Senior Director Student Services

Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)  job aid for instructions on how to apply.

If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), the Senior Director Student Services is a visionary leader with a proven track record of excellence in student services, whose strategic acumen contributes to the vision of Student Life and Learning: “All McGill students flourish with the seamless support of our inclusive, integrated approach to service”.

As one of the senior leaders in Student Life and Learning, the Senior Director Student Services is responsible for supporting and realizing the values and strategic orientations of Student Life and Learning, both as an ambassador when collaborating across the university and when engaging their staff at the local level. These are the values and strategic orientations of Student Life and Learning:

Who we are:

• We have a culture of inclusion

• We offer simplified seamless service

• We don’t do more, we do better

Strategic Orientations:

• Healthy organizational culture for staff

• Student support

• Equity

• Collaborative community building

Primary Responsibilities:

The Senior Director Student Services (S2) implements the vision and strategic orientations of Student Life and Learning (SLL) through the expert management of McGill’s Student Service offerings, managing an operating budget of 20 million dollars while overseeing the well-being and success of a staff of 200+ with seven units across 13 buildings and two campuses. They work in close collaboration with the four other leaders of SLL units, that oversee Athletics and Recreation, the Office of the Dean of Students, Enrollment Services and Student Housing, Hospitality Services and as well as close collaboration with the office of the Deputy Provost Student Life and Learning.

In the day-to-day, the Senior Director S2 is responsible for the oversight of the financial and operational aspects of their unit, ensuring the stewardship of funding (proposals, grant management, allocation), the smooth operating of buildings and IT and the flourishing of their 200+ staff, and 600+ student employees which include the following areas:

• Campus Life and Engagement

• Career Planning Service

• International Student Services

• McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

• Scholarships and Student Aid

• Student Accessibility and Achievement

• Student Wellness Hub

In addition, the Senior Director S2 collaborates with leaders and units across the University, both academic and administrative, including but not limited to:

• McGill Senate Committees

• Chair Senate Committee on Student Services

• Equity team in Provosts office

• Office of Indigenous Initiatives

• First People’s House

• University Advancement

• Student leadership

Additional Responsibilities, Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities :

Collaboration

• Committed to a culture of service.

• Collaborates across boundaries and functions, building trusting, strategic relationships to achieve common goals.

• Nurtures external networks and campus partners to magnify impact.

• Brings to bear external best practices, knowledge of emerging trends and resources to improve service, efficiency and effectiveness.

Culture of Well-Being

• Guides Directors who are focused on student well-being; exemplifying this in your actions and approach to team culture.

• Builds a culture of trust through supporting team members’ intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing.

• Mentors and/or coaches others by providing clear and consistent feedback, encouragement, and developmental guidance.

• Exemplifies communication through active listening, coherent, consistent and clear messaging and the capacity to engage conflict resolution strategies.

• Motivated by trauma-informed approaches to staff development and organizational culture.

Strategic leadership

• Creates unity of purpose, and a climate in which people want to do their best.

• Makes difficult decisions for the collective good.

• Provides clear direction within a complex and fast-paced environment.

• Remains grounded and forward-focused when negotiating challenging and uncomfortable situations.

Innovation and service focused

• Understands student development theories in higher education and has a proven track-record in implementing best practices.

• Designs structures that are student-focused, effective, and efficient.

• Fosters an environment where innovative ideas are encouraged, tested, and recognized.

• Readily adjusts plans and strategies to adapt to changing work environments, priorities, and situations.

• Takes significant but calculated risks to arrive at bold decisions and breakthrough solutions.

•  Considers risks, opportunities, and future consequences of potential services.

• Proficient in project management, adept at implementation, and technologically skilled to effectively drive and oversee key initiatives.

Team Performance and Recognition

• Creates an environment that fosters efficient and effective work processes and performance.

• Helps team members find purpose and meaning in their jobs.

• Recognizes and rewards team members’ diverse strengths, experiences, and efforts.

• Ensures team members have the resources needed to achieve objectives.

• Creates opportunities for team members to stretch and develop themselves.

Equity and inclusion

• Promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment where different backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives are welcomed, respected, and appreciated.

• Relentless in removing barriers and promoting equity in student access to services and supports.

Integrity

• Models and reinforces SLL values through words, actions, and initiatives.

• Takes responsibility and accountability for team and personal commitments, including the outcomes of errors or mistakes.

• Seeks feedback from others to understand areas for personal growth.

• Shows strong self-awareness and an accurate understanding of personal strengths and development opportunities.

The successful candidate possesses a proven track record as a leader of student service professionals.
A graduate degree in, higher education, counselling, or in a relevant field is a strong asset. Excellent written and oral skills in English is required, bilingualism in English and French, spoken and written, is also a strong asset (at a minimum, a good working knowledge of French is expected).

Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 4) on a scale of 0-4.

Minimum Education and Experience:

10 Years Related Experience with Bachelor’s Degree /

Annual Salary:

(MPEX Grade 11) $137,030.00 – $171,290.00 – $214,110.00

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Professor

Position End Date (If applicable):

2024-02-16

Deadline to Apply:

2024-02-15

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] .