Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

Academic Department Manager II

Job ID

71135

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

07/29/2025

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

08/04/2025

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

Civil Engineering

Salary Grade/Band

Band L

Salary Range

$89346.00 - $134020.00 (annual)

Contract Duration

12.5 Months

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week - hybrid

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree in relevant field or equivalent professional experience

Career Level

Minimum of 5-7 years of managerial experience in an academic setting

Target Hiring Range

$89,346 - $111,683 annually

Posting Details

Academic Department Manager II, Civil Engineering

Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/

About The Faculty:

Consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and internationally, McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is known for its leadership in innovation, research, and experiential learning. With a strong emphasis on hands-on, project-based education, the Faculty prepares future-ready engineers through one of the country’s largest co-op programs, world-class research opportunities, and a vibrant student community with over 70 clubs and teams.

The Faculty comprises three schools offering a wide range of programs and degrees designed to cultivate global citizens who are socially conscious and professionally agile. Home to over 200 faculty and 200 full-time staff, the Faculty supports over 7,600 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students and secures roughly $65 million in research funding annually. Research and learning span more than 20 interdisciplinary centres, institutes, and networks, with active collaborations involving universities, government, and over 120 industry partners worldwide.

About the Department:

As one of the top departments of civil engineering in Canada, we have a strong international reputation in both research and teaching. With a vision of building healthier communities to create a brighter world, our faculty members work collaboratively in the following four research themes: Resilient Infrastructure Systems, Smarter Mobility, Water Security and Climate Change, and Intelligent Energy Systems. For this position we are seeking an outstanding colleague who could create synergies with our existing research themes and establish an exciting research program in novel and emerging areas of geotechnical engineering.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Department Chair, The Academic Department Manager II is responsible for the operational management of a large, complex academic department with multiple functions including fee for service facilities, research and teaching laboratories, research institutes, centres, and external partnerships, and oversees support to the academic programs within the department. This role plays an integral role in shaping the direction of the department/program offerings, provides administrative and operational leadership, visioning and strategic planning, and informs the Chair/Director on financial, human resources, space, curriculum, and strategic matters.

This role serves as a critical liaison between incoming and outgoing faculty and staff, ensuring consistent understanding and implementation of operational procedures and policies related to both undergraduate and graduate education. It also plays a key advisory role, offering guidance on new initiatives and policy changes at the departmental and university levels. The position collaborates closely with departmental academic leadership and senior administrative staff across the Faculty, as well as with a wide range of central university offices including the Provost’s Office, Registrar, School of Graduate Studies, Human Resources, Finance, and others.

A major responsibility of this position is the management of academic course planning and scheduling within the department. The role is also central to overseeing Accreditation and Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) activities, including the coordination of Graduate Attribute data collection and preparation for external program reviews and accreditation board visits. Daily, the role ensures the effective implementation of departmental and university policies related to students and research administration, represents the department on university-wide committees, and leads the staff responsible for supporting undergraduate and graduate programs.

Key Accountabilities:

Financial Management

• Independently manages the financial resources (operating, research, facilities/services, research institutes and centres) of the Department.

• Serves as the Chair’s/Director’s delegate and has financial decision making and signing authority necessary for the continued operation of the Department.

• Develops and prepares reports, monitors, and manages multiple budgets (operating and research graduate scholarship, TA, PDA, trusts, endowments) according to institutional policies and procedures.

Strategic Planning

• Plays a key role in advising the Chair/Director on strategic planning within the Department.
• Contributes to strategic thinking for development and implementation of new initiatives of strategic importance to the Department, Faculty and University (such as interdisciplinary programming, Micro credentials).
• Advises the Chair on inter-departmental and inter-Faculty dynamics affecting the Department.

Operational Management

• Responsible for ensuring that the Department is managed in an effective and efficient manner.

• Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates all infrastructure activities of the Department including staff recruitment, promotion, human resource, finance, research and teaching activities within the Department.

• Facilitates marketing and communication plans for the Department.

Human Resources Management

• Manages all direct reports including conflict management, performance management, hiring, disciplinary action, training and development.
• Provides managerial oversight and is accountable for all support staff (team building, performance standards, hiring, disciplinary action, redundancy etc.). Including the ongoing evaluation of and response to changing staffing needs.

Physical Resource Management:

• Plays a key role in the area of physical resource management within the Department.
• Proposes, negotiates, recommends, and ensures optimal space utilization within the Department.
• Initiates reviews and commits funds to purchase or replace office furniture, IT, office equipment, research lab equipment and equipment and supplies required by Teaching Laboratories.

Education Administrative Support:

• Responsible for independently managing the resources and infrastructure supporting education activities within the Department and is heavily involved in academic planning, advising and development.
• Manages and participates in (representing the non-academic members of the department) the Departmental Accreditation process (for external bodies such as IQAP and CEAB (for graduate and undergraduate programs) and internal process, i.e., department reviews).
• Manages and oversees all aspects of the Accreditation and Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) program visits including overseeing the annual Graduate Attribute measurement and collection process, sits on committees and participates in meetings as they relate to all aspects of the Accreditation Board and IQAP visits and Graduate Attribute processes, and organizes and facilitates all stakeholder meetings (internal and external).

Research Administrative Support:

• Oversees the administrative support of research activity within the Department.
• Meets regularly with PIs to review and ensure research grants are on track, investigates and rectifies any financial matters related to grant funding with Research Finance, including the management of deficits.
• Manages all grant funding awarded to faculty.

Special Projects Committee Membership

• This position will participate in special projects and/or sit on committees in potentially several areas both within the Faculty and the broader University.
• Observes and identifies opportunities for collaboration, keeping the Chair/Director, DoFA and Dean’s office informed.
• Main contact for external reviews such as IT, HR, and is the main source for data gathering for initiatives such as Cubane and BI tool development.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience

Experience:

• Minimum of 5–7 years of managerial experience in a complex academic or administrative environment
• Broad understanding of research, finance, faculty, and university operations
• Proven track record of building effective relationships across faculties and departments
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Familiarity with academic, financial, and human resource processes

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and long-range planning abilities.
• Accomplished problem-solver with the ability to assess situations and individuals quickly.
• Diplomatic, tactful, and sound in judgment when handling complex conversations and decision-making.
• Leadership skills with the ability to implement effective solutions in a dynamic environment.

How to Apply:

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement:

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience:

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.