Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Associate Dean, Operations

Calgary, AB
On-site
Posted Oct 24, 2026
1 position

$140,000–$170,000 / year

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Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Senior · 5+ years
Minimum education: Professional degree
Posting language: English
Working hours: 38 hours per week
Seniority: Executive

Job summary

Provide strategic and operational leadership across planning, budgeting, enrolment, facilities, workforce capacity, student experience, and performance for the MacPhail School of Energy and School of Construction. Lead continuous improvement and applied education initiatives, develop partnerships, and foster an inclusive, high-performing, safe workplace.

Job details

The Opportunity Job classification: M1768 - Associate Dean Salary range: $140,000 - $170,000. Placement within the range is typically based upon a review of skills, experience, and internal equity. Hours per week: 37.5 Paid leave: 4 Weeks Vacation / 14 Flex Days per year Deadline to apply: 9am, Monday November 2, 2026 As the Associate Dean, Operations of the MacPhail School of Energy and School of Construction, you will provide operational leadership and strategic direction across workforce planning, financial management, student experience, facilities, performance, and continuous improvement initiatives. Working closely with the Dean and School leadership teams, you will help bring strategic priorities to life, strengthen operational effectiveness, and ensure resources, people, and processes are aligned to support the Schools' goals. Using data-driven insights, innovation, and collaborative leadership, you will identify opportunities, anticipate emerging needs, and lead initiatives that enhance the School’s capacity, agility, and impact. As a key member of the School of Construction and MacPhail School of Energy leadership team, you will connect people, resources, and priorities to build a high-performing, inclusive, and future-ready Schools while championing a continuous improvement mindset. If you're ready to make a lasting impact on students, employees, and the future of education, we want to hear from you. How You'll Contribute Planning, Strategy & School Leadership Provide strategic and operational leadership to advance School priorities, institutional goals, and long-term sustainability Partner with School leadership and key stakeholders to develop and execute strategic initiatives Lead operational planning, including budgeting, enrolment management, scheduling, forecasting, and course delivery optimization Drive process improvement, operational efficiency, and service excellence across the Schools Monitor industry, workforce, regulatory, and educational trends to inform planning and decision-making Represent the Schools on institutional committees, partnerships, and strategic projects Oversee capital planning and facility priorities to support current and future program needs Student Experience Champion an inclusive, engaging, and student-centered learning environment Use student feedback, performance data, and enrolment trends to enhance student success, retention, and overall experience Support the resolution of complex student issues and concerns Collaborate with institutional partners to continuously improve the student experience School Operations Lead the continuous improvement and optimization of operational processes, systems, and service delivery models Partner with the Academic Systems Office to enhance operational effectiveness across the academic portfolio Oversee key operational functions, including budgeting, enrolment planning, scheduling, forecasting, capacity planning, and space utilization Develop and monitor performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to support informed decision-making and accountability Lead a culture of health, safety, wellness, and belonging for all staff and students Excellence in Applied Education Lead quality, and continuous improvement processes in teaching and learning practices Lead strategic initiatives that strengthen work-integrated learning and applied education opportunities across School programs Build collaborative partnerships across the institution to address complex challenges and achieve shared goals Advance innovative approaches that support learner success and program excellence Workforce, Talent & Organizational Capacity Lead workforce and organizational capacity planning to support School priorities and operational needs Foster an engaged, high-performing, and inclusive workplace culture focused on employee growth and success Champion professional development, succession planning, talent retention, and leadership development Embed equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging principles into planning and decision-making Promote health, safety, psychological well-being, and wellness as core organizational priorities What You Bring Bachelor's degree in a related field is required Master's degree in a related field would be considered an asset Certification in Lean Six Sigma, International Standards Organization (ISO) or related is preferred Must have 7-10 years of relevant business and industry experience in a management or leadership role Preferred leadership experience in post-secondary or unionized environment, curriculum development or delivery, or related operational disciplines We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. We understand how important communication is, and we are committed to following up with every candidate. Please know that each application is thoughtfully reviewed, and you will hear from us either way. Together, we build bold futures At SAIT, We Equip You With The Resources You Need To Shape Bold Futures For Yourself And Our Communities. We Offer a Comprehensive Package Including Defined Benefit pension through LAPP to help you retire with confidence Generous time off to pursue other passions and support your wellbeing SAIT paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision benefits so you, and your family, are well supported Access to a Health Spending or Taxable Spending Account Benefits supporting mental health and access to Greenshield + for virtual therapy at a reduced rate Professional development opportunities through our Free Seat Program, tuition support, access to LinkedIn Learning and discounted Continuing Education & Professional Studies courses Excellent dining options on campus Free access to our fitness facilities and group fitness classes And the perks keep on coming! We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

What you’ll do

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a related field and 7–10 years of relevant business and industry experience in a management or leadership role are required. A related master's degree and Lean Six Sigma, ISO, or similar certification are assets; leadership experience in post-secondary or unionized environments, curriculum, or related operations is preferred.