Director, Student Advising & Learning Supports

Njoyn; Brampton; Hybrid; CAD 126,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Director of Student Advising & Learning Supports to provide strategic leadership for student services. The role involves oversight of academic advising, ensuring equity and inclusion, and fostering a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to diversity and experience in leadership, particularly in post-secondary education.

Qualifications

• 5 to 7 years of leadership experience in education or service roles.
• Lived experience as a member of an equity deserving group.

Responsibilities

• Providing senior leadership to Accessible Learning Services.
• Managing financial and human resources including recruitment and training.
• Leading strategic planning for academic accommodation services.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Conflict Resolution

Data Analysis

Education

Master’s degree in education

PhD in Education, Disability or Equity Studies

Job description

Reporting to the Executive Director, Student Success the Director, Student Advising & Learning Supports provides strategic leadership to multiple service areas that support students in navigating their academic program pathways through academic advising, accessible learning supports and testing services, and service navigation supports (in-person and virtual Service Hubs). The Director provides oversight and supervision for service area managers and ensures service delivery excellence, program development and evaluation, and accountability and compliance for academic accommodation services, including accommodated testing, and developmental/holistic academic advising services. The Director ensures equity-informed principles are embedded into the service area programs and services to respond to the educational needs of all students and to reflect the diversity of our student population, their lived experiences, and their academic journey. The Director is a key member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team which includes multi-disciplinary teams committed and accountable to advancing a seamless student experience through a coordinated and holistic student support and advising model. The Director is responsible for ensuring accessibility, equity and inclusion is threaded through all supports, programs, and services. Pan-institutionally, the Director is a champion for equitable learning, is a collaborator, and serves as an expert resource to senior management and our academic colleagues.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing senior leadership and direction to Accessible Learning Services, including testing services, and Advisement Services, Service Hubs supporting and ensuring service delivery excellence, program development, continuous improvement, relationship management, reporting, and compliance;
• Leading strategic planning, development, and implementation of accessible learning services, including academic accommodation planning, accommodated testing services, service excellence and academic advising services;
• Managing program evaluation, ensuring continuous quality improvement aligned with the strategic direction of Student Affairs & Sheridan;
• Managing financial and human resources including overseeing manager recruitment, onboarding, orientation, training and development;
• Embedding best practices in performance management, employee coaching and mentoring, and advise on employee relations matters including grievances;
• Developing and reviewing budgets including costing activities, monitoring variances, approving expenditures, and manages multiple grant funding envelopes;
• Providing leadership, guidance, and acts as a consultant on pan-institutional strategic initiatives relating to academic advising, including general and Faculty-embedded advising programs, as well as initiatives impacting students with disabilities;
• Informing senior leadership and stakeholders about emerging trends and anticipated future needs of students, influencing organizational decision-making;
• Representing Student Affairs with a broad-based understanding of the role and priorities of Student Affairs and how its supports impact the student experience and success;
• Collaborating with Student Affairs leadership ensuring that equity, diversity, and inclusion is embedded across all service areas;
• Promoting a coordinated student support model and delivers a stepped care approach to service;
• Performing other related duties and initiatives as required.

About You

You have a commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusivity, recognize and value the diverse and intersectional identities of our community and promote a sense of belonging.

You have knowledge and understanding of equity-deserving communities in the post-secondary environment and have awareness of current systemic barriers and knowledge of solutions.

You have a clear understanding of the challenges and issues impacting student learning and development, student persistence and barriers to student success.

You are an advocate for marginalized students, and able to lead and inspire change.

You are a self-directed natural leader with a highly collaborative spirit which, combined with your keen interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills, empowers you to build positive and collaborative relationships, lead, develop and motivate staff, create and maintain a positive organizational culture.

You exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and sensitivity to confidentiality and privacy and are able to handle stressful situations, make decisions, negotiate and handle all levels of conflict in a time sensitive environment.

You are able to manage complex student situations that involve crisis and/or trauma (e.g. sexual violence etc.) and able to analyze and respond to complex student challenges, using a supportive and holistic approach.

You have knowledge of human behaviour to inform assessment and accommodation processes.

You have a keen ability to collect, analyze and interpret data and metrics for evidence-informed decision-making.

The successful candidate will also meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, counselling, social work, social sciences, equity studies, psychology, or related field; PhD with a focus on Education, Disability or Equity Studies is preferred.
• 5 to 7 years of leadership experience in an education, community or service focused role ensuring high standards of support, preferably in a post-secondary environment. (Equivalency to be considered).
• Lived experience as a member of an equity deserving group; racialized, Indigenous, person with a disability or 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or demonstrated experience in addressing accessibility, equity, diversity, inclusion in a systemic context.
• Solid understanding of the post-secondary student life cycle (relevant experience is preferred) and Student Development Theory.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations (e.g. The Code, AODA, Occupational Health and Safety Act, etc.).
• Experience in leading professional staff in a Unionized environment.
• Experience in the development and implementation of strategic plans.
• Operational management experience including service enhancement, budget development and implementation.
• Knowledge and experience with drafting funding proposals and accountability reporting.
• Experience dealing with high-risk situations.
• Training in AODA.
• Training in The Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Training in Bona Fide Academic Requirements will be considered an asset

Who We Are

Every member of the Sheridan community is passionate about the transformational role we play in people’s lives.Our strategic plan, Sheridan 2027: Forging the Future (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/sheridan2027), charts a path towards a new ground-breaking model of higher education that reshapes post-secondary education and better prepares students for the future. We are committed to demonstrably advancing equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Diversity is our strength and fuels our commitment to excellence. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.

To learn more, please visit: Why Work at Sheridan

Other Details
Department: Student Affairs
Primary Work/Campus Location: Davis (may be assigned activities at any Sheridan campus)
Work Categorization: Hybrid | On-site at least 3 days/week
Reference #: J0525-0098
Employee Group: Administrative
Payband:NO
Salary Range: $126,723 - $158,403
Application Deadline: May 25, 2025

Sheridan is deeply committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, Anishinaabe Nation, Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Sheridan is situated on these lands, and it is our collective responsibility to honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here, and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be working on this land.

Sheridan values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. Sheridan regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. Sheridan seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Sheridan will provide job applicants with accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To request accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

You may be asked to provide copies of your educational credentials at the time of interview. Upon hire, we require official confirmation of educational credentials and Canadian equivalency assessments, if applicable.