Senior Director, Organizational Transformation

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice-Provost, Student Affairs, the Senior Director, Organizational Transformation (Senior Director) is an expert strategic advisor to the Office of the Vice-Provost, Student Affairs, driving change initiatives from planning to completion that enhance organizational capacity, effectiveness and culture. In collaboration with Student Affairs and Provost Office Executives, the Senior Director will lead, facilitate and execute multiple large-scale structural, people and process transformations across the division, advancing the work of the Student Affairs External Review (Fall 2025) and the University’s Renew Project, and ensuring sustainable change management plans are in place to support the Division’s mandate.

The Senior Director will develop and oversee the implementation of strategic organizational structure and change management initiatives, and the re-engineering of business processes to improve overall efficiency, outcomes and service delivery across Student Affairs. The Senior Director will identify current work that is out of scope for Student Affairs, based on Service Level Agreements, and make recommendations for change, including development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for units, and the Division overall, that align with the Division’s mandate and role in shaping the student experience.

The Senior Director will provide leadership, expertise and oversight for data-driven business process design and related change management activities, including their development, implementation, and related communication.

This role will sit at the centre of complex, high visibility changes for the Division of Student Affairs. As the executive conductor of these changes, the incumbent will possess leadership skills in change management, organizational design, and process innovation, with deep understanding of service delivery models (i.e., shared services, Centres of Excellence), matrixed environments and operational model-redesign.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Organizational Change Leadership
• With the University’s strategic priorities, Renew initiatives, and External Review recommendations as driving influences, establish, implement and monitor prioritized change management plans and frameworks aligned with division goals, timelines and resources.
• Establish strong and collaborative relationships with leaders across Student Affairs, gaining deep understanding of units’ focus, function and scope to understand business processes, resources and mandates, and the interrelationships among units within Student Affairs, and in the broader University environment.
• Partner with senior leaders, colleagues, and stakeholders to design and lead change initiatives, promoting smooth transitions and implementation, including communication, stakeholder engagement, staff engagement and training, to increase readiness and adoption of change.
• Facilitate a shared understanding of Student Affairs’ scope, priorities, structures, and operations, championing consistency and leading focused change.
• Assess change impacts and develop mitigation plans to manage challenges.
• Measure, monitor, and report on the progress and effectiveness of change initiatives, making recommendations to adjust approaches as needed.
• Apply principles of change management to guide leaders in the implementation of new or changed structures, processes, policies or procedures, including applying change models/theory, facilitating workshops and communication activities, monitoring change management activity plans, reporting on status, fostering stakeholder support for change, mitigating resistance, and addressing concerns.
• Act as a trusted advisor and facilitator, coaching and preparing a diverse leadership team in adopting new structures, processes, and practices, providing best practices in organizational design, workforce planning, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing execution of high priority, strategic organizational change and organizational design initiatives within Student Affairs, with clear timelines and expectations for goals and outcomes.
• Provide regular updates to the Vice-Provost, and Student Affairs and Office of the Provost Executives, on progress, outcomes and resource needs. Share success stories and lessons learned to promote transparency and engagement.
• Serve as a senior level, first point of contact in the division for active change initiatives from launch through implementation. Provide advice and information to ensure consistency in the application of policies and processes across units.

Organizational Design and Development
• Lead organizational design and development initiatives focused on enhancing leadership capability and capacity, team and operational effectiveness, and organizational culture.
• Partnering with key stakeholders, analyze current-state operations and identify strategic and tactical opportunities to improve operational performance through effective organizational design that will have a demonstrable impact to student service and experience.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and success metrics for Student Affairs as part of the implementation of continuous improvement efforts. Communicate progress across the Student Affairs leadership team and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Perform high-level analysis, conduct detailed research, interpret and analyze data and information, and prepare various documentation (i.e. plans, reports, presentations). Develop viable solutions and recommend best solution in terms of cost-benefit analysis ensuring strategic alignment.
• Assess leadership and administrative structures and make recommendations for changes based on research, team feedback and best practices to ensure adequate resourcing.

Business Process Transformation
• Work with unit leaders and staff to map current-state business processes. Identify processes that are out of scope based on Service Level Agreements and provide guidance and advice on best practice processes.
• Develop visuals, presentations or other materials that are clear, accessible and identify key inputs, decision points and failure points. Collect feedback and makes recommendations for improvements.
• Partnering with key stakeholders, analyze current-state operations and identify strategic and tactical opportunities to improve operational performance through effective process transformation that will have a demonstrable impact to student service and experience.
• Use Lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies to lead process redesign and optimization.

Leadership
• Promote a culture of inclusion, with a commitment to the University’s equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion initiatives designed to foster an inclusive, supportive and welcoming work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.
• Refer highly complex and/or sensitive matters, along with collected background, information and recommendation for problem resolution, to the Vice-Provost or others as needed.
• Other duties as assigned in support of Student Affairs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree in Business Administration, Organizational Development, Human Resources, or related field, combined with at least 7 years of progressive experience in leading and implementing multiple process improvement and change management strategies concurrently. Graduate degree in relevant field strongly preferred.
• Experience in higher education, or other public sector environments is strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of continuous improvement, change management and project management values, methodologies, and tools is required.
• A professional designation(s) in process management (Six Sigma, Lean) and/or change management (PROSCI), and/or project management (PMP), is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated consultative, interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and gain credibility to lead transformational change.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, complex projects and initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience interpreting organizational data, conducting diagnostics, and applying insights to design and development initiatives.
• Extensive knowledge of senior level office practices, university structures, policies, procedures, and administrative systems an asset.
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, and knowledge of best practices in diversity and inclusion practices, strategies, systems, policies,
• Satisfactory criminal record check.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Exceptional communications skills, including superior writing, editing, and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to quickly form strong collaborative relationships at a senior level in a variety of situations, and professional contexts.
• Demonstrated experience as a role model for inclusive and culturally competent workplace behaviour that fosters a sense of belonging and a positive work environment.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in strategic planning processes and the ability to develop and implement change management and organizational development plans.
• Demonstrated use of consensus building and influence to drive alignment around change management and organizational development work.
• High level of organizational, administrative and project planning and management skills with the demonstrated ability to effect change in a timely manner, within a diverse deadline-driven environment.
• Outstanding ability to manage multiple demands, manage competing priorities and operate effectively in a deadline driven, highly visible environment.
• Ability to think and act strategically, creatively and dynamically in a high-pressure work environment.
• Results-oriented with a desire to deliver high-quality solutions under demanding timelines.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive materials and situations with the utmost discretion. Incumbent must be objective, fair, impartial, and flexible without compromising standards and established policies. Sound judgment, maturity, tact and discretion.
• An understanding of the student experience, student services and student affairs issues is considered an asset.

DECISION MAKING:
• Makes difficult and complex decisions with good judgement and with acute sensitivity to the political environment and the reputation of the University.
• Provides advice, support and guidance on a wide variety of complex matters.
• Determines options or range of solutions to problems where no clear guidelines exist.
• Determines strategies and communications to efficiently implement organizational change.
• Conducts necessary research and gathering of background information to inform decision-making.
• Determines accurate responses to the initiative-related inquiries of internal and external partners.
• Determines positioning/tone/content/substance of organizational design and change management-related communications, briefing notes, reports, presentations for a variety of audiences in consultation with colleagues.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities.