Provost & Vice President: Academic

Department: Office of the Provost & VP Academic 

Job Type: Continuing

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

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: President 

Application Deadline: Open until filled 

Requisition ID: 5138 

Wilfrid Laurier University is seeking an innovative, strategic, and inspirational academic leader and administrator with a deep commitment to building a thriving university community and future-ready institution as its Provost & Vice President: Academic

Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. Brantford and Kitchener-Waterloo are located on the lands included in the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, six miles on each side of the Grand River, from the head of the river to Lake Erie, as signed by the British and Six Nations following the American Revolution. In acknowledging these lands, Laurier approaches its Indigenization efforts in the spirit of the Two-Row Wampum in which Indigeneity can move forward side-by-side on our campuses, and is woven into the fabric of research, teaching and administration, in pursuit of partnership and creating a decolonized, inclusive, welcoming and just community.

As a leading Canadian university, Laurier has been a trailblazer in purposeful and experiential learning, commitment to community, and engaged research that fosters a vibrant and expanding number of interdisciplinary research centres. Daily life at Laurier is inspired by collaboration, innovation and meaningful relationships that have lasting impacts on students, faculty, and staff and extends to alumni, partners, and supporters. Its 2019-2024 Strategy focuses on two distinct themes – thriving community and future-readiness – and capitalizes on our foundational strengths in academic excellence, research, partnerships, and community engagement.

Laurier’s community spirit and leadership in pedagogical innovation, alongside its expanding research breadth and depth as an emerging comprehensive university, continues to propel the university forward to meet societal challenges and harness opportunities. Laurier continues to grow and today has close to 2000 staff and faculty, $879 million in assets and an operating budget of $350 million. The university has recently been gifted land in Milton, on the west side of the Greater Toronto Area, with the goal of opening new research and educational opportunities in the coming decade. In November 2022, the Senate and Board of Governors unanimously approved Laurier’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, which was the result of two years of extensive consultation with students, faculty, staff and alumni.

As Provost & Vice President Academic, you will play a central role alongside the executive team, faculty Deans, student and faculty leadership, and community partners, in building community and actualizing Laurier’s inspiring vision and strategy. Your administrative and academic portfolio spans nine faculties, the University Library, Enrolment Services & Registrar, Integrated Planning & Budgeting, the Office of the VP Academic, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, oversight of internationalization activities, and shared responsibility for Teaching & Learning and Faculty Relations. Faculty colleagues, students, and staff will look to you to provide strategic direction, establish priorities, consult broadly, lead equitably and with integrity, and make informed decisions in support of academic programs & planning, student academic engagement and support, shared services, budget planning and resource allocation, and academic labour relations. You will provide effective leadership as Laurier engages with the emerging realities of a post-pandemic academic institution, which will include strategic guidance on emerging pedagogical technologies, rapidly changing student and community expectations, and a changing social environment.

As the ideal candidate, you are, by all measures, a respected and successful academic and administrative leader with the skills, character, and attitude to champion and actualize Laurier’s academic mission. You promote and care deeply about the fundamental importance of community engagement, excellence in teaching and research, and the holistic development and experience of students. You are knowledgeable about and foster equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion, Indigeneity, and reconciliation, which are central to Laurier’s values and success. As an administrator, you model accountability and sound financial and budgetary management, innovation, and sustainable and ethical growth. You are a respected team leader and decision maker, trusted for your judgement and integrity and for being balanced, fair and objective. Peers and colleagues would describe you as empathetic, collaborative, and self-aware. You have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and the full confidence of your colleagues to lead meaningful change in a complex, ever changing environment. You support and engage in an open, equitable, and inclusive environment in which vigorous, scholarly debate and the exploration of ideas is encouraged. You hold a doctoral, or equivalent terminal degree, and are appointable at the rank of full professor.

DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE PORTAL: If you are interested in joining Wilfrid Laurier University and wish to access further information and/or the full executive brief, please contact Collin Ritch and Michael Naufal at critch@boyden.com. To apply, please visit: https://boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/1764

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 (https://wlu.ca/about/working-at-laurier/employer-philosophy.html).

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 equity@wlu.ca. 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-/

All Laurier employees and students are required to comply with the University's Covid-19 mandatory vaccination policy. Effective May 1st, Wilfrid Laurier University will pause its proof of vaccination requirements. Should these recommendations change, vaccination requirements can be reinstated on short notice. Community members should remain up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

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.