Purpose:
Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost, the Associate Director provides senior-level leadership to enhance the Division of Students' ability to set strategic priorities, design and sustain continuous improvement, and translate performance data and insights into improved student experiences and outcomes. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy as a strategic integrator, internal consultant, and enablement lead on behalf of the AVP and in direct service of the Vice-Provost Students' direct report team, faculties and campus partners. The role leads the development and implementation of a division-wide continuous improvement and innovation enablement program. The role establishes robust performance measurement, analytics, and insight capabilities. The role supports senior leaders in prioritizing effort and resources toward services and initiatives that generate the greatest value for students and the institution. The Associate Director serves as the lead for major institutional initiatives, leads divisional business continuity planning and risk management, and provides strategic oversight of space planning, facility renewal and capital project leadership on behalf of the Office of the Vice Provost Students.This position requires a high degree of professional judgment, discretion, political acuity, and independence. The role regularly accesses and works with highly sensitive and confidential information related to labour relations, union matters, workforce planning, and institutional risk.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline such as Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Design, or Process Engineering.

• Training or certification in continuous improvement (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma), and/or organizational change management (e.g., Prosci ADKAR).

Experience:

• 6 years related experience.

• 4 years of people management experience, including direct supervision of employees in a complex, preferably unionized, organizational environment. Significant senior-level experience in strategic planning, continuous improvement, performance management, organizational transformation, or service innovation within a large, complex, unionized organization.

• Demonstrated success designing and leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives with significant institutional impact.

• Experience developing and implementing performance measurement frameworks and using data and insights to drive service improvement and change.

• Experience leading or supporting business continuity planning, workforce planning, or labour disruption preparedness, including working with confidential union-related information.

• Proven ability to operate autonomously with high levels of judgment, discretion, accountability, and political sensitivity in a senior administrative context.

• Experience in a post-secondary institution.

Skills:
Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, service design, innovation practices, and change management frameworks.

• Solid understanding of performance analytics, data governance, and evidence-informed decision-making in a complex organizational context.

• Knowledge of unionized environments, collective agreements, labour relations considerations, and organizational risk management.

• Understanding of post-secondary education systems, governance structures, and student services environments.

• Familiarity with relevant legislation, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements applicable to a public university.Skills

• Effective strategic thinking, analytical reasoning, synthesis, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work across complex, ambiguous, and high-stakes environments.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce executive-ready briefing notes, presentations, business cases, and governance reports.

• Advanced consulting, facilitation, and influencing skills with senior leaders and diverse stakeholder groups across organizational boundaries.

• Ability to manage competing priorities, ambiguity, and complex change initiatives concurrently and with composure.

• Aptitude for technology and the responsible application of digital and AI-enabled tools in service improvement, including an ability to navigate technology adoption in a unionized setting.

• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in the handling of confidential and sensitive information.

Additional Notes:
Note: Verification of degree(s)/credential(s) required.

• Work is primarily performed in a normal office or hybrid environment.

• May be required to work outside of normal business hours during active work stoppages or critical project delivery phases.

• This position offers a hybrid work schedule, subject to operational requirements

York is committed to ensuring the way we work serves our diverse community and advances our commitment to Living Well Together, one of the Six Priorities for Action in the University Academic Plan. As part of this commitment the University has implemented a Hybrid Work Policy.

The selected incumbent for this role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement which will be confirmed based on operational requirements.

• Compensation:

York's CPM Compensation Framework has a salary grid consisting of 6 or 8 steps (depending on job grade) which is reviewed annually with possible adjustments, and a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award. Employees will receive the grid adjustment and depending on performance, eligible permanent employees may move to the next step of the grid and may receive a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award.Visit the CPM Compensation page on the HR Website to find out more about York's CPM Compensation Program.

The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive and inclusive environment.

York University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you are contacted by York University regarding a job opportunity or testing, please advise if you require accommodation.

We are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of the York community. Our long term perspective recognizes our responsibility to be innovators and to continually work as a community to reduce our ecological impact.

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PLEASE NOTE: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Applications must be received by 11:55 pm EST on the posted deadline date, if applicable. Posting deadlines can be updated, or modified, at any time based on hiring needs. Please refer to the York U Career Portal when confirming posting deadlines.