Reporting to the Director, Student Life, the Manager, Student Transitions & Community Connection is responsible for leading service units across the 3 Sheridan campuses which support students' transition to post-secondary studies and engagement with the College and external community. The incumbent provides leadership related to the student experience in areas of student orientation and transition, settlement & immigration services with a focus on supporting international learners, student leadership development and community partnerships, which includes off-campus housing supports. The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for the portfolio, including overseeing unit planning, and the development, implementation, and assessment of all programming with alignment with research and best practices and the strategic direction of Student Affairs and Sheridan. They ensure programming is inclusive and representative of the diverse needs of the student population and positions students for success by developing their sense of belonging, connection, resourcefulness, capability and culture. The Manager is responsible for the unit's human and financial resources including staff recruitment, providing leadership, training and development opportunities, determining performance standards and developing unit budgets, including costing activities, monitoring variances, and approving expenditures. Leadership and management of people and financial resources also includes oversight of the Peer Mentor program (student employees at all three campuses) and the associated ancillary funded budget. They work as part of the Student Affairs Leadership team to support business planning while ensuring the first-year experience and student leadership development and engagement are embedded and coordinated across all service areas and delivered with a stepped care approach across the student lifecycle. The Manager works with Academic Faculties and other internal and external stakeholders for initiatives related to the transition and support of students into Sheridan and is recognized as a College expert on the theory and application of transition into post-secondary education. As a leader and expert in their field, they provide leadership and guidance on the delivery of institutional strategic initiatives that have broad impact across the organization and on the student experience (i.e. pre-arrival, Well Series modules, first year retention programs, New Student Orientation, student mentoring and community engagement).

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing day-to-day operations of the Orientation & Student Engagement activities at all campuses, including overseeing the Peer Mentor Program and International Student Engagement programming;
• Overseeing the day-to-day operations of community connections and partnership programming, which includes off-campus housing and settlement services;
• Providing leadership related to the student experience in areas of student transition, retention, progression and is responsible for program development & assessment, continuous improvement, relationship management, staff consultation, and reporting;
• Leading the strategic planning, development, implementation and assessment of the new student orientation and transition programs, international student settlement supports and student leadership & engagement frameworks;
• Intentionally developing relationships and collaborations with external community organizations and partners to ensure access to community resources based on student needs such as housing, food security and other services;
• Exploring new service/program models, and continuously evolving to meet the needs of students based on evidence informed trends and student experience data;
• Ensuring alignment with the strategic direction of Student Affairs and Sheridan; ensuring programming is inclusive and representative of the diverse needs of the student population and positions students for success by developing their sense of belonging, connection, resourcefulness, capability and culture;
• Managing the unit human and financial resources including recruitment, providing leadership, inspiration and motivation, providing orientation, training and development opportunities, determining performance standards, providing ongoing coaching and mentoring, and handling a broad range of employee relations matters including grievances; developing and reviewing unit budget including costing activities, monitoring variances, and approving expenditures;
• Overseeing the Peer Mentor program (100+ student employees at all three campuses) and associated ancillary funded budget;
• Representing Student Affairs as a whole and developing a deep understanding of what Student Affairs work is, the purpose of the work, and how our supports impact the student experience throughout the student lifecycle;
• Collaborating with Student Affairs leadership to support business planning, ensure a critical understanding of the first-year experience and student development (leadership) is embedded across all service areas, developing a coordinated student support model, and delivering a stepped care approach to service;
• Providing leadership or guidance/consultation on the delivery of institutional strategic initiatives that have broad impact across the organization and on the student experience (i.e. pre-arrival, Well Series modules, first year retention programs, New Student Orientation, student mentoring, international student engagement);
• Educating and providing valuable insight to senior leadership and stakeholders on emerging trends and anticipated future needs of students to influence strategic decision-making;
• Developing and managing partnerships with Academic Faculties and other internal and external stakeholders related to the transition and support of students into Sheridan;
• Participating in other related projects and initiatives, as required.

About You

You have a commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusivity, recognize and value the diverse and intersectional identities of our community and promote a sense of belonging.

You are a self-directed natural leader with a highly collaborative spirit which, combined with your keen interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills, empowers you to build positive and collaborative relationships, lead, develop and motivate staff, create and maintain a positive organizational culture.

You exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and sensitivity to confidentiality and privacy and are able to handle stressful situations, make decisions, negotiate and handle all levels of conflict in a time sensitive environment.

You have experience building partnerships and referral pathways with other service providing organizations and agencies.

You have solid knowledge of student transitions, retention and persistence programming and understanding of the post-secondary student life cycle.

You posses analytical, research and assessment skills, along with an ability to analyze data, interpret trends and present statistics for evidence-informed decision making.

You have experience applying principles of inclusivity and inter-cultural competence to meet needs of a diverse student population.

You have a solid understanding of holistic student development and the unique philosophies and theories that inform FYE programming and practice in higher education and can apply these frameworks pan-institutionally.

You are very aware of the challenges, emerging trends and issues affecting student engagement, retention and development

The successful candidate will also meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Education, Leadership, Business, Social Science or related discipline
• 5 years progressive experience in the field of student development, or student leadership, including at a leadership level, preferably in a post-secondary environment. (Equivalency to be considered).
• Extensive experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of post-secondary orientation and transition/ FYE programs and student success initiatives aimed at promoting student persistence
• Experience in institution-wide program planning and delivery
• Experience with operational management, financial acumen, budget management and planning
• Progressive experience providing and/or leading programming supporting newcomers to Canada, with experience working with international students is preferred
• Fluency (oral and written) in language(s) other than English is highly desirable (desired languages include: Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, Arabic)

Who We Are:

Every member of the Sheridan community is passionate about the transformational role we play in people’s lives. Our strategic plan, Sheridan 2027: Forging the Future (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/sheridan2027), charts a path towards a new ground-breaking model of higher education that reshapes post-secondary education and better prepares students for the future. We are committed to demonstrably advancing equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Diversity is our strength and fuels our commitment to excellence. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.

• For more information, visit: Why Work at Sheridan

Other Details
Department: Student Affairs
Primary Work/Campus Location: Davis (may be assigned activities at any Sheridan campus)
Work Categorization: Hybrid | On-site at least 3 days/week
Reference #: J0825-0405
Employee Group: Administrative
Payband: NM
Salary Range: $99,544 - $124,429
Application Deadline: September 2, 2025

Sheridan is deeply committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, Anishinaabe Nation, Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Sheridan is situated on these lands, and it is our collective responsibility to honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here, and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be working on this land.

Sheridan values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. Sheridan regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. Sheridan seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Sheridan will provide job applicants with accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To request accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

You may be asked to provide copies of your educational credentials at the time of interview. Upon hire, we require official confirmation of educational credentials and Canadian equivalency assessments, if applicable.