Director, Ancillary Operations (2026-MP-09)

University of Windsor•Windsor, ON

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Windsor is seeking a Director, Ancillary Operations to provide leadership for ancillary operations in meeting service needs for the broader campus community. This role will lead the University’s ancillary operations in achieving a sustainable and profitable business model that provides for a diverse range of services impacting students, faculty, staff, and other campus stakeholders. The primary objectives are to achieve effectiveness and efficiency, integrate and expand service operations and profit, and ensure contract performance and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Degree in Business Administration or related degree
Minimum of 5 years of progressive managerial experience in service-oriented operations
Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading people and managing teams (including in unionized environments); demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop skills
Minimum of 3 years of related experience leading significant change management initiatives or transformative projects in a large organization
Proficiency in budgeting and financial planning including ability to manage complex budgets and optimize cost effectiveness in resource allocation and expenditures, and entrepreneurial skills
Experience with procurement, contract management and negotiations; must be knowledgeable of terms /convenants for third party agreements; possess knowledge of University and/or other Ontario public sector policies regarding purchasing and related procurement-related policies dealing with the purchase of goods and services
Demonstrated ability to effectively deliver services with cross-functional intent to a broad base of stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, both written and verbal (writing concise, grammatically correct business correspondence including analytical reports, budget submissions, project and technical reports; ability to make oral group presentations, including those to senior management, external stakeholders and Board committees)
Demonstrated ability to effectively organize work and prioritize assignments to complete work in a timely manner when there are changes in workload; changes in assignments; pressures of deadlines; competing requirements; heavy workload
Demonstrated ability to effectively motivate others; stimulate people to effective action; successful leadership in a unionized environment
Demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate and exchange ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policies and programs and / or arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions and solutions
Demonstrated ability to effectively work as part of a team; collaborating with colleagues and interact diplomatically with other campus departments and external stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to effectively develop and administer policies, programs, and procedures
Sound technical and business acumen, including keen analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, particularly as it relates to the analyzing of financial and operational data and the preparing of associated reports
Experience with project management methodology, software, and best practices
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio), financial management applications and reporting information systems; advanced knowledge of reporting and analytic tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Power BI)
Demonstrated commitment for promoting indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

Nice To Haves

Enhanced business training, such as a Master of Business Administration, Project Management Professional (PMP) Designation, or accounting designation
Experience working in a higher-education setting

Responsibilities

Manage in-house ancillary operations to ensure reliable operations and delivery of services to the University community.
Manage outsourced ancillary operations with vendor partners to ensure reliable operations and service delivery to the University community.
Design and implement innovative and creative projects and initiatives to enhance customer service and achieve operational efficiencies through business process improvements.
Support the AVPO in the development and implementation of service level agreements (SLA’s) and key performance indicators (KPI’s) for the division and ensure they are actively measured and achieved.
Advise the AVPO on high-level strategic issues on divisional operational items in support of University and division strategic objectives.
Stay current on trends relating to or affecting ancillary operations by participating in industry-related organizations and attending relevant professional development opportunities.