Director, Programs

MDA; Toronto; On-site; CAD 152,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

York University’s School of Continuing Studies seeks a Director, Programs to provide strategic leadership across our program portfolio, including Continuing Professional Education and English Language programs. You will lead program development, student engagement and operational excellence, while fostering partnerships with corporate, academic and international partners to support sustainable growth.

The role focuses on scalable processes, market-aligned offerings and a cohesive, high-quality

Qualifications

• 7 years of related experience.
• 5 years of management experience.
• Experience in growing enrolment and revenue.
• Experience in strategic planning and operationalizing plans.
• Experience in business development, sales, consulting, proposal and contract development.
• Experience in program design, market research, recruitment strategies and partner engagement.
• Knowledge of higher education environment and York's policies.
• Knowledge of financial planning, forecasting and management.
• Familiarity with global education trends, market demands, competitor offerings, and government regulations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the School's portfolio of programs.
• Lead program development, student engagement and operational excellence.
• Foster innovation and scalable processes in program delivery.
• Cultivate partnerships with corporate, academic and international partners.
• Align programs with market needs and institutional goals.
• Oversee resource planning and staff management.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Market research

Sales

Contract development

Program management

Communication

Negotiation

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Driver's license

Job description

CPM: This is an open posting. We are collecting applications from all interested persons

Band/Salary Grade *

H

Compensation *

Hiring Salary Range:$151,685 - $164,666 (FTE annual)

Purpose

The York University School of Continuing Studies is a diverse community of learning united by a shared sense of purpose: achieving personal and professional growth in a rapidly changing career and educational landscape. Our ability to offer accelerated, accessible, and innovative programs that prepare our students to adapt and lead in response to this change has made us the fastest-growing school in Canada. Our programs attract students from around the world. Codesigned and delivered by senior industry leaders, our professional programs feature experiential learning methods that help students develop career-specific technical skills and robust cross-functional expertise. The English Language programs serve as both a standalone portfolio and a pathway into broader university and continuing education opportunities.The Director, Programs is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the School's integrated portfolio of programs, including Continuing Professional Education and English Language programs. The Director leads program development, student engagement and operational excellence at the School of Continuing Studies. The role focuses on fostering innovation, creating scalable processes and aligning programs with evolving market needs and institutional goals. The Director cultivates partnerships with corporate, academic and international partners to enhance the School's global presence and ensure sustainable growth. The Director ensures alignment and consistency across the School's program portfolio, supporting a cohesive â??one school' approach to program delivery and student experience.With a commitment to quality and student success, the Director guides the delivery of programs, resource planning and staff management while advancing the school's vision for lifelong learning and impactful, accessible education. The Director ensures alignment and consistency across the School's program portfolio, supporting a cohesive 'one school' approach to program delivery and student experience.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Master's degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration, Commerce, Human Resources Management, Adult Education or equivalent.
• Valid Drivers LicensePlease Note: This position requires verification of degrees(s), credential(s) and license(s)

Experience

• 7 years of related experience.
• 5 years of management experience.
• Progressively responsible experience in growing enrolment and revenue.
• Experience in strategic planning and experience operationalizing and implementing plans.
• Experience in business development, sales, consulting, proposal and contract development, with a corresponding strong entrepreneurial nature is essential.
• Experience in program design and development, market research, recruitment strategies and partner engagement.

Skills

Knowledge

• Knowledge of higher education environment (policies, procedures, governance and collective agreements) knowledge of York University's policies, procedures, governance, and collective agreements.
• Knowledge of financial planning, forecasting and management.
• Familiarity with global education trends, market demands, competitor offerings, and government regulations.
• Knowledge of best practices in instructional design in the areas of adult education and online education.

Skills

• Effective communication skills, including public speaking and sales.
• Effective organizational and project management skills.
• Effective analytical skills, problem solving and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Ability to conduct thorough market research.
• Effective writing abilities for proposal writing.
• Ability to negotiate and guide the development of legal contracts.
• Effective cultural competence, with an ability to effectively build relationships, influence, and manage change in a complex environment.
• Effective skills in leadership, coaching, talent management, conflict resolution, and creating a high-performance environment.
• Ability to think strategically and operationalize and implement strategic plans.· Effective risk management skills, with the ability to weigh various outcomes against possible risks and mitigate. Effective skills in leadership, coaching, talent management, conflict resolution, and creating a high-performance environment.

Additional Notes

• Normal office work environment.
• Regular travel to meetings within the GTA, access to a vehicle is required.
• Occasional travel required to conferences and professional meetings in Canada and the USA.

Compensation

York's CPM Compensation Framework has a salary grid consisting of 6 or 8 steps (depending on job grade) which is reviewed annually with possible adjustments, and a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award. Employees will receive the grid adjustment and depending on performance, eligible permanent employees may move to the next step of the grid and may receive a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award.Visit the CPM Compensation page on the HR Website to find out more about York's CPM Compensation Program.

Equal Opportunity

The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive and inclusive environment.

York University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you are contacted by York University regarding a job opportunity or testing, please advise if you require accommodation.

We are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of the York community. Our long term perspective recognizes our responsibility to be innovators and to continually work as a community to reduce our ecological impact.

York University employees must apply to jobs through the Employee Career Portal - YU Hire. If you are a current York University employee and/or are using your rights under a collective agreement to view and/or apply to jobs, you MUST log into YU Hire to access the York University Employee Career Portal.