Provost & Vice President, Academic - Competition ID: 4824

Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Surrey; Hybrid; CAD 183,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health & dental benefits

Pension plan

Tuition waiver

Professional development

Job summary

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) seeks a transformative Provost and Vice President, Academic to lead our multi-campus academic mission. This senior officer will shape academic planning, research, and teaching excellence while aligning priorities with workforce relevance and community impact.

The Provost will mentor a diverse leadership team, guide equity, diversity & inclusion efforts, and collaborate with government and industry to advance KPU’s polytechnic identity.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with senior leadership experience in higher education.
• Experience leading large academic portfolios, governance, and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for academic planning, faculty relations, and research strategy.
• Oversee budgeting, resource allocation, and cross-campus governance.
• Partner with deans, senate, and external partners to advance academic priorities and outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Excellent communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Doctorate degree

Job description

For Inquiries Related To This Position, Please Contact

Evita Gandhi

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is Canada’s only polytechnic university, proudly serving the South Fraser region for more than 40 years. With campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Langley, and Cloverdale, KPU is deeply connected to the communities it serves and to the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences of its students. Through academic excellence, applied learning, innovation, and strong industry and community partnerships, KPU prepares students for meaningful futures.

As an open-access university, KPU is powered by the people who live and work here. We believe every employee plays a meaningful role in supporting student learning and success. We are honoured to carry the name of the Kwantlen First Nation and are committed to equity, inclusion, reconciliation, and respectful relationships. As one of BC’s Top Employers, KPU is dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaged workplace where employees feel valued, connected to purpose, and empowered to make an impact.

We invite you to explore your next career opportunity at KPU and discover how your work can contribute to a university where thought truly meets action.

Competition ID: 4824

Internal Closing Date: Open Until Filled

External Closing Date: Open Until Filled

# of Openings: 1

Salary Information: 19 – Administrative Salary Grid - $182,817 to $280,319

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Travel Frequency: Frequent travel between campuses is required.

Employee Group: Administration/Management

Reporting directly to KPU’s President and Vice Chancellor, the Provost and Vice President, Academic is the University’s senior academic officer, providing leadership for academic programs and services, applied research, faculty relations, and the broader educational mission.

Working collaboratively across the University, the Provost will lead the development and implementation of KPU’s Academic Plan, champion exceptional student learning experiences, and advance KPU’s identity as Canada’s only polytechnic university. The successful candidate will bring a compelling vision that connects academic excellence with workforce and community relevance, expands access while ensuring educational quality, and links applied research and innovation with experiential and work-integrated learning.

As Provost And Vice President, Academic, You Will

• Serve as the President’s principal advisor on academic matters, contribute to KPU’s executive leadership and strategic direction, keep the President informed of significant academic matters, and act on their behalf when required.
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing advancement of KPU’s Academic Plan, aligning academic priorities with the University’s vision and strategic objectives.
• Provide executive leadership across Faculties and Schools, teaching and learning, applied research and innovation, and library services, fostering collaboration across campuses, academic units, and administrative areas.
• Champion exceptional student learning experiences through the development, evaluation, and renewal of high-quality, relevant, and responsive programs, curricula, and services, advancing innovation in teaching, instructional delivery, and educational technology.
• Advance applied research and innovation that strengthen teaching, learning, scholarship, and KPU’s polytechnic mandate.
• Collaborate with Senate and its committees on academic priorities, policies, programs, curricula, and governance; support the Board of Governors and its committees and implement Board decisions within the academic portfolio.
• Lead and mentor a diverse academic leadership team, establishing clear goals and empowering leaders while working with Deans and academic leaders to recruit, retain, develop, and support outstanding faculty and employees.
• Partner with the Office of Planning and Accountability, Deans, FSO, International, and other institutional leaders to support sustainable domestic and international enrolment.
• Lead academic resource planning, including program profiles, operating and capital budgets, and responsible resource allocation across the academic portfolio.
• Support effective employee and labour relations by applying KPU’s collective agreements and partnering with Labour Relations and academic leaders on complex workplace matters.
• Represent KPU with government ministries, post-secondary partners, school boards, and community organizations, and through provincial, national, and international initiatives.
• Ensure that anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion inform the institution’s decision-making and positively impact cultural and learning environments, and support the implementation of KPU’s Task Force on Anti-racism, the Accessibility Plan, and the EDI Action Plan.
• Foster strong relationships with Indigenous leaders and communities and guide KPU’s implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action; the President shall support the development and implementation of KPU’s Indigenization Strategy.

What You Bring

You are an accomplished and forward-thinking academic leader with demonstrated credibility as an educator, scholar, and senior administrator. You bring a deep understanding of the complexity of leading within a university environment and the proven ability to balance academic values, institutional priorities, governance, financial stewardship, and the changing needs of students and communities.

You are a principled, collaborative, and consultative leader with exceptional communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills. You inspire confidence and foster a culture of accountability, innovation and shared purpose. With demonstrated success leading organizational change in large, complex institutions, you bring strong change management capabilities and the ability to navigate uncertainty and guide people through significant transitions. You are a leader with integrity, sound judgment, transparency, and respect, and a proven track record of building trust, fostering meaningful engagement, and the ability to build consensus while navigating organizational challenges. You bring people together across academic and institutional boundaries to advance KPU’s mission and strengthen its distinctive polytechnic identity opportunities.

We’re Looking For Someone Who

• Holds a doctorate and brings a minimum of 10 years of progressive, relevant post‑secondary leadership and administrative experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Brings five to seven years of university faculty experience and strong academic credibility demonstrated through excellence in teaching and scholarship.
• Has held significant academic leadership responsibilities, ideally as a Provost, Vice President, Dean, or in a comparable senior academic leadership role.
• Has experience working within a complex, unionized public‑sector environment.
• Brings comprehensive experience across the responsibilities of a senior academic portfolio, including academic planning, budgeting and resource allocation, Senate and academic governance, faculty recruitment and development, and program planning.
• Has successfully led the development and implementation of an Academic Plan and translated institutional strategy into clear academic priorities and outcomes.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead significant organizational change, engage diverse communities, and mentor and develop senior leaders, through a collaborative, transparent, and inclusive approach.
• Understands the role of applied research within a teaching‑focused polytechnic university and the supports required to strengthen applied research and innovation.
• Brings deep knowledge of pedagogy, educational leadership, academic administration, and emerging trends in post‑secondary education, learning design, and technology.
• Has strong business and financial acumen and supports evidence‑based decision‑making, accountability, and responsible resource stewardship.
• Has demonstrated success working collaboratively within a multi‑union environment and navigating complex labour and employee relations matters.
• Understands and can articulate the distinctive value of polytechnic education, connecting academic excellence and intellectual inquiry with applied learning, workforce relevance, and community impact.
• Is an exceptional communicator and listener with an accessible, consultative leadership style and the diplomacy and judgment required to navigate complex institutional issues.
• Demonstrates a high level of integrity, credibility, sound judgment, political acuity, and resourcefulness.
• Understands Indigenous perspectives and priorities, with experience advancing decolonization through curriculum, policy, teaching, learning, and the broader work of the University, while demonstrating a sustained commitment to reconciliation.
• Demonstrates intercultural understanding and a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.
• Is deeply committed to students, their learning, and the transformative role of post‑secondary education.

The Location

KPU is a multi‑campus institution. The Provost Office is located on Surrey campus, however, frequent travel between campuses will be required.

Total Rewards

• extended health and dental benefits
• healthcare spending account
• generous vacation package
• defined pension plan
• parenthood top‑up
• sick leave
• long‑term disability
• life insurance
• professional development days
• tuition waiver
• in‑house training & development
• inter‑campus transportation
• and more

Note: Eligibility requirements apply, benefits may vary depending on the employee group the position belongs to and whether the position offered is temporary or part‑time.

Visit https://www.kpu.ca/hr for more information on KPU’s workplace, culture and total rewards.

Note to Applicants

Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomes and encourages applications from equity deserving groups and diverse experiences including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community.

If there are any barriers that you are experiencing or an accommodation that we can provide to support you through the application process, please reach out to us at [e-mail].

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of employees, students, and the general public, and upholding the reputation and integrity of the University. For this reason, final applicants will be asked to undergo a background check.

We thank all applicants for their interest in employment with KPU. Only candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada will be considered; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.