Associate Director, Academic Planning and Policy

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 106,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Toronto is seeking an Associate Director, Academic Planning and Policy to coordinate academic planning and policy implementation. The ideal candidate will provide analytical expertise, manage records and relationships with stakeholders, and oversee projects related to academic resource planning and strategic goals. Strong experience in university environments, data analysis, and effective communication is essential. The role offers competitive compensation in a full-time position.

Benefits

Inclusive work environment

Commitment to diversity

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Minimum five to seven years of experience in a university setting.
• Experience with university policies and governance.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and analysis.
• Experience managing a team in a unionized environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate divisional planning to operationalize strategic priorities.
• Advise on academic policy implementation.
• Provide data-informed guidance to academic units.
• Collaborate with campus leaders to enhance timetabling and resource allocation.

Skills

Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Effective problem-solving skills

Superior judgment

Ability to establish credibility with academic leaders

Understanding of university complexity

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Graduate degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Adobe’s Creative Suite

Job description

Overview

The Associate Director, Academic Planning and Policy coordinates divisional planning to operationalize strategic academic priorities and objectives at UTM. The role advises and consults on academic policy and its implementation, identifying opportunities for improvement related to academic course planning, data-driven guidance for units, and improving student enrolment experience. The incumbent will liaise with the Office of the Registrar, the Divisional Research Team within the Office of the Vice-President and Principal, and Budget, Planning and Finance to lead, manage and implement processes and projects relating to academic planning (including course offerings, timetabling, and additional support for faculty complement planning), academic resource planning (including allocation of TA resources), and divisional strategic planning (as it pertains to academic units and their offerings). The position provides analytical expertise and guidance to academic units and applies enrolment and retention data to support data-informed decisions. It also provides timely, responsible and creative project management on issues and topics that flow from leadership decisions within the unit. This role supports the work of the Vice-Dean, Undergraduate and Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning to ensure divisional goals are reflected in policy, and to evaluate and assess projects, existing policies and processes. It will play a leadership role in enhancing academic policy, particularly related to courses and course planning and evaluating impacts on students for policy changes.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will assume management and implementation of new and ongoing tasks or projects, undertake research on a wide variety of issues, and follow through on decisions made by leadership within the unit. Responsibilities include coordinating divisional planning to operationalize strategic priorities, advising on academic policy implementation, and providing data-informed guidance to academic units. The role involves collaborating with campus leaders to enhance course planning, timetabling, resource allocation (including TA resources), and divisional strategic planning as it relates to academic units and their offerings. The position requires project management, analysis of enrolment and retention data, and effective communication with senior academic stakeholders to inform decisions.

Requirements

EDUCATION:

• Graduate degree required or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five to seven years related experience in a University setting.
• Experience with the University and knowledge of university policies and procedures and an understanding of the university’s organizational structure, including its governance.
• Knowledge about protocol, diplomacy and an excellent understanding of the University’s mission, the Divisional Vision and Missions, and their intersection with the broader community.
• Demonstrated experience in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data – both quantitative and qualitative.
• Experience conducting detailed analysis and research to support recommendations made to senior academic administrators.
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Demonstrated professional experience in understanding complex issues related to institutional policies and practices and in managing a range of competing interests in the development and co-ordination of policy in a decentralized and highly complex organization.
• Experience fostering relationships to effectively manage, negotiate and resolve complex issues with multi-stakeholder impacts.
• Experience with high level academic initiatives such as strategic plans or strategic enrolment frameworks.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity.
• Experience managing a team in a unionized environment, with familiarity working with human resource policies and collective agreements.

SKILLS:

• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office & Adobe’s Creative Suite.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, effective problem-solving skills, and superior judgment.
• Ability to establish credibility and work with senior academic leaders in a manner that facilitates discussion and agreement of principles.
• Must possess a deep understanding of a university’s complexities from the viewpoint of a student, staff, and at a unit level.
• Ability to work independently with a high level of tact and in a collaborative manner.
• Ability to work under pressure without instruction/direction.

OTHER:

• Strong research, writing, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• High degree of political acuity and judgement; ability to deal with senior University leaders in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and the ability to respond rapidly to change; ability to respect matters of a sensitive nature and exercise discretion, and tact; good judgment and the ability to work under pressure; superior organizational skills in planning, project management and task coordination; flexibility and problem solver orientation.

Closing Date: 10/12/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: Salaried

Personnel Subarea: PM

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 4 -- Hiring Zone: $106,705 - $124,491 -- Broadband Salary Range: $106,705 - $177,843

Job Category: Student Services

Diversity and Accessibility

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 contact [e-mail].