Vice-President, Finance and Administration

University of Ottawa • Ottawa, ON

24d

About The Position

The University of Ottawa is a unique educational and research institution with a distinct identity, rooted in an outstanding ecosystem. It is the only bilingual research-intensive university in Canada, the largest French-English bilingual university in the world and an institution open to the languages and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and the entire world. These three elements allow it to provide its students and employees with an environment that is linguistically, culturally and academically open and diverse. One of the top five research-intensive universities in Canada, the University of Ottawa is a key centre of power, leadership and transformation in the heart of a G7 capital, in a bilingual city at the crossroads of science, commerce and public policy. Located just steps away from Canada’s most important democratic institutions, the University is tied into a global network of embassies, internationally-renowned hospitals and national research agencies, a major arts sector and a flourishing business community. It also boasts a continually expanding campus at Kanata North, the country’s largest technology park. This crossroads of scholarship, commerce and politics drives its some 50,000 students and over 6,000 professors and support staff to always aim higher in order to spur innovation and transform society. Together, its researchers attract more than $500 million in research revenue annually.
Purpose
The Vice-President, Finance and Administration oversees the management of uOttawa’s human, financial, computing and physical resources, as well as facilities planning and sports services. Reporting directly to the President and Vice-Chancellor, and working closely with the other Vice-Presidents, Deans, and the Board of Governors, the Vice-President, Finance and Administration is a critical member of the University’s executive management team. This individual participates in Board of Governors’ meetings and a number of its committees. The Vice-President sets strategic goals and priorities in line with the university’s long-term Strategic Plan, and the overall vision and mission of the University.

Requirements

• As the ideal candidate, you are a collaborative, strategic, and fully bilingual leader in both official languages, recognized for your integrity, sound judgment, and ability to mobilize teams in complex environments.
• You bring a minimum of ten (10) years of progressive executive experience, including responsibility for operations, human resources, and financial management, ideally within a postsecondary education setting.
• Your success in this role is grounded in recognized leadership strengths and a proven track record of leading large-scale initiatives, as well as mobilizing and inspiring diverse teams.
• You are adept at developing and implementing innovative strategic plans while fostering a culture rooted in best practices and the achievement of sustainable results.
• You demonstrate a strong ability to set strategic priorities, define and monitor performance indicators, and deliver results aligned with institutional objectives.
• As an influential leader, you exhibit strong political acuity and sound judgment in navigating complex situations.
• In addition, you excel in communication and interpersonal relationships, and are skilled at engaging a wide range of stakeholders with tact and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

• The incumbent ensures exemplary financial governance and rigorous accountability by strengthening internal controls, consolidating budget monitoring processes, and mitigating financial risks to support informed decision-making.
• They also foster a culture of continuous improvement through the modernization and optimization of administrative and financial tools, systems, and processes to enhance reliability, operational efficiency, and organizational transparency.
• In addition, with a focus on sustainability and growth, the Vice-President, Finance and Administration contributes to the development and diversification of revenue sources and to the strategic stewardship of institutional assets.
• They also ensure the planning, modernization, and long-term sustainability of the University’s physical and digital infrastructure, including addressing challenges related to deferred maintenance and the delivery of major renovation, construction, and technological transformation projects.
• The Vice-President exercises mobilizing leadership in times of transformation, fosters a collaborative and inclusive culture, and supports innovation, partnerships, and the University’s visibility and impact at the local, national, and international levels.

Benefits

• The University of Ottawa offers a generous pay and benefits package that includes a competitive salary, a defined benefit pension plan, group insurance coverage and an employee and family assistance program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed