Awards and External Relations Officer

Ontario University Athletics; Guelph; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a skilled Project Manager to lead the awards portfolio and develop relationships with alumni and donors. This role involves managing student awards and implementing multi-year projects that enhance community engagement. Ideal candidates will have 5-7 years of project management experience and a degree in a relevant field, along with advanced financial management skills. A commitment to fostering inclusion within the workplace is essential.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of finance experience with a background in project management.
• Ability to develop best practices and reconcile transactions.
• Advanced knowledge of software for financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead OAC's awards portfolio and maintain relationships with donors.
• Manage project scopes for multi-year initiatives.
• Counsel students on award applications and ensure eligibility.

Skills

Client focused

Attention to detail

Project management skills

Financial management

Education

Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, business or related field

Tools

Desktop software

Databases

Job description

Posting Information

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Primary Category Page: Staff and Management

Division: OAC Guelph Campus

Requisition ID: 1988

Department: OAC Office of the Dean

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph.

Temporary full-time from 04/01/2026 to 07/30/2027

Temporary Absence of the Regular Incumbent

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

Duties and Responsibilities

Working in the Dean’s Office, this role is responsible for leading OAC’s substantial awards portfolio, as well as providing a high level of project management and coordination to the portfolio of the Associate Dean, External Relations. There are currently 500+ undergraduate, graduate, and diploma merit and need-based awards in addition to external and government-funded scholarships. Expendable award endowments of more than $2M span numerous funds and generate approximately 30 new awards each year. This role has significant interaction with donors and alumni, and shares responsibility for developing, nurturing and maintaining strong alumni and donor relationships with respect to awards.

In leading OAC’s awards and supporting the broader external relations portfolio, this role offers you:

• Membership in a complex organization, whose mission is to Improve Life by inspiring leaders, generating knowledge and creating innovative solutions for food, agriculture, communities and the environment. (https://www.uoguelph.ca/oac/);
• A chance to effect change and impact the community through engagement with academic units in the creation of new scholarships; and the capture and communication of impact back to donors both directly and through our Alumni Affairs & Development partners;
• The opportunity to evolve your financial and operational management skills through your leadership of the awards process, including: collaborating with donors and Alumni Affairs & Development in developing and updating terms and conditions for awards; representing OAC at monthly Joint Editorial Awards Committee meetings; counseling students regarding how to apply for awards; pre-screening all in-course award applications and ensuring that students meet eligibility requirements; assisting in the process of student selection; and leading efficient meetings of the OAC Awards committee;
• The opportunity to execute a full scope of project management for a variety of broad reaching, multi-year projects. Spanning infrastructure to major events including OAC’s upcoming 150th anniversary, projects impact a broad range of constituents. This role supports and sometimes leads the execution of commitments to external partners that bridge students and faculty to community and industry.

Requirements

• Client focused and consistently demonstrate a high standard of service that provides an example for those around you and that helps you develop strong relationships, including anticipating the needs of your clients in order to drive awards activity and provide project management and organizational support to the Associate Dean, External Relations;
• Process orientation, with attention to detail and the ability to synthesize information, develop best practices and reconcile a high volume of transactions across disparate systems;
• Project-based work that includes excellent time and attention management;
• Advanced knowledge of desktop software, databases and other software products that, combined with your financial management skills, enables you to manage awards delivery at both the transaction and aggregate level by completing critical analyses and maintaining meticulous records;
• Undergraduate degree preferably in accounting, finance, business, commerce, agriculture or another related field;
• 5-7 years of experience finance experience and a strong background in project management, preferably with awards management and donor stewardship as well an understanding of University financial policies and systems (FRS, Colleague) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10101069
Classification: P&M FT- Band 03
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 12/05/2025
Closing Date: 12/15/2025