Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 132,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Toronto seeks an experienced Assistant Dean to lead student life and international services. This role requires a minimum of seven years of senior management experience, a strong commitment to equity and diversity, and proven leadership in enhancing student experiences. Responsibilities include fostering community engagement and overseeing strategic programs. The position offers a full-time schedule with a term until April 2027.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of related senior management experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity.
• Proven leadership in student governance and services.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning for student life and international student services.
• Oversee the management of complex student issues.
• Cultivate partnerships for student engagement and support.

Skills

Leadership in student life

Equity and diversity principles

Crisis intervention and emergency response skills

Strategic planning

Community engagement

Analytical skills

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

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Date Posted: 11/17/2025
Req ID:46041
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Student Life & Intnl Student Centre
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

About Us:

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe. Our success has been made possible by the opportunity given to us by our Indigenous hosts to operate on their territory, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities. The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimited potential. Join us on our journey.

The Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing's mission is to support the academic and personal success of U of T Scarborough students. The Office is committed to maintaining efficient and effective programs and services that enhance student development inside and outside the classroom by providing strategic guidance and oversight for the following units: Academic Advising & Career Centre, AccessAbility Services, Athletics & Recreation, Health & Wellness Centre, Student Life & International Student Centre and Student Housing & Residence Life. Whether you have questions about your academic or career options, seeking disability support, looking for ways to stay active, interested in joining a club, need to see a doctor or are exploring housing options - we have you covered.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

With a deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing (OSEW) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) strives to foster student success and support the achievement of academic, personal and professional goals.

Reporting to the Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing, the Assistant Dean serves as an integral member of both the OSEW senior leadership team and the broader campus and University leadership community. The Assistant Dean provides strategic direction, program design and oversight in the areas of student life, student leadership development, community engagement, Black student engagement, multi-faith initiatives, and international experiences, including: support for international students, global learning (e.g. study abroad, student exchanges) and other international student engagement opportunities.

The Assistant Dean leads a diverse portfolio of programs and initiatives that enhance the student experience through robust experiential and co-curricular learning, such as:

• The Imani Black Academic Mentorship Program, fostering connections with the Black Scarborough community
• Alternative Reading Week, promoting community-based experiential learning
• Campus groups and co-curricular record (CCR) initiatives
• Community engagement and volunteerism opportunities

Through these and other programs, the Assistant Dean ensures a holistic student experience -- one that bridges the academic and co-curricular learning environments and supports personal growth, leadership development, and community connection.

The Assistant Dean plays a key leadership role in cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships across the university, with the UTSC community, external partners and funding sponsors. Through collaboration with senior leadership, working groups and committees, the Assistant Dean provides meaningful input on various divisional and tri-campus initiatives and goals, non-academic student policies and procedures, fee requests, metrics and outcomes that work towards enhancing the student life experience. This role will also participate at various tables on internationalization with tri-campus partners (i.e. Centre for International Education (CIE), International Relations), and at UTSC forums (i.e. with the Registrar’s Office, academic departments) to review, design and implement University and UTSC strategic goals, programs and services.

In close partnership with the Senior Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and in consultation with students and campus partners, the Assistant Dean champions a culture of equity, inclusion, and civic engagement across all facets of student life. This includes embedding EDI principles into student organizations, leadership programs, and campus-wide student life initiatives to build a truly inclusive and supportive community for all UTSC students. Through strategic leadership, inclusive practices, and commitment to student development, the Assistant Dean, helps to shape a transformative UTSC student experience—one that fosters belonging, leadership, and global citizenship both inside and outside the classroom.

In addition, the Assistant Dean identifies, oversees and provides guidance on addressing and managing student issues related to non-academic policies and procedures. These include, but are not limited to, complex, sensitive, and high-profile student issues that require mediating conflicts, managing crises, and navigating politically charged or controversial matters involving student organizations, governance, and campus events. This Assistant Dean exercises sound judgment to mitigate legal, reputational, and operational risks that impact UTSC students, while upholding university values and policies.

You will contribute to the mission by:

• Leading comprehensive strategic planning processes for the Student Life and International Student Centre units, establishing a shared vision, measurable outcomes and clear priorities
• Developing research and evidence-based business cases in the design, promotion, and delivery of leading-edge student life and international experience programs and services; collaborating on the development of student life programs and services to increase UTSC’s student retention and success rates and addressing evolving needs of our diverse student population
• Working with student groups on a wide range of equity-focused issues and initiatives
• Leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives that enhance the student experience, strengthen student success, and improve learning outcomes
• Identifying, cultivating and evaluating new partnership opportunities that advance the University’s internationalization and student exchange objectives
• Exploring and cultivating opportunities for partnerships, grants, and sponsorships with internal groups and external agencies to serve the needs of a diverse student population
• Overseeing the identification and management of student issues related to non-academic policies and procedures that affect UTSC students; providing strategic advice to the Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing and others highly sensitive matters, including politically charged relationships, student crises involving student organizations, governance, and controversial campus events.
• Providing support and counsel to student leaders, student societies and campus groups on challenging issues related to University policy interpretation and administrative processes and practices. Negotiates agreement, alignment, or buy-in on matters related to student governance and risk assessment, student-university relations, and the Council on Student Services (CSS) budget process.
• Providing strategic leadership and oversight for holistic counselling, advising, and referral services for international, exchange/study abroad, newcomers, refugee students with citizenship on immigration issues, acculturation and settlement to assist with their academic, emotional, spiritual, and cultural adaptation to Canada and university academic and social expectations
• Working closely with the Manager, Marketing, Communications & Strategic Initiatives – OSEW to manage and respond to inquiries on a variety of student life-related topics and issues, including developing, implementing and managing effective communication strategies
• Overseeing, developing, and monitoring annual operating budgets for the International Student Centre, Student Life, Student Service Fees (SSF) funds, staff salaries and various external funding sources
• Providing leadership and expertise as a member of tri-campus and University-wide committees and tables that review, develop and implement policies and guidelines related to student services, student life, community service learning partnerships, student governance, international and exchange student support and risk assessment (e.g. institutional reputation)

What you will bring to the role:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of related senior management experience providing leadership in student life, international student services and programming, and student governance
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity as core principles of delivering a quality university and learning experience to a diverse student population, including oversight of advising and counselling related to acculturation, intercultural, interfaith, and cross-cultural communication
• Proven leadership in student learning, learning outcomes assessment, student development, student governance, and student life models with demonstrated use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and assessment tools to evaluate student learning and development
• Expertise in strategic planning, program design and program management for student services, including the development of innovative student life and international student services program designs (e.g. experiential learning opportunities and community development programming)
• Experience leading internationalization initiatives and international student support services, with knowledge of Canadian immigration processes and national/provincial policies related to international higher education
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex issues related to institutional policies and practices, including student governance and budget approval processes, within a highly politicized, tri-campus environment
• Proven professional leadership experience cultivating strategic partnerships and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, funding agencies, government bodies, alumni and local, national, and international institutional and community partners. Experience stewarding prospective and existing donors, writing funding proposals and annual reports
• Experience planning and overseeing operational budgets and diverse funding sources
• Significant experience managing and mentoring staff in a unionized environment
• High degree of political acuity and tact, with the ability to build professional rapport and effectively manage escalated or sensitive issues with confidence and discretion
• Crisis intervention and emergency response skills, including the ability to make complex decisions under pressure
• Strong analytical skills, including financial, operational and situational analysis
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage inter-departmental, campus-wide and tri-campus projects
• Ability to interpret, apply and advise on a broad range of institutional policies and procedures
• Proven ability to work effectively amid frequent, unpredictable interruptions and significant distractions
• Ability to prioritize and respond to time-sensitive requests effectively in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the capacity to navigate complex challenges and difficult outcomes
• Ability to build trust and confidence with students by engaging in a supportive, respectful and student-centered manner
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues with discretion, sound judgment and professionalism
• Applicants are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Notes:

• Please note that this is a term position until April 2027

Closing Date:12/07/2025,11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea:PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:PM 6 -- Hiring Zone: $132,351 - $154,409 -- Broadband Salary Range: $132,351 - $220,587
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening 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 [e-mail] .