Vice-President, External

Brock University; Golden Horseshoe; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious Canadian university in Ontario is seeking a Vice-President, External to lead external engagement strategies. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in government relations, advancement, and community partnerships, ensuring the alignment of the university’s strategic priorities. Strong emphasis will be placed on fostering relationships and enhancing the university's reputation. This role may require national and international travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in a large organization, ideally in post-secondary education.
• Experience with government advocacy and building relationships with community leaders.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and navigate complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead government and community relations initiatives to advocate for policies and funding.
• Oversee alumni engagement and fundraising strategies to strengthen financial sustainability.
• Enhance the university's reputation through strategic marketing and communications.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship-building

Political acuity

Exceptional communication

Commitment to diversity

Education

Graduate degree in public policy, business, communications, or marketing

Job description

Overview

Vice-President, External
Brock University, Niagara Region, Ontario

Brock University is seeking a collaborative, strategic leader to serve as its next Vice-President, External. This is a unique opportunity to shape and elevate the University’s reputation and relationships across government, community, alumni, and global partners. The successful candidate will lead an integrated portfolio focused on enhancing Brock’s visibility, influence, and support at the local, national, and international levels.

The University

Brock University is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with rich academic programs and world-class scholarship. Located on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement, with its main campus located in the historic Niagara region, Brock offers all the benefits of a young and modern university in a safe, community-minded region with beautiful natural surroundings. With more than 19,000 students in seven diverse Faculties, 600 faculty members, and over 124,000 accomplished alumni, Brock has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s top post-secondary institutions. The university continues to be an important regional presence and is about to open a new campus in Burlington, further growing connections to the community through this new, dynamic space.

Brock was recently named one of Canada\'s best employers for Company Culture by Forbes and ranked top 10 as one of Canada\'s Best Employers for Diversity in 2024, through an independent survey of more than 40,000 Canadian employees working for companies with more than 500 employees. Brock is also home to fourteen 3M Teaching Fellowship Award Winners, Canada’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in educational leadership and teaching at the post-secondary level, and eight Canada Research Chairs.

The Role

Reporting to the President, the Vice-President, External is a key member of Brock University’s senior executive team and is responsible for shaping and executing the institution’s external engagement strategy. This role brings together government relations, community partnerships, marketing & communications, event planning, advancement and alumni engagement, and donor relations into a unified portfolio designed to elevate Brock’s reputation, expand its influence, and attract support. The VP External plays a vital role in building and sustaining relationships that align with and advance the University’s academic, strategic, and civic priorities. The nature of this role requires occasional national and international travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Government and Community Relations – Lead proactive engagement with municipal, provincial, and federal governments to advocate for policies, funding, and initiatives that support Brock’s mission and strategic direction. Serve as a key liaison to regional partners and civic leaders, ensuring Brock remains an anchor institution in Niagara.
• Advancement, Alumni, and Donor Engagement – Oversee the development and execution of institutional fundraising strategies, including major gift and planned giving programs. Deepen alumni engagement and cultivate a culture of philanthropy that contributes to the long-term financial sustainability of the University.
• Marketing and Communications – Enhance Brock’s reputation and partnerships through strategic marketing, communications, and major events that engage the community, elevate the University’s brand in key markets, and foster partnerships aligned with Brock’s academic mission.
• Strategic Integration and Executive Collaboration – Align external affairs efforts across departments to ensure cohesive messaging, relationship management, and consistent institutional reputation-building. Collaborate closely with other members of the executive team to ensure external strategies reflect and reinforce Brock’s institutional priorities.

The Ideal Candidate

As the ideal candidate, you are a strategic and relationship-focused executive with a proven record of success in advancing organizational priorities through external engagement. You bring deep experience in one or more of the core portfolio areas (government relations, advancement, alumni engagement, marketing and communications) and are known for your ability to lead high-performing teams, build strong relationships, and navigate complex political and institutional environments with diplomacy and vision. You possess a strong understanding of the higher education sector and its potential within the Niagara region, as well as in national, and global settings. With a focus on collaborative leadership, you will bring innovative ideas to enhance Brock’s operations. You bring a high level of energy, capable of sustaining work at a high pace and outside of regular hours when needed.

Qualifications and Demonstrated Success:

• A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, business, communications, marketing) or equivalent combination of education and leadership experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively senior leadership experience in a large, complex organization, ideally in post-secondary education, government, or the non-profit/public sector.
• Relationship-building with government, community leaders, donors, alumni, or key partners.
• Advocacy at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, with a good understanding of best practices in public policy development.
• Leading advancement and donor engagement strategies, with an understanding of fundraising best practices.
• Building a high-performing team and fostering positive workplace culture.
• Working with governing bodies such as boards, councils, senates, etc.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic and integrative thinking, able to connect diverse portfolios and partners to institutional goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with a collaborative and diplomatic leadership style.
• Political acuity and sound judgment in navigating complex and high-profile environments.
• Excellent communication, public presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation in leadership and partnership-building.
• A passion for public education and a deep appreciation for Brock’s mission and community impact.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications on October 3, 2025.

Brock University recognizes that it is located on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. Today, Brock is the gathering place of many First Nations, Métis and Inuit— many of whom continue to live and work on its campus.

Brock University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including but not limited to women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation.

Support and accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities, upon request. Applicants in need of an accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process can contact [e-mail] or identify their needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.

Candidates interested in this opportunity should contact Abbey MacLeod at [e-mail], Kyle Steele at [e-mail], or Dr. Jennie Massey at [e-mail], or submit a full application package online at: https://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17546728271920000008knd