Vice President

The Organisation

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) helps governments and institutions expand the scale, efficiency and quality of learning by using new approaches, appropriate technologies and open and distance learning (ODL) methodologies.

COL promotes learning for sustainable development. It is financed by voluntary contributions from Commonwealth Member States.

COL was established in 1987 by Commonwealth Heads of Government to create and widen access to opportunities for learning, making use of the potential offered by distance education and by the application of communication technologies to education.

Memorandum of Understanding on the Commonwealth of Learning).

Hosted by the Government of Canada with headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, COL is the only intergovernmental organisation solely concerned with the promotion and development of distance education and open learning.

It is governed by a distinguished Board of Governors whose membership is drawn from around the Commonwealth and brings leadership and expertise in a wide range of areas.

COL’s greatest impact is in supporting efforts that lead to improved lives and livelihoods, especially of marginalised people, through increased, equitable and inclusive access to quality learning opportunities - believing, in effect, that learning must lead to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.

COL values and maintains an organisational culture that is respectful, ethical and fair.

Purpose of the Position

• The Vice President has direct responsibilities for the strategic direction and implementation of COL’s programme aligned to its mission;
• research and thought leadership in support of innovative services and use of technologies in learning for sustainable development’;

and the strategic development and effective management of Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), COL’s regional office in New Delhi, India.

The Vice President fosters appreciation of COL and the Commonwealth generally to advance COL’s outcomes and impact.

Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President (VP) is a principal advisor to the President on all matters related to the programme, including research, policies and operations.

• The VP plays a leadership role in developing and implementing COL's goals and strategies; identifying emerging opportunities and strategic leverage points;
• building and enhancing partnerships with Member States; ensuring quality and accountability; raising the visibility and influence of COL;

leading programme delivery for outcomes; promoting collaboration across the organisation and evaluating the performance of the programme and projects.

This portfolio is based on a visioned restructure of COL's current organisational structure and service delivery approach.

The VP's initial focus will be to :

• develop and implement the detailed restructure;
• lead the development of the research and evaluation function; and
• shift to a matrix service delivery approach using cross-functional teams.

These operational changes demand significant change management leadership.

The VP serves as a member of the executive team and acts on the behalf of the President & Chief Executive Officer when delegated, ensuring continuity of leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

The VP is a member of the Executive Team and collaborates with the President, the Director, Strategic Engagement (DSE), and the Director, Management Services (DMS), in the planning and implementation of all programme and operational activities in support of the mission and strategic direction of COL to ensure the quality, outcome and impact of these services within allotted budgets.

External Relationships

The VP is a strong advocate for open, distance and online learning and maintains ongoing liaisons with international peers as well as a range of consultants and external stakeholders, partners and Member States.

Programme Leadership

• As a thought leader, deliver innovative and value-added programme and project initiatives applying a cross-functional team-based approach in complex, diverse and ever-evolving environments.
• Create opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, through timely knowledge sharing, integrated planning and data-driven decision-making, promoting coordination, communication, and joint efforts within programme staff and between the programme staff and external experts.
• In collaboration with the President and DMS, develop COL's Organisational Performance Measurement and Management framework to ensure that the organisational performance framework integrates well with the staff Performance Management framework.
• Oversee all programme activities to ensure they produce the desired results and are consistent with the overall strategy and mission.

This includes detailed planning, effective resource allocation, budget oversight and monitoring and evaluation.

Direct and monitor COL’s regional initiatives and guide CEMCA, COL’s regional centre in Asia in programme development aligned to COL’s strategic plan.

Research

• With close ties to research findings and community, create evidence-based initiatives to inform new programme development, decisions and evaluation practices, and ensure continuous improvement of current programme offerings.
• Monitor and harness the potential of emerging technologies for diverse and disparate contexts within the Commonwealth.
• Collaborate with experts renowned for domain and delivery competence to generate suitable innovations.
• Oversee the integration of research into practice to inform the promotion and development of distance and open learning in support of sustainable development;

embed a research and innovation culture within the organisation.

Thought leadership in driving the goals and objectives of COL through the development of policy and practice that supports learning as a driver of sustainable development.

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Committed to the ideals of COL, notably to the role of education as the key to individual and national development and the capacity of technology to enhance that role, support the development of the overarching stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Working in concert with the President and the DSE, develop and build on relationships with Member States, establishing the necessary contacts, networks, and protocols to maintain regular and effective links.

Make visits to Member States in order to promote and advance the program and its impact and effectiveness. Maintain contacts with officials in Member States to enhance their awareness of COL's capacity to assist them in achieving national priorities in education and training.

• Support the President in the diversification of funding by identifying and mobilising investment sources and partners to offer appropriate intellectual, fiscal and organisational resources to foster support of COL's programme.
• As a member of the Executive Team, develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans in accordance with the overarching strategy.
• Work collaboratively with programme and project teams to leverage and coordinate stakeholder engagement as an integral element of ongoing work.

The Candidate

Experience and professional qualifications required for the role :

• PhD in Open and Distance Learning or related / relevant area or demonstrated credibility and standing in the field.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience in the education sector, ideally within international development.
• Knowledge of the education sector and experience with educational technologies is critical.
• Demonstrated success in programme development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience leading an organisation through significant change.
• International experience in developing countries an asset.

To join COL, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country.

Compensation

This role offers a salary range of $190,000 to $225,000 plus benefits inclusive of 15% gratuity, based on experience and qualifications.

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