Director, Partnerships

Algonquin College; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 117,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Ottawa is seeking a Director of Partnerships to manage and advance strategic initiatives that drive institutional growth and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in business development, contract negotiation, and partnership management. Responsibilities include cultivating relationships with industry leaders and generating alternative revenue streams. This role offers a dynamic work environment with hybrid work options.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangement

Inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in business or educational administration.
• Minimum nine years of related experience in leadership roles.
• Experience in securing external funding and developing business strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic partnerships across multiple value streams.
• Cultivate relationships with external stakeholders.
• Generate alternative revenue streams through partnerships.

Skills

Business Development

Contract Negotiation

Partnership Management

Strategic Planning

Cross-Functional Leadership

Education

Master’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

Overview

Please Note: If you are a current Algonquin College employee, apply to this job via the Workday application.

Department: Advancement and Strategy

Position Type: Full-Time Administrative

Salary Range: $117,333.00-$156,441.00-Annual

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

Anticipated Start Date: November 03, 2025

Length of Contract: n/a

Posting Information: This job posting is now accepting applications from all qualified individuals.

Posting Closing Date: October 5, 2025

Please note: jobs are posted until 11:59 pm on the job closing date.

Job Description

Reporting to the Vice-President, Advancement and Strategy, the Director of Partnerships is a key member of the College’s leadership team. This role is responsible for managing and advancing strategic, cross-college partnerships that span multiple value streams, driving institutional growth, external engagement, and financial sustainability. This position plays a critical role in forging and managing integrated relationships across various departments and divisions with external industry and community partners.

The Director leads the institution’s cross-College efforts to develop and sustain high-impact partnerships that extend beyond individual units, ensuring alignment with the Industry Partnership Framework and the direction set by the College’s Strategic Plan. These partnerships encompass key value streams, including knowledge transfer, employment and talent management, student life and community well-being, and financial sustainability. The incumbent is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing business strategies that leverage these value streams to create mutually beneficial collaborations with industry, government, and community partners.

With a focus on external-facing initiatives, the Director cultivates and manages relationships with public and private sector organizations, ensuring that partnership opportunities align with the College’s broader strategic objectives. This role is instrumental in driving revenue generation through sponsorships, donations, vendor and supplier collaborations, and other innovative financial models that support the College’s long-term sustainability.

By fostering cross-functional collaboration and integrating partnerships across multiple departments, the Director ensures that initiatives are positioned for long-term success while maintaining the College’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact.

The Director will focus on:

Strategic Leadership and Cross-College Business Development

• Lead the development and execution of cross-College partnership strategies that span multiple value streams (knowledge transfer, talent management, student life, and financial sustainability), aligning with the College’s broader strategic goals.
• Identify and implement strategic business opportunities that contribute to financial sustainability and align with the College’s Industry Partnership Framework.
• Manage multi-dimensional partnerships across various departments and divisions, ensuring effective collaboration to achieve shared goals.

Management of Integrated Partnerships Across Value Streams

• Manage integrated partnerships that cross multiple College functions, facilitating collaboration across departments and divisions within the College to meet collective goals.
• Serve as the key contact for complex partnership opportunities that require integration across several areas, ensuring cross-functional alignment and success.
• Drive collaborative initiatives that focus on multi-value stream engagement, ensuring alignment with the College’s mission and long-term sustainability.

External Engagement and Relationship Management

• Establish and nurture relationships with external stakeholders (industry leaders, government agencies, and community organizations) to expand the College’s network and build partnerships across multiple value streams.
• Represent the College in industry, government, and community settings, acting as a key ambassador to expand external engagement and create opportunities for integrated collaborations.
• Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities that align with the College’s strategic goals across several value streams, contributing to both growth and sustainability.

Revenue Generation and Financial Sustainability

• Lead efforts to generate alternative revenue streams through partnerships that span corporate training, sponsorships, donations, and other financial initiatives.
• Ensure that all partnerships contribute to the College’s financial viability, focusing on sustainable revenue generation that aligns with key College goals.
• Monitor the performance of cross-college partnerships, evaluating their financial and operational success and ensuring they meet strategic objectives.

Strategic Communication, Oversight, and Innovation

• Develop and implement effective communication strategies to ensure alignment among internal and external stakeholders involved in cross-college partnerships.
• Provide strategic advice on communicating the value and outcomes of partnerships, ensuring all parties understand the impact of collaborative initiatives.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by identifying new opportunities for cross-departmental partnerships, ensuring these initiatives remain aligned with emerging trends, and continuously improving partnership models.

Contracts, Financial, and Human Resource Management

• Ensure effective use of fiscal, human, and physical resources by coordinating budget requests, fund distribution, and financial sustainability strategies.
• Oversee financial and operational administration of business development initiatives, ensuring compliance and successful execution.
• Provide leadership to administrative staff, project managers, academic managers, and external contractors to ensure operational excellence in partnerships.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in an appropriate field of study (e.g., Business Administration, Educational Leadership, Educational Administration), combined with considerable experience in business development, contract negotiation, administration, adult learning and/or post-secondary education or other learning services, and demonstrated experience and understanding in securing external funding. Equivalent combination of relevant education and work experience may be accepted in place of formal education.
• Project Management Certification or similar is an asset.
• Knowledge of current trends in industry as they relate to skills development, training methodologies, transfer of training to on-the-job behavior, the evaluation of skills and knowledge, and the future of work.
• Extensive experience and skills in the negotiation of agreements and partnerships.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of business and financial planning along with strong project development and management abilities.
• Minimum of nine (9) years of related experience in increasingly responsible roles.
• Minimum of six (6) years of senior-level leadership and management experience, with a preference that at least half of this time has been in a post-secondary educational institution and preferably within a large, unionized environment.
• Experience in developing and operating new business units & ventures (preferably in higher education settings).
• Experience in mobilizing cross-college or organization, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in creating and leading internal and external partnerships, including models involving significant industry contributed resources.
• Knowledge and experience in identifying and securing multi-level external funding, including navigating through government procurement policies.
• Broad knowledge of learning approaches in higher education and business/industry, including knowledge of instructional design and evaluation procedures for adult learning environments in various modalities.

This position is eligible for hybrid work in conjunction with the College's Flexible Work Arrangement Policy. The policy URL: https://www.algonquincollege.com/policies/hr26/ (subject to change).

Algonquin College values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We offer an inclusive work environment and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process please contact the Human Resources department at [e-mail]. While we thank all those who apply, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.