Senior Director, Professional Programs
Top Benefits
About the role
Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Business Development, Level E
Job Title
Senior Director, Professional Programs
Department
Leadership | Professional Growth | UBC Sauder School of Business
Compensation Range
$9,859.25 - $15,380.75 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
August 5, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Ongoing
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
UBC Sauder School of Business is one of the world’s leading business faculties. The school consistently ranks among the top 100 in the world and is recognized internationally for excellence in research and learning, an outstanding faculty and unmatched global partnerships. A collaborative and respectful culture within which all members of our community can thrive is a key principle in our strategic plan, and one that underpins our educational mission.
We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at the Vancouver Point Grey campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam. We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at UBC Robson Square is situated on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.
The Senior Director is responsible for formulating, developing and executing strategies for business discovery, market expansion, program sales and revenue generation for the UBC Sauder’s Professional Growth unit.
The Senior Director plays a pivotal role in creating new opportunities for the unit, identifying and developing new strategic business relationships and expanding the portfolio of clients and business partners to grow unit’s revenue and ensure academic excellence and client satisfaction.
The Senior Director is responsible for the ongoing assessment of the existing operation, formulation of strategies to exploit opportunities and management of the professional program offerings, including program discovery, design, operational planning, marketing and communications strategy, and stakeholder engagement while ensuring the unit’s offerings remain competitive, and responsive to industry needs.
Organizational status
- Is a key member of the senior leadership in the Professional Growth unit and reports to Executive Director, Professional Growth.
- Provides overall leadership and manages a team of employees.
- Works closely with faculty members co-creating curriculum for professional programs.
- Is a key contact for employer groups and provincial, national and international professional organizations and associations.
Work performed
Strategic Business Development
- Sets overall vision for the portfolio. Develops and implements long-term strategies to grow the portfolio's reach and profitability.
- Leads the financial planning and oversight for the portfolio to ensure its long-term fiscal health, sustainability, and alignment with unit’s strategic priorities.
- Sets direction and defines high-level requirements for the programs and partnerships to meet the unit’s and the school’s strategic goals, and prioritizes efforts accordingly.
- Establishes annual strategic goals and KPI targets in collaboration with the Executive Director. Implements, monitors and reports on KPIs.
- Seeks out new business development opportunities, identifying key markets and expanding business discovery to grow unit’s revenue and profitability.
- Researches and assesses new markets; Identifies market trends, industry needs and new opportunities through research and industry consultation.
- Identifies and develops new and expands existing client relationships and strategic partnerships, and provides leadership to key employers, professional associations and organizations, and advisory groups.
- Negotiates contracts and agreements.
- Develops and manages budgets, pricing models, and resource allocations across all program streams.
- Represents the unit at conferences, industry meetings, and client engagements.
Program Development, Operations and Academic Excellence
- Analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the professional learning space.
- Identifies programming strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and develops and recommends key academic and entrepreneurial planning strategies.
- Establishes and implements the overall strategic direction for program development and educational operations.
- Drives innovation in delivery models, learner engagement, and instructional design.
- Proposes and develops new programs and courses based on market trends and industry needs.
- In partnership with marketing teams, develops marketing and communications strategies to promote the portfolio and drive enrolments.
- Co-creates, develops and refines a comprehensive curriculum for professional programs.
- Works closely with internal teams, faculty, external instructors and external partners to design and deliver high-quality offerings.
- Acts as a spokesperson on program proposals, initiatives and projects to a wide variety of employer and industry groups.
- Responsible for planning and implementing educational policies for all programs and operations.
- Maintains the successful operation of the program offerings and ensures all programs meet internal academic policies and external market and industry standards.
- Leads academic planning, instructional design, learner experience, and calendar management.
- Addresses academic and policy issues with students and stakeholders.
- Collaborates with operations and administrative teams to maintain smooth and successful program delivery.
Leadership and Team Development
- Demonstrates strong, effective and highly visible leadership to the Professional Growth unit; responsible for leading and inspiring the team to establish strategies, plans and objectives to enhance unit’s revenue and reputation.
- Drives a culture of client centricity and motivates and inspires the teams to constantly strive for excellence in performance. Instills a culture of continuous improvement and constructive feedback among the team.
- Serves as a thought leader and representative on ranking and reputation initiatives (e.g., Financial Times).
- Performs other duties as required.
Consequence of Error
The Senior Director exercises critical judgement and decision-making in developing, initiating and implementing key strategic directions and marketing initiatives for an established and growing client base with major revenue and profit implications. Works independently in many cases and acts as a very visible connection with UBC Sauder clientele. As such, poor decisions and bad judgement will have an immediate and long-term detrimental effect on the reputation of the unit and the University and on the financial contribution of the unit in particular.
Supervision Received
Senior Director reports to Executive Director, Professional Growth. Works independently under strategic director from the Executive Director and in close collaboration with other senior management team members.
Supervision Given
The Senior Director provides overall leadership and manages a team directly and indirectly through subordinates. Responsible for the hiring, performance evaluation, discipline and termination. Works closely with all members of the unit’s senior leadership team in the execution of the Professional Programs strategy.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of nine years of related experience in a senior management position, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
-
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
-
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business, education or related areas is preferred.
- Proven sales and business development track record in private sector, higher education or consultancy environment.
- Demonstrated experience in partnership development and strategic planning.
- Experience in stakeholder management. Ability to call on all levels of an organization.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Proven supervisory and leadership skills, ideally in a business development capacity.
- Proven ability to lead large teams and manage multiple educational program streams.
- Strong entrepreneurial mindset and ability to grow revenue in a complex, competitive environment.
- Superior communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity and navigate university systems and governance.
- Experience in financial planning, budget oversight, and ROI-driven decision-making.
- Deep understanding of national and international professional education trends.
- Experience with instructional design, executive consulting and facilitation skills.
- Proven and significant program design, development and management track record in a learning or consultancy environment, ideally with experience in a similar role in university-based professional education.
- Marketing background and strong understanding of a professional education environment.
- Ability to travel frequently as required.
Senior Director, Professional Programs
Top Benefits
About the role
Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Business Development, Level E
Job Title
Senior Director, Professional Programs
Department
Leadership | Professional Growth | UBC Sauder School of Business
Compensation Range
$9,859.25 - $15,380.75 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
August 5, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Ongoing
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
UBC Sauder School of Business is one of the world’s leading business faculties. The school consistently ranks among the top 100 in the world and is recognized internationally for excellence in research and learning, an outstanding faculty and unmatched global partnerships. A collaborative and respectful culture within which all members of our community can thrive is a key principle in our strategic plan, and one that underpins our educational mission.
We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at the Vancouver Point Grey campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam. We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at UBC Robson Square is situated on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.
The Senior Director is responsible for formulating, developing and executing strategies for business discovery, market expansion, program sales and revenue generation for the UBC Sauder’s Professional Growth unit.
The Senior Director plays a pivotal role in creating new opportunities for the unit, identifying and developing new strategic business relationships and expanding the portfolio of clients and business partners to grow unit’s revenue and ensure academic excellence and client satisfaction.
The Senior Director is responsible for the ongoing assessment of the existing operation, formulation of strategies to exploit opportunities and management of the professional program offerings, including program discovery, design, operational planning, marketing and communications strategy, and stakeholder engagement while ensuring the unit’s offerings remain competitive, and responsive to industry needs.
Organizational status
- Is a key member of the senior leadership in the Professional Growth unit and reports to Executive Director, Professional Growth.
- Provides overall leadership and manages a team of employees.
- Works closely with faculty members co-creating curriculum for professional programs.
- Is a key contact for employer groups and provincial, national and international professional organizations and associations.
Work performed
Strategic Business Development
- Sets overall vision for the portfolio. Develops and implements long-term strategies to grow the portfolio's reach and profitability.
- Leads the financial planning and oversight for the portfolio to ensure its long-term fiscal health, sustainability, and alignment with unit’s strategic priorities.
- Sets direction and defines high-level requirements for the programs and partnerships to meet the unit’s and the school’s strategic goals, and prioritizes efforts accordingly.
- Establishes annual strategic goals and KPI targets in collaboration with the Executive Director. Implements, monitors and reports on KPIs.
- Seeks out new business development opportunities, identifying key markets and expanding business discovery to grow unit’s revenue and profitability.
- Researches and assesses new markets; Identifies market trends, industry needs and new opportunities through research and industry consultation.
- Identifies and develops new and expands existing client relationships and strategic partnerships, and provides leadership to key employers, professional associations and organizations, and advisory groups.
- Negotiates contracts and agreements.
- Develops and manages budgets, pricing models, and resource allocations across all program streams.
- Represents the unit at conferences, industry meetings, and client engagements.
Program Development, Operations and Academic Excellence
- Analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the professional learning space.
- Identifies programming strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and develops and recommends key academic and entrepreneurial planning strategies.
- Establishes and implements the overall strategic direction for program development and educational operations.
- Drives innovation in delivery models, learner engagement, and instructional design.
- Proposes and develops new programs and courses based on market trends and industry needs.
- In partnership with marketing teams, develops marketing and communications strategies to promote the portfolio and drive enrolments.
- Co-creates, develops and refines a comprehensive curriculum for professional programs.
- Works closely with internal teams, faculty, external instructors and external partners to design and deliver high-quality offerings.
- Acts as a spokesperson on program proposals, initiatives and projects to a wide variety of employer and industry groups.
- Responsible for planning and implementing educational policies for all programs and operations.
- Maintains the successful operation of the program offerings and ensures all programs meet internal academic policies and external market and industry standards.
- Leads academic planning, instructional design, learner experience, and calendar management.
- Addresses academic and policy issues with students and stakeholders.
- Collaborates with operations and administrative teams to maintain smooth and successful program delivery.
Leadership and Team Development
- Demonstrates strong, effective and highly visible leadership to the Professional Growth unit; responsible for leading and inspiring the team to establish strategies, plans and objectives to enhance unit’s revenue and reputation.
- Drives a culture of client centricity and motivates and inspires the teams to constantly strive for excellence in performance. Instills a culture of continuous improvement and constructive feedback among the team.
- Serves as a thought leader and representative on ranking and reputation initiatives (e.g., Financial Times).
- Performs other duties as required.
Consequence of Error
The Senior Director exercises critical judgement and decision-making in developing, initiating and implementing key strategic directions and marketing initiatives for an established and growing client base with major revenue and profit implications. Works independently in many cases and acts as a very visible connection with UBC Sauder clientele. As such, poor decisions and bad judgement will have an immediate and long-term detrimental effect on the reputation of the unit and the University and on the financial contribution of the unit in particular.
Supervision Received
Senior Director reports to Executive Director, Professional Growth. Works independently under strategic director from the Executive Director and in close collaboration with other senior management team members.
Supervision Given
The Senior Director provides overall leadership and manages a team directly and indirectly through subordinates. Responsible for the hiring, performance evaluation, discipline and termination. Works closely with all members of the unit’s senior leadership team in the execution of the Professional Programs strategy.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of nine years of related experience in a senior management position, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
-
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
-
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business, education or related areas is preferred.
- Proven sales and business development track record in private sector, higher education or consultancy environment.
- Demonstrated experience in partnership development and strategic planning.
- Experience in stakeholder management. Ability to call on all levels of an organization.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Proven supervisory and leadership skills, ideally in a business development capacity.
- Proven ability to lead large teams and manage multiple educational program streams.
- Strong entrepreneurial mindset and ability to grow revenue in a complex, competitive environment.
- Superior communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity and navigate university systems and governance.
- Experience in financial planning, budget oversight, and ROI-driven decision-making.
- Deep understanding of national and international professional education trends.
- Experience with instructional design, executive consulting and facilitation skills.
- Proven and significant program design, development and management track record in a learning or consultancy environment, ideally with experience in a similar role in university-based professional education.
- Marketing background and strong understanding of a professional education environment.
- Ability to travel frequently as required.