Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator

Athabasca University; Town of Athabasca; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Health benefits

Vacation & leaves

EFAP

Job summary

Athabasca University seeks a permanent full-time Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator in the Faculty of Science and Technology. The role oversees the Dean's Office operations, governance processes, and communications, while coordinating information flow, reports, and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Dean, you will manage project timelines, events, and governance documentation, and liaise with external organisations to advance the Faculty's strategic goals and external engagement

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree and at least 5 years of progression in administration and project management.
• Experience coordinating governance and project activities in a large organisation.
• Experience in a unionised environment and interpreting policies and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with accuracy under pressure.
• Proficiency with governance documentation and project platforms.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Dean's Office daily operations and governance processes.
• Prepare reports, briefing materials and communications for the Dean and Faculty.
• Coordinate governance meetings and external liaison with partners.
• Manage faculty documentation storage, web content, and information flow.
• Provide project and event management for faculty-wide initiatives.
• Support governance changes and policy implementation.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Administrative skills

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Governance coordination

Microsoft 365

Adobe Acrobat

Education

Undergraduate degree plus 5 years admin/project mgmt

Tools

Microsoft 365

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Guided by Like No Other, Athabasca University’s (AU) strategic plan, AU’s approach to accessible yet transformative education and research is truly distinctive. Our academic mission is to remove barriers to post-secondary education for learners, regardless of their age, location, career, or educational background.

Based in the beautiful region of Athabasca, Alberta, AU is one of four Comprehensive Academic and Research Universities (CARUs) in the province. We are a public, board-governed, open, and online university serving more than 37,000 students across Alberta, Canada, and around the world.

AU seeks to be an agile and inclusive workplace in which all team members can grow, make their highest contribution, and each make a difference to our academic vision and mission.

Led by President Dr. Alex Clark, AU is embarking on an exciting new chapter. Drawing from five decades of growth in distance and online education, we aim to grow our position as Canada’s foremost innovator in flexible, online and accessible learning. With an inclusive Senior Leadership Team dedicated to empowering every team member to contribute, learn and thrive, AU stands poised for an exciting and ambitious next stage of development.

Faculty of Science and Technology

Athabasca University's Faculty of Science and Technology is recruiting for a permanent full-time Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator.

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) is committed to fostering a meaningful and inclusive learning experience through excellence in teaching and scholarly activities. Our students, whether enrolled in programs or taking individual courses in science, computing science or architecture to fulfil other areas of study, are diverse in their demographic and geographical location.

In the realization of the themes of access, opportunity, and community, we aim to change lives and communities from local to global like no other university. In an increasingly complex world, our flexible model enables learners to obtain the necessary skills for future employment while developing their ability to be resilient, think creatively, and work collaboratively as global citizens.

Our faculty is home to emerging research, innovative courses, responsive student support, recognised programs, and community outreach. Please visit our website for more information: Faculty of Science and Technology.

The Position

Reporting directly to the Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator oversees the daily operations of the Dean's Office and provides comprehensive administrative, operational, and communications support to the Faculty of Science and Technology. The role manages the Dean's schedule and correspondence, coordinates information flow, synthesises information and prepares reports, briefing materials, and communications, and ensures the effective application of governance processes within the Faculty. The position also oversees the Faculty documentation storage systems, web content management, and the communication of Faculty initiatives and decisions to internal and external stakeholders.

The Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator provides project and event management coordination for Faculty-wide initiatives, including operational and strategic planning activities, managing project timelines and deliverables, overseeing faculty events and meetings, and maintaining project platforms. The position works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure projects, events, and initiatives are delivered efficiently and aligned with Faculty and University priorities.

The role also serves as a key resource for governance coordination, external relations, and community engagement. The incumbent manages the Faculty's governance processes, prepares governance documentation, coordinates governance meetings, advises faculty leadership on governance requirements, and supports the implementation of policy and procedural changes. In addition, the position acts as a liaison with external organisations, accrediting bodies, industry and community partners, coordinates faculty partnerships and outreach activities, and oversees the Athabasca University Science Outreach Programme to support the Faculty's strategic goals and external engagement objectives.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree, plus a minimum of 5 years progression in administration and project management experience, with at least three years of progressively more complex administrative experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating governance and/or project related activities in a large and complex organisation is required.
• Experience working in a unionised environment and interpreting collective agreements, policies and procedures is essential.
• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication, analytical, organisational, and administrative skills are essential.
• Effective critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving abilities are required.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage competing priorities and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Demonstrated experience within a computerised environment, particularly with Microsoft 365 apps and Adobe Acrobat.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, equity, diversity, inclusion, and service excellence is required.

A detailed job description can be viewed at: Faculty Relations and Governance Coordinator.

Contact Information

For more information regarding this role, please contact Shauna Zenteno, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, at [e-mail].

Work at AU

A university like no other for people like no other

Athabasca University (AU) has widened access and increased opportunity to higher education for over 50 years for everyone by providing access to high-quality university education and professional development for students by removing physical, digital and systemic barriers to learning and success.

An Open And Online University, AU Is a Unique Hybrid Workplace With More Than 1300 Staff Working Across Five Faculties And Six Portfolios. From AU’s Home On The Indigenous Lands Of Treaty 6, Treaty 8 And Metis Northern Alberta, We Are Alberta’s Only Rurally-situated University With

• Over 37,000 students across five faculties— 33,000 undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students
• 900 courses over 70 programmes—with choices from micro-credential and baccalaureate to masters and doctoral levels
• Some of the country’s most well established and largest accredited academic and professional programmes in business, registered nurse and nurse practitioner programmes, science, and humanities & social sciences
• 560,000 alumni across 101 countries

As Alberta and Canada’s premier and largest online university, AU’s commitment to widening access and participation has been consolidated under its current Like No Other Strategic Plan, which focuses on fostering a better and more equitable world via teaching, research, and impact in place and digital space.

Under the Like No Other plan, AU seeks to be a trust- and team-oriented workplace focused on quality and innovation in which everybody is respected authentically and is and feels welcome.

Putting our learners at the centre, AU seeks to reduce barriers to access, build opportunities for growth, and foster community and connection while integrating equity, diversity and inclusion, Indigenous conciliation, and transformative systems across our activities and impacts.

AU’s centre for Indigenous peoples and communities, Nukskahtowin (or “Meeting Place”), is a welcoming place for all people and ideas to come together. Since 2001, the main goal has been to recognise and develop traditional Indigenous knowledge and to support, protect, and keep Indigenous knowledge, education, and oral traditions strong. After the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we renewed our commitment to all forms of Indigeneity at AU.

Acting from values, AU is committed in our systems and practices to working together to create a respectful, safe, and healthy environment in which to work and learn. The university, staff and students share the responsibility of creating and fostering a safe, healthy, and respectful working and learning environment.

AU seeks to be and build a welcoming community and connection in place and digital space. Throughout the year, AU has a range of in-person, hybrid, and online activities that span working, team meetings, retreats, and staff celebrations. AU’s campus in Athabasca has been modernised over the past years to create an attractive and inclusive workplace for all people and teams with capacity for small to large gatherings and hybrid events, as well as portfolio, faculty, and organisation-wide professional development, retreats, and celebrations. With onsite library, laboratory and makerspace facilities for staff and students, AU seeks to build culture and community throughout the year through a programme of staff professional development and recreational activities.

Considerations in applying

A hybrid workplace, AU encourages applications from all eligible candidates—women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, persons of any gender identity and expression, and members of equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply.

AU is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible workplace and learning environment that supports students and staff with disabilities, aiming to remove social, physical, and technological barriers. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. We are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all candidates. If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail].

AU recognises that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness) are expected to have an impact on any candidate’s record of achievement. These impacts should be taken into consideration during the hiring process.

Athabasca First

Wherever possible, AU seeks to attract and hire qualified team members to reside in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada. We will offer relocation assistance for the right candidate should you decide to relocate to Athabasca. As a resident of the town or county of Athabasca, you can choose to work on and from our beautiful campus in Athabasca.

To discover the Town and Region of Athabasca, go to: Visit Athabasca.

What AU Offers

Benefits and Pension eligibility differs based on employee group and may include:

• Defined Benefits Pension Plan
• Alberta Health Care
• Extended Health Care
• Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Vacation
• Office Closure between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Discretionary Benefit Fund
• AU Course Allowance
• A Variety of Leaves (e.g., Maternity/Parental/Adoption, Compassionate Care, etc.)
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

An offer of employment is conditional upon verification of educational credentials. All educational credentials must be recognised in Canada.

E-Transcripts shared directly from your Post-Secondary Institution via email are acceptable.

WES https://www.wes.org/ca/ may be used to verify international educational credentials. Processing time for verification of international qualifications may take up to one month; please plan accordingly.

While all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. Where applicants have equal skills, abilities, and experience, candidates residing within or willing to relocate to the County of Athabasca will be given preference. Successful applicants must reside in Alberta, Canada. Working outside of Canada is not supported by AU. You are legally not permitted to work for AU if you are living outside of Canada.