Academic Chair - Accounting, School of Business

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; Calgary; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is seeking an Academic Chair - Accounting to lead its School of Business. This management role involves operational oversight, student engagement strategies, and collaboration on strategic initiatives, aiming to enhance program quality and student success.

Benefits

Benefits and perks for salaried employees

Qualifications

• Five consecutive years' experience leading others.
• Experience in post-secondary education is an asset.
• Proficiency in data analysis preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and management for the School of Business.
• Champion student engagement and retention.
• Ensure program quality and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices

Empathy

Open mindset

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Situational Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, education, or applicable field

Master's degree (or higher)

CPA designation

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

At SAIT’s School of Business, we deliver cutting-edge programs that inspire learners and leaders to take action and get results. We are one of the largest business schools in Western Canada, we put significant stock in all things industry driven, starting with programs delivered by faculty who are experts in the field. We’re proud to be recognized by CEO World Magazine’s Best Business Schools in the World as the highest ranking Business School in Canada in 2024. Students and instructors benefit from our unique applied education model — working collaboratively with each other and industry.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Associate Dean, School of Business, the Academic Chair - Accounting position is a non-teaching, management role providing leadership and operational management activities for the School of Business. The portfolio includes accounting majors and courses within certificate, diploma, and degree programs.

As part of the School of Business leadership team, you will collaborate on school and institutional strategic initiatives connected to our Strategic and Academic Plans. Additionally, the Academic Chair must lead and support a culture of evidence based continuous improvement and scholarly activity.

The Role

• Student Success:
• Champion a student first culture by being present and visible to students, faculty and staff.
• Create strategies in support of positive student engagement, recruitment and retention.
• Stay informed/advised about changes in industry. Connect industry professionals to student events and engagement opportunities.
• Promote and broaden industry awareness of SAIT programs and School of Business
• Collaborate across School of Business and SAIT to ensure programming and delivery meet the required needs including part time learners.
• Build an alumni community to mentor and inspire current students.
• Mentor, coach and guide students to use SAIT student support services to improve their personal development and academic journey.

• Program Quality:
• Determine annual program goals to ensure decisions are made to promote continuous improvement and program/curriculum excellence: This includes; enhancing program quality, using KPI measures and data collection to drive change.
• Manage applicable program level budget and finances.
• Collaboration on school strategic plans/initiatives, program planning and goal setting.
• Allocating appropriate classroom loading assignments which requires analysis of faculty need, faculty ability/skill, and appropriate modality of delivery.
• Manage student enrolment, work closely with the Registrar’s Office on filling program with eligible applicants.
• Engage with Program Advisory Committee on program quality, student support and participation in industry nights.

• Faculty Leadership:
• Provide leadership in coaching and mentoring faculty and staff.
• Support, encourage, and lead faculty to adopt, develop and incorporate innovation in their pedagogy, subject matter expertise/professional development, and scholarly research.
• Provide partnerships that support managing in a unionized environment.
• Support and encourage scholarly activity among faculty.
• Manage loading and scheduling

• Other duties:
• Review annual course and exam schedules, and student progression matters.
• Ensure consistency in the application of SAIT policy and procedures, SAIT FIRST Principles, collective agreements and work practices.
• Operate in a dynamic fast-paced environment, requiring management of competing priorities.
• Collaborate with chairs across the School of Business on operational planning and student progression.
• Maintain relationships with industry and accrediting bodies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, education, or applicable field.
• Five consecutive years' experience leading others.
• CPA designation is required
• Master's degree (or higher) is preferred
• Experience working in a post-secondary education institution would be an asset
• Proficiency in the use of data analysis to support key program and leadership decisions is preferred
• Highly functional user of MS Office Suite applications is preferred

Skills Required

• Demonstrated leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
• Strong leadership skills, highly empathetic to the feelings of others and ability to provide feedback.
• Open and collaborative mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead others through change.
• Organizational and time management proficiency.
• High degree of proficiency in Situational Leadership.

Job Classification: Academic Chair - M1110

Salary: $120,000 - $124,902

Hours per week:37.5hrs

Posting End Date: June 9th, 2025

View a summary of our benefits and perks for salaried employees.

About SAIT

SAIT is a global leader in applied education. Named one of Alberta’s Top Employers, we offer the chance to work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers.

Building on our 100+ year history, we’re looking for innovative, bold and collaborative employees who embrace change and deliver world-class customer experiences. Your future starts now at SAIT.

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about EDI at SAIT.

At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT - so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.

SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to the Talent Advisor.

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