Senior Director, Faculty Operations and Planning

Union / Affiliation : Administrative and Professional Staff (APSA)

Pay range : $125,106 to $149,294 annually SFU Department Descr : Faculty of Environment - Deans Office

Position Grade : 15

# of openings : 1

Biweekly Hours : 72

Who We Are

Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.

The Dean’s Office provides centralized leadership and value-added support to the Faculty’s four academic units : Archaeology, Environmental Science, Geography, and Resource and Environmental Management. Functionally organized, the Dean’s Office brings together Faculty Operations, Student Affairs, Communications, and Faculty Administration to support the full academic lifecycle. The team stewards resources, aligns systems and services, and supports recruitment, engagement, governance, and operations across the Faculty. Team culture is highly collegial and stable, with strong collaboration, shared purpose, and continuity of expertise that supports the Faculty through periods of change.

About the Role

This role provides senior operational leadership for the Faculty, supporting the Dean and academic leadership in aligning resources, systems, and structures with Faculty priorities. The position oversees financial planning, workforce strategy, and core administrative functions, and operates at the intersection of academic goals and institutional frameworks.

The role plays a key part in multi-year budget planning, resource management focused on opportunity, and risk, and the interpretation and implementation of University policies related to finance, human resources, space, and governance. It works closely with Chairs, Directors, and central partners to ensure Faculty operations are sustainable, coherent, and responsive to change.

The ideal candidate brings strong institutional acumen, analytical capability, and sound judgment, with the ability to anticipate how broader University trends and policy changes affect Faculty operations. They are intellectually curious and able to move beyond surface-level analysis to understand underlying drivers and translate insight into action. They lead as a steward, focused on strengthening systems and foundations so others can do their work effectively. Comfort with ambiguity, adaptability in a shifting environment, and a relational approach grounded in trust, transparency, and respect are essential, along with the ability to make tough, fair, and principled decisions.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Business Administration or Leadership, and ten years of related management experience within a post-secondary setting, including financial analysis, strategic business planning, human resource management, and information systems management; the master's degree requirement may be offset by an equivalent combination of education, senior management, training, and experience in a university faculty.

• Strategic financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation in a complex academic environment.
• Institutional and policy interpretation, including governance frameworks and collective agreements.
• Advanced analytical reasoning and problem-solving, with the ability to translate analysis into actionable advice.
• Workforce and organizational planning, including role design and systems stewardship.
• Relationship-building and principled decision-making with academic and administrative leaders.

What We Offer

At SFU, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace. We offer continuing employees who belong in the Administrative & Professional Staff Association (APSA) :

Additional Information

Applications will be reviewed beginning FEBRUARY 18, and the position will remain open until filled. The role reports to the Dean and works closely with academic and administrative leaders across the Faculty and University. The search process will include a combination of interviews and work-related discussions. Simon Fraser University is committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive search process, and welcomes applicants who bring diverse experiences and perspectives.