Lead, Campus Centre Opening Initiative

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT); Calgary; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LAPP pension

Health benefits

Tuition support

Fitness facilities on campus

Job summary

SAIT invites a seasoned leader to spearhead the Taylor Family Campus Centre Grand Opening. You will coordinate a high-visibility, institution-wide initiative, aligning alumni, donors, students, staff, industry partners, and community members to deliver a memorable opening.

This role demands strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and flawless execution to set a bold direction for SAIT's next chapter.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Project Management, Marketing or other.
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, event management, communications, advancement, stakeholder engagement, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of the TFCC Grand Opening program.
• Develop and manage project plans, budgets, timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and stakeholders across the institution.
• Facilitate working groups, manage project communications, and foster collaborative relationships.
• Oversee the delivery of a multi-event opening program including ceremonies and donor recognition.
• Collaborate with internal partners to ensure seamless event logistics and promotion.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Strategic thinking

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Opportunity

Job classification: P2083 - Business Development Manager

Salary range: $110,000 - $118,000. Placement within the range is typically based upon a review of skills, experience, and internal equity.

Hours per week: 37.5

Paid leave: 4 Weeks Vacation / 14 Flex Days per year

Position End Date: December 31, 2027

Deadline to apply: 4:00PM on August 21, 2026

The opening of the Taylor Family Campus Centre (TFCC) represents a landmark moment in SAIT’s history, and we are seeking an exceptional individual to help bring it to life.

As Lead, Campus Centre Opening Initiative, you will have the unique opportunity to shape and deliver the official introduction of one of the most significant developments in SAIT’s recent evolution. It is far more than an event management role. It is a chance to lead a highly visible, institution-wide initiative that will define how students, alumni, industry partners, donors, employees, and the broader community experience the campus centre for years to come.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Alumni & Stakeholder Relations, and working closely with senior leaders, key partners, and the TFCC Grand Opening Steering Committee, you will orchestrate a coordinated opening program that celebrates SAIT’s vision, honours the contributions of supporters and donors, and creates memorable experiences that inspire pride and connection across the institution.

From ceremonial milestones and donor recognition events to student, alumni, industry, and community engagement activities, you will bring together multiple streams of work into a seamless and impactful launch. You'll also help incorporate SAIT111 as a complementary program element, creating an added opportunity to honour SAIT's rich history while looking ahead to its BOLD future.

This role is ideal for a strategic project leader who thrives on complexity, influence, and execution. You'll have the opportunity to lead a high-profile initiative with lasting visibility, build relationships across a broad stakeholder network, and leave a tangible mark on SAIT's legacy.

For the right candidate, this is a career-defining opportunity: a chance to lead a once-in-a-generation opening, work with an exceptional team, create experiences that will be remembered long after the celebrations conclude, and contribute to a pivotal chapter in SAIT's story.

How You'll Contribute

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of the Taylor Family Campus Centre (TFCC) Grand Opening program, integrating SAIT111 as a complementary initiative.
• Develop and manage project plans, budgets, timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure successful program delivery.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and stakeholders across the institution to align priorities, deliverables, and implementation activities.
• Facilitate working groups, manage project communications, and foster collaborative relationships to support project objectives.
• Oversee the delivery of a multi-event opening program, including official ceremonies, donor recognition activities, student and alumni engagement initiatives, and community-focused events.
• Collaborate with internal partners to ensure seamless event logistics, production, sponsorship activation, and on-site execution.
• Support stakeholder engagement strategies involving donors, alumni, students, staff, industry partners, community members, dignitaries, and Indigenous partners.
• Partner with Communications & Marketing to align messaging, media activities, and promotional plans with program objectives.
• Manage vendor, contractor, and production partner relationships, ensuring effective budget oversight and issue resolution.
• Prepare project updates, reports, briefing materials, and recommendations for senior leadership and steering committees, while supporting post-event evaluation and transition activities.

What You Bring

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Project Management, Marketing or other
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, event management, communications, advancement, stakeholder engagement, or a related field within a post-secondary institution, large public-sector organization, or similarly complex environment
• 1-2 years in a Supervisory role

Skills

• Exceptional project management, planning, and execution skills
• Strong ability to remain calm, decisive, and solutions-focused in high-pressure environments
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders without direct authority
• Strong community, relationship-building, and student-focused mindset
• Strategic thinker with exceptional attention to detail and strong follow-through
• Proven ability to work effectively in complex, fast-paced, and highly visible environments
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Skilled at balancing strategic priorities with operational execution and delivery objectives

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. We understand how important communication is, and we are committed to following up with every candidate. Please know that each application is thoughtfully reviewed, and you will hear from us either way.

Together, we build bold futures

At SAIT, We Equip You With The Resources You Need To Shape Bold Futures For Yourself And Our Communities. We Offer a Comprehensive Package Including

• Defined Benefit pension through LAPP to help you retire with confidence
• Generous time off to pursue other passions and support your wellbeing
• SAIT paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision benefits so you, and your family, are well supported
• Access to a Health Spending or Taxable Spending Account
• Benefits supporting mental health and access to Greenshield + for virtual therapy at a reduced rate
• Professional development opportunities through our Free Seat Program, tuition support, access to LinkedIn Learning and discounted Continuing Education & Professional Studies courses
• Excellent dining options on campus
• Free access to our fitness facilities and group fitness classes

About SAIT

At SAIT, we’re building bold futures. We’re a community of tenacious problem-solvers, inventive thinkers, and passionate collaborators who believe in doing work that matters.

Named one of Alberta’s Top Employers, we’re driven by a desire to create an impact in our community. If you’re looking for a place where purpose meets possibility, you’ve found it here.

We’re committed to community and belonging

Community and belonging is essential to achieving SAIT's vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about Community and Belonging at SAIT.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.