Manager External Engagement

University of Guelph; Guelph; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, is seeking a Manager, External Engagement to strengthen the School of LANG's profile and impact. This role reports to the Director of Business Operations and collaborates with LANG leadership to connect alumni, donors, employers, and partners.

The successful candidate will lead external engagement strategy, partnerships, events and measurement, while guiding a team and aligning with university priorities.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in business or related field or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Progressive experience leading external engagement, event planning, marketing, communications or partnerships in a complex org.
• Proven success developing audience-focused strategies advancing organizational priorities.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing, writing and presentation skills.
• Experience leading teams/projects, managing competing priorities and overseeing budgets.
• Strong judgement and analytical skills, with experience using digital tools and performance data to guide decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a multi-year external engagement and event plan aligned with LANG and University priorities.
• Build and steward relationships with alumni, donors, employers, community leaders, and external partners.
• Lead initiatives to elevate LANG’s brand, reputation and impact in business education.
• Develop engagement and communications approaches supporting student recruitment and fundraising.
• Provide strategic leadership for high-profile School events with measurable outcomes.
• Establish KPIs, monitor budgets and resources, and report to Dean and senior leadership.
• Lead, coach and develop staff and student employees; foster a collaborative culture.

Skills

Relationship-building

Written communication

Presentation skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Analytical skills

Digital tools

External engagement

Event planning

Education

Undergraduate degree in business or related field

Job description

Location: Guelph, ON, CA, N1G 2W1

Primary Category Page: Staff and Management

Division: Gordon S Lang School of Business and Economics

Requisition ID: 2933

Department: LANG - Office of the Dean

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph.

General Purpose

The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is seeking a strategic, collaborative and results-oriented Manager, External Engagement to strengthen the School’s profile, relationships and impact. Reporting to the Director of Business Operations and working closely with the LANG leadership team, the Manager will advance LANG’s strategic priorities, enhance its reputation and connect the School with alumni, donors, employers, community partners and other key audiences.

Duties and Responsibilities

• External engagement strategy: Develop and implement a multi-year engagement and event plan aligned with LANG and University priorities, with clear objectives, audiences, measures and timelines.
• Partnership and relationship development: Build and steward productive relationships with alumni, donors, employers, business and community leaders, professional associations, government and other external partners.
• Brand and reputation: Lead initiatives that elevate LANG’s distinctiveness, academic excellence, research impact and “business as a force for good” positioning.
• Recruitment and advancement support: Develop engagement and communications approaches that support student recruitment, fundraising, donor stewardship and LANG’s academic programs.
• Events and experiences: Provide strategic leadership for high-profile School events, ensuring strong objectives, consistent branding, effective stakeholder coordination and measurable outcomes.
• Measurement and insight: Establish key performance indicators, monitor budgets and resources, evaluate results, and provide recommendations and reports to the Dean and senior leadership.
• Team leadership: Lead, coach and develop staff and student employees; establish priorities, support performance and foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture.

Requirements

• An undergraduate degree in business or a related field along with at least three years’ experience with event management, administrative management, and communication management in a fast-paced office environment or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Progressive experience leading external engagement, event planning, marketing, communications or partnership development in a complex organization.
• Proven success developing audience-focused strategies that advance organizational priorities.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing, writing and presentation skills.
• Experience leading teams and projects, managing competing priorities and overseeing budgets.
• Strong judgement and analytical skills, with experience using digital tools and performance data to guide decisions.

Employee Type: Regular

Position Number: 10928408

Classification: P&M FT- Band 04

Professional/Managerial Salary Bands

• Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 09/17/2026

Closing Date: 09/24/2026