Area Studies Manager

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Toronto's Munk School invites applications for an Area Studies Manager to provide operational and administrative support to the directors and affiliated faculty of the Area Studies centres.

You will oversee project tracking, funding, and reporting, coordinate meetings and travel, maintain financial commitments with the finance team, and act as a key liaison with partner institutions worldwide, including ambassadors and ministers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in area studies or related field.
• Minimum five years’ senior administrative and project experience, preferably in a university.
• Experience tracking results, generating reports, and updating stakeholders.
• Experience supporting multiple complex projects and fundraising proposals.
• Proficient with MS Office and database tools; reporting and statistics.

Responsibilities

• Participate in annual planning and coordinate project tasks.
• Coordinate meeting schedules, agendas and materials.
• Build relationships with strategic stakeholders and partners.
• Assemble funding proposals and submit proposals.
• Schedule travel plans and manage logistics for events.
• Monitor project accounts and expenses.
• Collaborate with program, events and communications staff.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organization & time management

Verbal & written communication

Diplomacy & stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in area studies or related disciplines

Tools

Air Table

Trello

Asana

MS Office & databases

Job description

Description

About us

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.

We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

The Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy proudly offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of areas of global affairs and public policy expertise. As part of the University of Toronto, we are home to exceptional faculty, experts, and researchers from around the globe, and over 50 academic centres, labs, and programs. Our School brings together world class faculty and students from a range of disciplines to tackle the most pressing global and public policy issues of our time.

Your opportunity

The Area Studies Manager is responsible for providing comprehensive operational, project and administrative support to the directors and affiliated faculty of the Munk School’s Area Studies centres, including the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies, the Asian Institute, the Centre for the Study of Global Japan, and the Centre for the Study of the United States. The incumbent ensures efficient day-to-day operations of the Centres, providing senior administrative support such as coordinating meetings and planning travel logistics, supporting Centre events, and acting as a key administrative facilitator and point of contact for both internal and external stakeholders, including with partner institutions globally, and senior dignitaries from all regions of the globe (ambassadors, government ministers, public servants).

The Area Studies Manager, oversees project tracking for centre activities and commitments associated with complex endowed funds, funding proposals, partnership agreements, and awards within the Centres. The incumbent’s project tasks include supporting annual reporting and tracking impact of activities to for both internal and external stakeholders. The Area Studies Manager works closely with the Munk School finance team in monitoring accounts for projects and programs, ensuring the Centre’s financial commitments are met and are progressing per established deadlines.

Your responsibilities will include

• Participating in annual planning exercises and implementing project plans, coordinating tasks for projects and other strategic initiatives with stakeholders.
• Coordinating meeting schedules, agendas, materials, action, and follow-up items.
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance.
• Assembling information and submitting proposals for funding.
• Scheduling travel plans and requesting appropriate documentation, determining logistical details for events and programming.
• Monitoring accounts for a project and/or program.
• Collecting and submitting expense reimbursement claims.
• Working closely with program, event and communications staff from across the Munk School.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in area studies or related disciplines or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five (5) years’ relevant senior administrative and project experience, preferably in a university setting.
• Experience tracking project results against goals, generating reports on project results, and providing updates and analysis on project progression.
• Demonstrated experience supporting, tracking and reporting on multiple complex projects.
• Experience with report and document writing and editing and statistics compilation.
• Experience monitoring endowed and expendable funds.
• Experience providing administrative support to a senior faculty administrator, including support for coordinating meetings, and travel logistics and providing support for outreach and fundraising proposals and activities.
• Experience preparing and monitoring cyclical schedules with upcoming events and deadlines, developing office procedures and maintaining an efficient office workflow.
• Experience working with committees and taking minutes
• Excellent interpersonal skills to manage stakeholder relationships with diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, awareness of protocol, geopolitical sensitivities.
• Experience with project management software such as Air Table, Trello, Asana or other similar systems
• Extensive knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Access) and working with databases.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Aptitude for analysis and has solid problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated sound judgement in the handling of sensitive and confidential matters

Assets (Nonessential)

• Written and verbal proficiency in relevant language corelated with Centres
• A disciplinary background in social science or humanities focused on a global or regional area of expertise

To be successful in this role you will be

• Articulate
• Diplomatic
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Proactive

Please note that this is a term position until September 2028.

Closing Date

Closing Date: 11/15/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 12 -- $84,564 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $108,145. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building aculture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectivelyaddress and serve the interests of our global community. Westrongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples,Black and racialized persons, women, persons withdisabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment toequity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverseperspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential tostrengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail] .

The University of Toronto has implemented a process to substantiate Indigenous Membership/Citizenship/Enrolment for candidates who identify as Indigenous. For more information about this process, please refer to the Indigenous Substantiation Website .