Director, Academic Affairs

Ontario Tech University; Oshawa; On-site; CAD 126,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university is seeking a Director of Academic Affairs to advance its academic mission and manage policies related to academic employees. The ideal candidate will have at least a Master's degree in Human Resources and a minimum of 10 years of experience in unionized environments. This full-time position offers a salary range of $126,500 - $157,300 and is based in Oshawa, Ontario.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of related experience in large, unionized environments.
• Experience in post-secondary settings is a strong asset.
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop academic administrator strategy aligned with university plans.
• Serve as co-chair of the Joint Committee team for faculty relations.
• Manage academic employee issues such as recruitment and onboarding.
• Build strong working relationships with university stakeholders.

Skills

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to navigate fast-paced environments

Strategic management capability

Skilled in collaboration and relationship-building

Education

Master's degree in Human Resources or Labour Relations

Job description

Director, Academic Affairs

Tracking Code: req1821

Faculty/Department: Office of the Provost

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Non-Union Hiring Zone: Job Level 12 - $126,500 - $157,300

Posting Date: November 11, 2025

Closing Date: November 25, 2025 (7:00 pm EST)

Job Summary

The Director, Academic Affairs will advance Ontario Tech University as one of Canada’s top-ranked universities and nurture the academic, graduate, research and postdoctoral fellow employment experience and workplace. The Director will be responsible for developing academic administrator strategy in support of a variety of university strategic and operational plans and of evolving workforce interests, trends, and requirements.

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Director, Academic Affairs, will have accountability for development and implementation of policies, programs, and services that are responsive to operational plans and roadmaps established through collaboration and consultation with university partners. This position works closely with the Vice-President, People and Transformation, Director, Human Resources, Director, Employee and Labour Relations, and the General Counsel.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership and Academic Workforce Planning
  • Develop an academic administrator strategy aligned with university strategic and operational plans and evolving workforce trends.
  • Develop and implement policies, programs, services, and operational roadmaps to support the academic administrator strategy.
  • Lead policy development and initiatives to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and service quality for academic employees.
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and results-driven team environment.
• Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining
  • Serve as co‑chair of the University administration’s Joint Committee team, identifying areas of common interest or concern under the UOIT Faculty Association Collective Agreement.
  • Participate in academic‑related collective bargaining and support Vice President, People and Transformation and Director, Employee and Labour Relations on matters including research, issue identification, mandate development, and coordination of strategies.
  • Represent the University externally in third‑party dispute resolution and legal proceedings, in collaboration with Legal Counsel.
  • Work with Human Resources on the implementation of academic collective agreements, including training, compliance auditing, and process review.
• Academic Employee Lifecycle Management
  • Manage coordinated approaches to academic employee issues such as recruitment, immigration, leaves, workload adjustments, onboarding, compensation, and other employment‑related processes across academic faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research employees.
  • Provide advice and support for performance reviews, administrative faculty appointments, probationary and renewal processes, tenure, promotion, and continuing appointment procedures.
  • Manage the development and upkeep of resource documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for academic and research employee programs.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building
  • Build strong, productive working relationships with senior administrators, managers, faculty supervisors, academic employees, and union representatives.
  • Work with internal stakeholders to identify unique service needs for academic employees and ensure responsive service models.
• Equity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing
  • Serve as the University lead on the Committee for Employment Equity with the Faculty Association.
  • Collaborate with the Vice‑President, People and Transformation, and the HR team to integrate equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and decolonization into strategies and programs for academic employees.
  • Work with Employee Health and Wellness leadership to embed workplace wellbeing principles and Mental Health Strategy components into academic employee programs and services.
• Data, Reporting, and Institutional Support
  • Collaborate with the Associate Vice‑President, Planning and Analysis, to develop metrics, analyze data, and prepare reports for the Board of Governors, Senior Leadership Team, Government, and senior leaders.
  • Design and deliver leadership training and professional development programs on academic affairs topics, including labour relations and workplace matters.

Required Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to foster dialogue, explore interests, and build relationships.
• Ability to navigate fast‑paced, high‑volume portfolios with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strategic and operational management capability, with proven adaptability and resilience.
• Skilled in collaboration, relationship‑building, and influence across complex stakeholder groups.

Required Knowledge

• Expert knowledge in faculty relations and academic affairs, academic employee structures, and broader labour relations within the Canadian post‑secondary setting.
• Strong understanding of employment and labour law, collective agreement administration, and grievance and dispute resolution processes.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining practices, union‑management relations, and employment manual administration.

Required Education and Experience

• Master’s degree, preferably in Human Resources or Labour Relations; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of related experience in large, complex, unionized environments; experience in post‑secondary settings is a strong asset.
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation is an asset.

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until November 25, 2025 or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Ontario Tech University is actively committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenization and decolonization (EDIID), and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, while especially encouraging applications from First Nations, Metis, Inuit people, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and those eligible to work in Canada, will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people’s different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the university’s Accessibility Policy, please review the university’s Accessibility Policy.

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date

1/5/2026

Expected End Date