Executive Director, Ancillary Operations

Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University seeks an Executive Director of Ancillary Operations to lead a diverse portfolio of campus services, delivering student-centered, high-quality operations while advancing financial sustainability. You will drive strategic growth, innovation, and integrated governance across housing, hospitality, retail, printing, and more.

Reporting to senior administration, the role requires extensive leadership experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with a focus on strategic

Qualifications

• Undergrad degree in a relevant field such as business, higher education leadership, finance, or public administration.
• Graduate degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for McMaster University’s ancillary operations.
• Drive revenue growth, cost management, and operational excellence across a $140 million portfolio.
• Serve as a key advisor on strategy, financial risk, capital investments and emerging issues.
• Lead a transition to an integrated, enterprise-wide operating model and governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Operations leadership

Change management

Communication

Governance knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree (undergrad)

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Executive Director of Ancillary Operations

McMaster University is actively seeking a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as its Executive Director of Ancillary Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of a diverse $140-million portfolio of ancillary services, driving service excellence, operational integration, innovation, and sustainable growth while enhancing the student experience and advancing the University's long-term financial sustainability.

McMaster University

Ranked among the top 150 universities globally, through its cutting-edge research and world-class teaching and learning, McMaster University is a research-intensive, student-centred university dedicated to advancing human and societal health and well-being in its community and around the world. Known internationally for excellence in teaching, learning, innovation, and creativity, McMaster prepares students to be engaged, thoughtful citizens equipped to make a positive impact. As a member of Canada’s U15 group, McMaster boasts a research income of $423 million and is recognized for pioneering problem-based learning and educational innovation. With six Faculties including Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences, McMaster fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to solve complex global challenges. The University is the only Canadian member of Universitas 21 and is home to McMaster Innovation Park, a leading hub for research, startups, and industry partnerships.

Ancillary Operations

Ancillary Operations at McMaster University delivers a wide range of essential services across campus, including housing, hospitality, retail, printing, parking, and other key offerings that contribute directly to the vibrancy and functioning of the university. Together these units deliver important support services to the McMaster community, contributing to the student-life experience, and generating revenues which contribute to the overall financial health of the University.

The Position

Reporting to the Vice-President, Operations and Finance, the Executive Director, Ancillary Operations provides leadership and strategic oversight for McMaster University’s ancillaries. With the opening of the new 1400-bed residence (Lincoln Alexander Hall), the total Ancillary Operations portfolio will be about $140 million.

The role is accountable for leading a diverse revenue-generating portfolio of ancillary operations with a dual mandate of delivering exceptional, student-centred campus services while achieving long-term strategic growth and operational excellence through entrepreneurial leadership, innovative service delivery, and evolving business models.

The role serves as a key advisor to the Vice-President (Operations and Finance) on ancillary strategy, financial risk, capital investments and emerging issues.

The Executive Director establishes the framework to ensure ancillary operations contribute meaningfully to the University’s student experience, long-term financial sustainability and broader institutional priorities. Through a team of Directors, the role provides strategic direction and oversight to maximize revenue opportunities, strengthen cost management practices, respond to market trends and partnership opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and ensure high-quality, accessible, and campus services across the ancillary portfolio. The Executive Director will shape and lead the transition to a more integrated, coordinated enterprise - designing shared standards and common governance while advancing a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

As a member of the Operations and Finance division, the Executive Director serves as a strategic partner to senior leaders across the University, fostering collaborative relationships that advance institutional priorities, enhance the student and campus experience, and identify opportunities for innovation, integration and service excellence.

The Ideal Candidate

Recognizing that no one candidate is likely to meet all of the following qualifications in equal measure, they are desirable and will be used in the assessment of candidates for the position:

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as business, higher education leadership, finance, or public administration. Graduate Degree is preferred.
• Specialized training in strategic planning, operational excellence, and/or student development is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex, unionized, multi-internal and external partner environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large, high-performing teams, building strategic partnerships, and fostering collaboration across diverse constituent groups.
• Experience in a post-secondary environment is an asset, including knowledge of higher education administration, ancillary operations, student-centred service delivery models, and the ability to balance academic, administrative, and business priorities.
• Experience in student housing, hospitality/conference services, and public-private partnership models is considered an asset, including knowledge of revenue diversification strategies, contract management, and vendor relations.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including financial stewardship, revenue generation, budgeting, forecasting, business case development, profit-and-loss accountability, and the use of data and performance metrics to drive results.
• Proven expertise in organizational effectiveness, performance measurement, continuous improvement, process optimization, and the development of scalable operational strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate complex, multi-functional operations into a cohesive enterprise-wide operation model and lead large-scale organizational transformation and change initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of governance, policy, risk management, and compliance frameworks within large, complex institutions.
• Experience with large capital projects, strategic space allocations, and large deferred maintenance programs that impact the operational effectiveness of service provision.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and advocacy and strategic advisory skills, with the ability to engage diverse constituents, build consensus, drive organizational alignment, and champion the strategic role of ancillary services across the institution.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability principles and their application within organizational leadership and operational planning.
• Knowledge of collective agreements, labour relations principles, and workforce management within unionized environments.

Applications should be submitted by October 9th.

McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity, and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. We strive to hire individuals who share our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

At McMaster, we believe that our diversity is integral to and at the core of all that makes us excellent. To grow and nurture our diversity, McMaster is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all community members to meaningfully engage in the life and work of the university. Employment equity is a key initiative that drives inclusivity in the employment relationship, and is an ongoing process that identifies, addresses, and mitigates barriers in employment policies, practices, and procedures. While all qualified candidates are invited to apply, McMaster particularly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

McMaster University and KBRS will provide support in the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.

Please note that this posting is for a new position at McMaster University.