Department: Office of the VP Teaching&Learning 

Job Type: Continuing

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Vice Provost: Teaching & Learning

Employee Group: Management 

Application Deadline April 10th 2023

Requisition ID: 5524 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice Provost: Teaching & Learning, the Director of Continuing Education provides strategic leadership, vision and direction for all Continuing Education programs and operations.  In consultation with Deans, faculty, staff, as well as external partners, the Director identifies long term potential for lifelong learning, plans and develops program directions and mix, sets priorities for program renewal and development, and oversees the implementation of related policies, practices and procedures.  The Director develops strategic partnerships and negotiates agreements on behalf of Continuing Education.

As a member of the senior leadership team for Teaching & Learning, the Director actively participates in strategic planning processes to foster innovation and excellence in education at Laurier.  The Director leads the staff of the Office of Continuing Education, building the capabilities of staff, setting a collaborative tone, and fostering a strong professional community. The Director is accountable for budgeting responsibly, achieving revenue and growth targets, and meeting high standards for academic quality for Laurier’s continuing education offerings.  The Director is an active member of the university and broader community, representing the interests of the university through significant engagements in external service contributions to enhance Laurier’s reputation as a community-engaged institution.

Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership, Planning and Operations

• Provides strategic leadership, program direction, and oversight of all Continuing Education programs, partnerships, and initiatives.
• Through ongoing consultations with internal and external partners, ensures that the Office of Continuing Education operates and grows to the common benefit of the University, Faculties, community and the Office of Continuing Education.
• Ensures the design, promotion and delivery of high-quality lifelong learning opportunities; develops and implements comprehensive plans and alternative models for program expansion and delivery.
• Develops and implements programs in partnership with the Faculties and other units of the University to complement undergraduate, graduate and staff development offerings.
• Develops strategic agreements and initiatives with external partners.
• Ensures that Laurier’s Continuing Education learners benefit from excellent programs and services and report consistently high satisfaction ratings.
• Innovates and motivates all Office of Continuing Education staff to improve efficiency and economy while providing the best possible learner experience.
• Undertakes comprehensive market research and risk/reward assessments to identify, design and plan exemplary and high-performing programming.
• Ensures all programs and services are developed from best practices based on research, within the resources available.
• Oversees the effective management of programs, operations and budgets of the Office of Continuing Education, ensuring revenue generation for self-funded growth.
• Leads the development of policies, practices, procedures and guidelines to ensure the effective and responsible governance of the Office of Continuing Education and its programs.
• Participates actively in university governance including membership on appropriate committees, working groups and teams.
• Through engagement with relevant bodies and organizations (such as OCULL, CAUCE, eCampus Ontario, FutureSkills, etc.) advocates for and contributes to regional, provincial, national and international efforts to strengthen continuing and lifelong education.
• Maintains an active research practice and is responsible for rigorous engagement in the quality assurance process for Continuing Education offerings.

Human and Financial Resource Management

• Plans strategically for and determines the organizational structure for the department in collaboration with the Vice Provost: Teaching & Learning.
• Recruits and hires staff and ensures appropriate training and professional development.
• Responsible for providing professional leadership to all staff and ensures appropriate supports are in place.
• Leads goal setting, monitors staff performance and outcomes, and supports the work of staff responsible for the daily operations of the Office of Continuing Education.
• Implements changes to the organizational structure as required.
• Creates and implements change management strategies and plans that maximize adoption.
• Manages the process of hiring, developing and maintaining a pool of excellent speakers, instructors, instructional assistants, facilitators, and technicians for continuing education programs.
• Implements human resource strategies consistent with collective agreements and Laurier’s human resource policies and practices.
• Ensures space requirements are appropriate for services and leads the appropriate modifications.
• Ensures appropriate IT infrastructure is in place to support the Office of Continuing Education.
• Responsible for the preparation, management and accountability of the budgets.
• Accountable for monitoring expenditures, completing/retaining appropriate documentation and ensuring that established budgets are adhered to, and utilizing university-mandated budget processes.

Administration/Faculty/Instructor Relations

• Liaises with administrators, faculty, staff, community partners, and industry contacts and provides guidance with respect to continuing education opportunities, partnerships and offerings.
• Conducts outreach to internal stakeholders to develop partnerships; takes an active approach in leading and educating the university community regarding lifelong learning.
• Ensures that communication tools are developed for faculty, staff and students to raise awareness about Continuing Education opportunities.
• Reports on trends and issues that have implications for continuing education.
• Works closely with several collateral supports/administrators/offices to ensure appropriate workflows and communication networks are in place.
• Facilitates presentations that build awareness of continuing education and fosters a culture of common commitment to innovative, high quality continuing education.

Issues Management

• Works with internal and external partners to ensure complex issues related to the delivery of continuing education are resolved expeditiously and thoroughly.
• Acts as the principal advisor/expert for interpreting and responding to matters and developments related to lifelong learning and continuing education.
• Informs Senior Administration where there are concerns related to the operations of the Office of Continuing Education. Consults with university legal counsel and privacy officer as appropriate regarding information and issues management.
• Provides leadership and advice and coordinates consultation on the University’s commitment to community engagement.
• Resolves a variety of sensitive and complex issues which require intervention at the executive level including customer service complaints, student, community and staff/faculty related issues.

Qualifications

Education:

• Completion of a master’s degree in Business, Finance, Education, or a related field. 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience leading and managing in a complex organization that provides professional development or educational opportunities.
• Experience within a university or college setting a strong asset.
• Proven ability to develop, monitor and evaluate organizational plans.
• Demonstrated expertise in risk assessment and organizational, strategic and project management.
• Experience planning and managing operating budgets.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing external partnerships.
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience with policy and procedure development.
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience with program evaluation methods.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and achieve targets.
• Extensive experience with the use of industry-leading Continuing Education systems and solutions.
• Experience in facilitation and negotiation of consultative decision-making. processes, including those with clients, partners and other constituent groups.
• Experience in program development, service delivery and evaluation of those activities.
• Effective participation in committee work in a variety of settings.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to provide vision and leadership.
• Strong organizational, administrative and managerial skills including the ability to lead and supervise staff from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Advanced interpersonal and leadership competencies with evident orientation to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Diplomacy, tact, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Advanced research competencies.
• Ability to make complex decisions under pressure.

Compensation

Position Grade: MG-3A

Rate of pay: $ 97,634 - $ 122,043

Hours of Work:  This is a full time continuing position. The normal hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.  Flexibility in hours will be required, including evening and/or weekend work due to events.  When possible, the manager will adjust the work schedule so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.