Graduate degree in a relevant discipline
Fifteen years of progressive business management experience in an environment of similar scope, complexity and dynamism, including change management
Experience working in an academic or postsecondary environment
Experience in setting and implementing long-term strategic direction for business units and establishing policies and protocols that support service excellence while leveraging existing resources
Extensive experience in planning major projects with broad organizational impact
Experience in providing expert advice to senior management
Significant experience in building partnerships with business leaders to improve existing partnerships and develop new business opportunities
Experience in leading self-funding, revenue generating business units
Leadership experience related to human and financial resources
Demonstrated ability to translate university requirements into business capabilities that improve the overall student experience
Demonstrated ability to promote various business priorities and mediate conflicting demands, needs and interests
Excellent overall leadership ability
Strong analytical skills and strategic-orientation ability
Strong negotiation skills (external and internal)
Facilitation and consensus-building skills; strong team-building skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Complete fluency in French and English (spoken and written)

Nice To Haves

MBA would be considered an asset

Responsibilities

Exercises strategic leadership and operational oversight in order to plan, implement and evaluate services, business and partnership opportunities that provide high-quality, revenue-generating and cost-effective services to the University community, particularly students.
Integrates student services into an overall vision for student life, enhancing the student experience and the engagement of the entire University community.
Ensures continuous improvement of the student experience while providing strategic direction to Student Wellness (Residence Life, Student Health and Wellness Centre, Academic Accommodation), Client Relations (Housing and Residences, Food Services, Conventions and Reservations), Recreation and Varsity Sports.
Develops and implements strategies to meet community needs and ensure the financial sustainability of services, infrastructure, and initiatives.
Focuses on improving student services, measuring student satisfaction, and managing performance, risk and partnerships.
Plays a significant role in developing University strategic and operational plans and leads initiatives and change management related to campus-wide ancillary services.
Works closely with the Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs in supporting the student experience, and with the Vice-President, Finance and Administration and the broader portfolio — including the Associate Vice-President, Facilities and the Chief Investment Officer — on key matters and major projects including student housing development project, financial sustainability, campus development, performance and quality assurance, and internal and external engagement.