Director, Operations and Strategy

Date Posted: 07/30/2026
Req ID: 49657
Faculty/Division: Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety
Department: Office of the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety and Chief Legal Officer (VP, LRS and CLO), the Director, Operations and Strategy serves as a key member of the VP LRS Executive Team, providing leadership, strategic direction and sound management of administrative operations and business administration within the VP LRS portfolio. The Director, Operations and Strategy provides executive support and strategic advice to the VP, LRS and CLO and is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and implementing divisional priorities and directions established by the Vice-President.

The Director, Operations and Strategy provides administrative leadership and oversees the efficient functioning of the Division’s Finance, Operations, Information Technology, and Space Management operations. The incumbent ensures that effective plans, performance benchmarks, and policies are established and maintained to support the mission and strategic objectives of the Division. The incumbent fosters collaboration across portfolios within the Division and ensures that all operations within the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety (VP, LRS) portfolio are managed in a proactive, professional, collegial, and informed manner.

Key areas of responsibility include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety; leading a team of administrative professionals; coordinating the preparation of governance materials for submission on behalf of the Vice-President; overseeing the development of briefing materials, speaking notes, reports, presentations, and correspondence; and providing strategic advice and issue briefing support to the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety and Chief Legal Officer.

The incumbent plays a central role in supporting the development, implementation, and advancement of institutional initiatives and strategic projects. This includes leading the development of short- and long-term strategic plans, multi-year financial plans, and operational priorities that support the Division's objectives. The Director also leads the Division's annual budgeting process, provides strategic financial and operational advice across the portfolio, and ensures that administrative policies, practices, and procedures comply with applicable University and government requirements.

In addition, the incumbent provides oversight of the Division's information systems, acts as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders on matters of significance, and provides advice, information, and leadership to support the effective and efficient operation of the VP, LRS portfolio. Space management for the portfolio is also a key accountability of the role.

The Director, Operations and Strategy is responsible for the effective leadership and management of the Operations team and the overall administration of the Office of the Vice-President, Legal, Risk & Safety.
The incumbent has full managerial authority over the staff in the work units that report directly into the position.

The incumbent is a valuable member of the VP, LRS Executive Team, contributing strategic advice, operational leadership, and informed decision-making in support of the Division's priorities and objectives.

Qualifications Required:

Education:

• University degree required.
• CPA preferred, or equivalent senior experience in operations, administration, strategy, finance and/or institutional leadership or acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven to ten years in a senior administrative, senior financial accounting or operations role managing a complex organization, preferably in a University environment.
• Demonstrated effectiveness of people leadership.
• Advanced level of understanding of the senior administration, and the development and application of University policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, human resource management, facilities management, and process and systems improvement.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing and mentoring a variety of staff and teams.
• Experience with effective management in a unionized environment.
• Experience in strategic planning, change management and policy development and implementation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in business process.
• Experience in preparing financial statements for capital and other projects of fund accounting.
• Experience in examining and analyzing financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with established accounting standards and procedures.
• Experience working with internal and external auditors.
• Demonstrated technical abilities in select areas (audit, accounting, regulatory, compliance, etc.).
• Extensive experience with the University and knowledge of university policies and procedures and an understanding of the university’s organizational structure, including its governance.
• Previous experience in an issues management role a definite asset.
• Knowledge about media, protocol, diplomacy and an excellent understanding of the University’s mission and intersection with the broader community.
• Successful record of advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion mandate within a complex organization.

Skills:

• Superior analytical, interpersonal, time management, research, and communications skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication, interpersonal, analytical and presentation skills.
• High level of initiative, tact and diplomacy, intelligence, politically astute and capable.
• Ability to work at the highest strategic levels, to gain and maintain the respect of senior administration and also to take strategy and move it through to tactics and action.
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and collegial relationships, with an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities of working within a large, decentralized institution.
• Reputation for integrity, openness, decisiveness, and sound judgment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment driven by competing tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to be productive working both independently and as a part of a team.

Other:

• Must be able to effectively work with new and changing situations in a highly dynamic environment where there may not always be a readily apparent solution.

Closing Date: 08/21/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea:PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 7 -- Hiring Zone: $145,219 - $169,423 -- Broadband Salary Range: $145,219 - $242,032
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial