Strategic Engagement & Experience Design Lead

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 94,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management seeks a Strategic Engagement and Experience Design Lead to oversee student engagement and the Business Design Initiative. You will manage budgets, coordinate a team, and build partnerships with industry and academic partners to elevate student experiences and promote design leadership.

The role requires an MBA with human-centered design focus and extensive relationship management experience across diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• MBA with a focus on human-centered design; familiarity with Rotman’s Business Design methodology is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead Student Engagement and BDI’s Community of Practice.
• Manage Administrative & Communications Assistant, budgets and planning.
• Serve as primary contact for BDI matters; develop programs with industry partners.
• Collaborate with Academic Director to design programs elevating student experience.
• Participate in advisory boards and committees; build relationships across internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Budget management

Negotiation

Strategic leadership

Education

MBA in Human-Centered Design

Job description

Date Posted: 09/14/2026
Req ID: 50167
Faculty/Division: Rotman School of Management
Department: Joseph L. Rotman School of Management
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Strategic Engagement & Experience Design Lead

Description:

The Rotman School of Management is part of the University of Toronto, a global centre of research and academic excellence at the heart of Canada’s commercial and financial capital. Rotman is a catalyst for transformative learning, insights and public engagement, bringing together diverse views and initiatives around a defining purpose: to create value for business and society. We make a fundamental promise - Here’s where it changes - to our students, our partners and the broader community. Everyone at Rotman, faculty and staff, plays a role in bringing that promise to life.

Business Design is Rotman’s approach to learning and acting in innovative ways using human-centered design methods. It allows current and future leaders to learn about what both customers need and stakeholders want. Rotman’s Business Design Initiative (BDI) encompasses all design-related education and community engagement activities. BDI’s mission is to integrate business design into the business school curriculum in order to position Rotman as a leader in business design education and to increase the competitiveness of our students seeking industry roles.

Reporting to the Academic Director of the Business Design Initiative (BDI), the Strategic Engagement and Experience Design Lead is responsible for leading Student Engagement and BDI’s Community of Practice. The incumbent is accountable for all administrative functions related to the BDI and its performance including management of the Administrative & Communications Assistant, budgets and planning, and is the primary contact for all matters relating to the BDI.

TheStrategic Engagement and Experience Design Lead will work to understand the needs of BDI’s student stakeholders and will collaborate with the Academic Director to design programs that elevate their experience at Rotman and create meaningful connections with industry partners. They will also keep a pulse on shifts in the business design space in industry and develop programs that continue to position Rotman/BDI as a thought leader in business design and human centered innovation. The role is involved with all co-curricular program design, development and management. The Strategic Engagement and Experience Design Lead will be participating in advisory boards and committees. The incumbent must develop and maintain strong and productive relationships across varied constituent groups both internally at Rotman and at other faculties.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

An MBA with a focus on human-centered design is required or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A deep understanding of a range of design methodologies for business innovation and human-centered design and familiarity with Rotman’s Business Design methodology is an asset.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 5 years of industry related experience in business design or related fields such as service design or customer experience (CX). Candidates must have worked directly with senior management across multiple stakeholders and can demonstrate experience in developing strong partnerships and alliances, relationship management, contract negotiations/development. Experience with managing employees.

SKILLS

Superior interpersonal and communication skills are required to manage BDI’s relationships with highly diverse and demanding community of both internal (including students, faculty, university administrators, staff and alumni) and external (corporate partners, other academic institutions, professional associations) stakeholders.

Strong financial management skills including budget preparation, variance analysis and cost reconciliations.

Strong negotiations, critical thinking, political acumen, persuasion and contract development skills

OTHER

Ability to demonstrate maturity, professionalism and empathy, and be able to adjust their engagement style to meet stakeholders’ needs.

Strong strategic leadership with the ability to define vision and priorities, governance structures, organizational design and resource plans.

Independent decision-making, problem finding and creative problem solving.

Entrepreneurial leadership with the ability to create and execute new initiatives.

Self-motivated and confident with sound judgement and keen diplomatic skills.

NOTE

This is a term position ending June 2028.

Closing Date:09/22/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:PM 3 -- Hiring Zone: $93,592 - $109,190 -- Broadband Salary Range: $93,592 - $155,985
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building aculture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectivelyaddress and serve the interests of our global community. Westrongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples,Black and racialized persons, women, persons withdisabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment toequity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverseperspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential tostrengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail] .