Director, Strategic Initiatives

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director, Strategic Initiatives, serves as a senior member of the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal, Academic (PVPA) leadership team. The incumbent directs and oversees the intake, distribution and execution of strategic projects that have a pan-university impact. The incumbent leads a team of professionals providing project management, strategic communications, governance and issues management expertise, to execute on high-profile critical projects and initiatives.

The Director provides high-level strategic direction and development to, and has accountability for, overseeing university-wide strategic initiatives led by the PVPA, often in concert with partners internal and external to the University. Responsibilities include developing comprehensive and complex strategies and project plans and working with project partners to execute projects effectively and successfully. These initiatives reflect the current strategic objectives and priorities of the university and involve multiple stakeholders; therefore, the incumbent must be accustomed to working effectively in a highly matrixed environment.

The Director is a high-visibility, fast-paced role with frequent interaction and coordination with senior administrators across the university. Through active relationship building with stakeholders, the Director will champion best practices for efficient and effective projects and services. The Director will assess, in collaboration with PVPA leadership, projects and initiatives, determine resources, timelines and provides direction, mentorship, and guidance to their team to ensure effective execution.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provides high-level strategic leadership and development to, and has accountability for, overseeing university-wide strategic initiatives led by the PVPA, often in concert with additional portfolios.
• Scope, plan and prioritize projects in alignment with the strategic priorities of the University.
• Leads comprehensive and complex strategies and project plans for high priority, university-wide initiatives led by PVPA and other portfolios as needed. Assess project proposals, identify expertise required, and assign resources within the PVPA portfolio in consideration of project goals, staff skill and resource availability. Assign tasks, set project milestones, and determine timelines.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and success metrics for projects, and communicate progress across the PVPA leadership team while identifying areas for improvement.
• Facilitate shared understanding of priorities, championing consistency and leading change.
• Establish and maintain prioritization frameworks to ensure strategic initiatives and projects are aligned with overall PVPA and university goals, timelines and resources.
• Actively builds pan-university participation and engagement in PVPA initiatives, identifying strategic relationships and advising, preparing materials and presenting data-driven evidence for decisions to project sponsors.
• Build collaborative relationships with leaders across the university to promote involvement and coordination of projects. Actively engage with participants, and monitor satisfaction.
• Provide regular updates to PVPA leadership on project progress, outcomes and resource needs.
• Utilize appropriate tools for tracing schedules, budgets, actions and outcomes.
• Share success stories and lessons learned to promote transparency and engagement.
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses and resolves employee issues, including disciplinary matters. Makes recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge and probationary termination.
• Promotes 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree. In addition to an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional work experience with significant senior level experience in strategic projects, with demonstrated success in executing high-priority initiatives.
• Advanced knowledge of continuous improvement, change management and project management values, methodologies, and tools is required.
• A professional designation(s) in project management (PMP), process management (Six Sigma, Lean) and/or change management (PROSCI) is an asset.
• Demonstrated consultative, interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and gain credibility to lead transformational change.
• Proven expertise in writing and editing in a variety of formats.
• Extensive knowledge of senior level office practices, university structure, policies, procedures, and administrative systems.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Exceptional communication skills, including superior writing, editing, and negotiation abilities. Ability to quickly form relationships at a senior level in a variety of situations, within the PVPA portfolio and across the university.
• Familiarity with best practices in diversity and inclusion practices, strategies, systems, policies, and is a role model for inclusive and culturally competent behaviour.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic planning processes and the ability to develop and implement strategic plans.
• Uses consensus building and influence to drive alignment around strategic work.
• Project management expertise with the ability to manage and execute projects within budget, identifying opportunities to align initiatives with similar objectives.
• High level of organizational, administrative and project planning and management skills with the demonstrated ability to meet deadlines 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.
• Result-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.

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 projects.
• Conducts necessary research and gathering of background information to inform decision-making.
• Direct the flow of, and prioritization of, incoming communications to the Executive Director.
• Determines accurate responses to the inquiries of internal and external partners.
• Determines positioning/tone/content/substance of communications, briefing notes, reports, presentations for a variety of audiences.
• Evaluates job candidates and makes effective recommendations on suitable hires.
• Makes recommendations regarding transfers and promotions.
• Evaluates employee performance and decides on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations. Determines when decisions and recommendations should be referred to the Executive Director.
• Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.

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.