Special Advisor to the Provost and Vice President, Academic - Jobs in Saskatchewan

Job Description

Competition Number P13705Posting Title Special Advisor to the Provost and Vice President, AcademicClassification Band 10Location Multiple Locations (Please check posting details)Other Location(s) Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Campus, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw Campus, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Administrative Offices, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Regina Campus, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert CampusBuildingOther BuildingDate Posted 02/28/2023Closing Date 03/30/2023JIQ # N/AStart Date 07/01/2023End DateOpen Until Filled NoOngoing YesCategory of work Full TimeBargaining Unit OOSHours of Work OOS (Typically M–F/core hours)Salary Range As per OOS salary gridTemporary Market Stipend N/AIncumbentTotal Assigned days (AC) / Total Hours per biweekly pay75 hours per bi-weekly pay periodPosting Status OpenSaskatchewan Polytechnic considers the diversity of our workforce to be one our leading strengths and greatest assets. Our employee diversity enhances our ability to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Currently, approximately 20% of our students are Indigenous. A continued emphasis on the development of a representative workforce is one of Sask Polytech’s strategic priorities and, as an organization, we are making significant efforts to attract and retain Indigenous employees.Job Duties/Qualifications, Skills and Abilities(QSA)Job DutiesJob DutiesNature and ScopeSaskatchewan Polytechnic is the province’s only polytechnic and the primary institution for post-secondary applied education and research. Proudly sharing land located in the homeland of the Métis people and on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territory, we serve more than 26,000 students through campuses located in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers more than 150 certificate diploma and degree programs, including two collaborative baccalaureate degree programs and a collaborative Master’s degree program, basic education and academic upgrading, credit and non-credit extension courses, apprenticeship training, televised, hybrid, online, distance and off-campus programming. Our programs are led by a most accomplished and innovative faculty. As a member of Polytechnics Canada, we are committed to offering a broad range of educational experiences that are student-centered and industry responsive.Saskatchewan Polytechnic provides the skills and education that the province needs to grow and prosper. We have a long history of working with industry and the community to meet education needs demonstrated by our excellence in teaching, strength in research and proven student success. Through our partnerships we ensure our programs match opportunities in the real world. Our people are key to our success – the role of Special Advisor to the Provost and VP Academic is to guide and support exceptional leaders and staff in their commitment to our students and shared strategic priorities.As a member of the senior leadership team, this position plays a critical role in academic leadership and strategic planning in support of the Office of the Provost. The Special Advisor will support and lead the implementation of the Academic Plan, co-ordinate Academic Council, define and lead the strategic academic framework, vet new program proposals and the Academic Division’s Multi-Year Business Plan submissions, work closely with the Teaching and Learning division on technology-enabled learning strategy development, as well as provide leadership and input on other academic priorities. This position will represent the Provost when needed and act with considerable latitude when required. The Advisor will be expected to both initiate action and ensure the accountabilities of those reporting to the Provost are achieved. This is done with collegial understanding, tact and diplomacy and a commitment to the vision and strategic objectives of Saskatchewan Polytechnic while keeping interests of the Provost intact. With a budget of $500K, the Special Advisor will lead a team comprised of 3.0 full and part-time academic and administrative staff across four campuses in Saskatchewan.General AccountabilityThe Special Advisor will report to the Provost and Vice President, Academic. By providing exceptional academic leadership and ensuring academic integrity, the Special Advisor holds the responsibility to prepare our academic programs and maintain subsequent strategic priorities in focus, driven for success in academic excellence and industry-responsive demands.By implementing a clear and concise academic strategic plan, the Special Advisor will drive initiatives that promote excellence in teaching, and ensure the academic model and framework support our programs and learners. The Special Advisor is responsible for relationship building with other schools and departments within Saskatchewan Polytechnic and with external stakeholders at the local, provincial and national levels.Based in any of our campus locations, this position is a member of the academic leadership team consisting of 5 deans, 3 associate vice-presidents and an executive assistant who report to the Provost and Vice President, Academic. Travel is required between all campuses for program and administrative responsibilities, as well as travel provincially, nationally and occasionally internationally to represent the Provost and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCESpecific Accountabilities1. Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Develop and direct the strategic goals and objectives for our academic priorities and initiatives. The Advisor proposes and implements plans, policies and procedures and deploys resources required to meet the Provost’s goals and objectives. The Advisor works directly with the Provost and the academic leadership team, and where needed with the President’s Office to assist the Provost in achieving academic and institutional priorities.
• The Advisor manages the business functions and planning for the Office by undertaking key process, communication, structure, core activities and improvement-focused projects that support the most effective and impactful delivery of the Provost’s strategic goals.
• The position supports the Provost across all responsibilities and takes a lead role in identifying strategic linkages between institutional portfolios and outside agencies. This role is intended to identify opportunities to grow the collaborative culture across the Provost’s senior executive team and related teams.
• Institutional issues-management is a critical function of the role, demanding a high level of responsibility and responsiveness to ensure that the Office of the Provost is effective in carrying out the Provost’s mandate in a way which commands the respect of the institute’s diverse constituencies and the external communities.
• To provide support and oversee special projects identified by the Provost in keeping with the strategic plan for the division. Act as primary advisor and liaison to the Provost on a variety of academic process-related special projects, initiatives and assignments.

2. Academic Planning and Leadership

• As the lead of the Academic Plan implementation and strategic academic framework, the Special Advisor will ensure activities are aligned with the Saskatchewan Polytechnic strategic plan and directions set by its board of directors and senior management council. The Special Advisor will also reinforce the strategic planning framework to a balanced scorecard and project management operating environment. By doing so, the Special Advisor will link meaningful measures and outcomes to ensure the Provost’s strategic plans align to the institution’s overall strategic model, and ensure agility in the face of emerging trends, adapting environments and the changing priorities of stakeholders.
• On behalf of the Provost, work with the academic leadership to define, assess and review program mix to support program additions, suspensions and deletions in keeping with student and labour market demand. This will be achieved through the coordination and development of institutional and school-focused priorities within a multi-year business plan framework. This includes the visioning, developing, integrating and measuring of these goals and objectives to inspire forward thinking and drive through the leadership of others for the Provost’s office.
• Lead the vetting of new opportunity for certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate programming authorization. This will require research, quality assessment and validation working where required with the Saskatchewan Higher Education Quality Assurance Board on behalf of the provost and in collaboration with the academic leadership team.
• Lead and coordinate the activities of Program Council in support of the Provost and academic leadership team.
• Work in partnership with the academic leadership team, particularly in the areas of learning and teaching to define, develop and execute the needed online education strategies for Saskatchewan Polytechnic. With a growth mindset this collaborative framework will define and set Saskatchewan Polytechnic as the leader in online learning and technology integrated learning and teaching programs.
• Future-focused learning and teaching methods and the increased importance of technology will bring opportunities and advancements in post-secondary education and work-ready education and training. Being a champion and advocate for effective learning and teaching infrastructure will be a continuing priority of this role in partnership with the academic leadership team. Rapid change in technology and the advancements in industry converge in the learning environment and require constant consideration in this role as strategies align and are acted on by the institution.
• Lead and develop academic policies and procedures with understanding of emerging trends in post-secondary education, assess and determine extent of impact or obligation for our organization and where needed, develop in collaboration with our academic leadership team the needed policies and procedures to support our strategic and operational objectives.
• Oversee operations, implement processes to increase operational efficiency and ensure accountabilities and behaviours align to the vision stated by Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

3. Relationship ManagementInternal

• The Special Advisor will not represent one academic area or have alignment to particular programs or services. The role will stand apart from the defined schools and academic program areas to ensure the orchestration and standards of the strategic objectives are achieved. This will be done in a collaborative, shared-problem or goal statement manner to ensure the values of our institution are reflected in our academic leadership activities. As a leader of change and opportunity, this balance of collaboration and outcomes is an important focus in this role.
• Work closely with the Provost and Vice President Academic, Associate Vice Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Academic Chairs and Directors to ensure high quality services are integrated, supportive and meet the overall institutional direction.
• Seek and build collaborative relationships across both academic and administrative divisions to optimize effort and ensure both school and organizational objectives are reached.
• Participate and contribute to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s operational effectiveness and policy development in a wide range of strategic and operational decisions through the deans’ council and other committees or councils. The role of the Special Advisor is to be inquisitive, collaborative and transparent in their leadership.

External

• Seek out and foster relationships with educational partners on national, provincial and regional levels through shared projects, committees and other meaningful engagements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies, various ministries and government organizations, and other partners in the training system (provincial, national and international).
• Represent Saskatchewan Polytechnic in media relations and as necessary on behalf of the Provost.

4. People Management

• Ensure a positive, diverse and inclusive work and learning environment.
• In partnership with Human Resources, work to effectively recruit and retain outstanding staff aligned to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s values of respect, integrity, sustainability and excellence.
• Coach, develop and mentor direct reports to ensure their success.
• Hold employees accountable for outcomes and a high level of performance by addressing people management issues within the school in a timely manner.
• Plan for future key leadership roles by ensuring succession and workforce planning initiatives are implemented within the school.
• Promote positive employee engagement.

5. Resource Allocation

• Identify and set business plans for revenue generation opportunities, monitoring results and value for services offered.
• Develop innovative solutions to resource challenges while ensuring alignment with the institute’s strategic goals.
• Ensure resource allocation for all programs and services are aligned with the strategic priorities and objectives; monitor the progress in meeting objectives, project plans and priorities, as set in the multi-year business plan.
• Provide monthly and ad hoc reports to the Provost and Vice President, Academic as required.
• Manage budgets and faculty/staff workload to ensure efficient use of resources and monitor yearend forecasts.

6. Risk Assessment and Management

• Identify, assess and manage risks in the planning processes and more broadly, across the organization.
• Assess the viability and feasibility of concepts for their innovation, sustainability and relevancy to the Saskatchewan Polytechnic environment.
• Ensure accountability and transparency of activities, information and reports including qualitative and quantitative evidence where appropriate to assess risk and viability.
• Ensure compliance with federal and provincial laws, regulations, institute policies and collective agreements.
• Ensure the general safeguarding and stewardship of all resources within the Provost’s office and the Office of the Special Advisor to the Provost. Define and hold accountable those with accountability and authority.

DutiesRequired Qualifications, Skills and Abilities (QSA)A graduate degree in a related field of study and a history of senior-level leadership experience is required. Demonstrated experience developing and leading high-performance programs and projects in a post-secondary education environment and leading innovation is recommended for success in this position. Strong leadership, demonstrated project and change management, combined with exceptional communication and collaborative skills is sought in candidates for this position.Desired QSAQuick Apply

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