Director, External Relations and Capital Projects - Saskatoon, Canada - University of Saskatchewan

University of Saskatchewan

Verified Company

Saskatoon, Canada

1 week ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

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Description

Director, External Relations and Capital Projects:

Primary Purpose:

The Director will act as a trusted advisor to the Dean and the Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships.

This position serves as a strategic conduit between academia and the external community to ensure relationships are fostered and strengthened to deliver impact while executing capital projects to ensure the infrastructure is in place to meet the demands of a growing profession.

In the realm of external partnerships, the Director will strategically engage with government, industry, the profession, and other key community stakeholders, aligning efforts with the Dean's vision and ensuring efficient resource utilization.

The Director will lead complex capital project initiatives, focusing on the integrated engineering facilities, and play a pivotal role in proposing and executing strategies for the IDEAS Building.

This position oversees the Co-op and Career Centre, Student Recruitment, Sci Fi, outreach programming, the Research Facilitator and guide workflow for the Facilities SBA, ensuring high performance, structured delivery, client care, and team balance.

Reporting directly to the Dean, the Director identifies relationship-building opportunities, fostering collaboration across the college, engineering leadership, and central university services.

Nature of Work:

In this role, the Director assumes a pivotal role in cultivating relationships, fostering collaborative initiatives, and advancing strategic objectives.

Serving as a primary liaison for key stakeholders, such as government, industry, and community leaders, the position demands a combination of diplomacy, foresight, and sound judgment, considering potential contractual, legal, tax, and ethical implications for the University.

This role serves as a bridge across multiple disciplines within the college, each contributing significant value and revenue potential. The Director navigates tensions and synergies between these disciplines, leveraging their unique strengths and fostering a collaborative environment. Oversight extends to initiatives supporting the IDEAS building plan, especially when leveraging donor funds for project advancement.

The external partnerships team, under the Director's guidance, builds and sustains collaborative relationships with external entities to enhance various aspects of the college's academic mission, including student opportunities, research capabilities, infrastructure development, and overall institutional growth.

Balancing high standards and team commitment, the Director ensures alignment with strategic planning and capacity-building initiatives.

A key responsibility involves keeping the dean's strategic goals at the forefront, considering real constraints like time and resources, and maintaining close communication and collaboration with the Director of Advancement.

Confidentiality is paramount in this role, particularly when leading large-scale projects. The Director is tasked with working, analyzing, and developing sensitive labor relations and financial information.

This encompasses salaries, compensation data, employment status, succession plans, workforce planning, and organizational budgets, all of which may involve the college, the university, and/or government partners in the college's mission.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

Strategic Advisory Role:

Provide trusted advice to the Dean and Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships.
Serve as a strategic bridge between academia and the external community to nurture and enhance impactful collaborations.
Execute capital projects to ensure the infrastructure aligns with the evolving needs of the growing profession.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Strategically engage with government, industry, and stakeholders, aligning efforts with the Dean's vision.
Identify and capitalize on relationshipbuilding opportunities across the college and campus with the college's external community.
Cultivate relationships and drive collaborative initiatives to advance strategic objectives.
Lead complex capital project initiatives, focusing on integrated engineering facilities.
Propose and execute strategies for the IDEAS Building, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Oversee initiatives supporting the IDEAS building plan, leveraging donor funds for project advancement.

Leadership and Oversight:

Keep the dean's strategic goals in focus, considering real constraints and maintaining communication with the Director of Advancement.
Oversee the external partnerships team which includes the Coop and Career Centre, Student Recruitment, Sci Fi, outreach programming, and the Research Facilitator.
Guide workflow and coordination with the Facilities SBA on initiatives supporting the IDEAS building plan, and infrastructure development.
Ensure high performance, structured stakeholderfocused delivery, and team balance within the assigned areas.
Balance high s