Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Job Description

Date Posted: 02/20/2026

Req ID: 46988

Faculty/Division: Vice-Provost, Students

Department: Student Experience

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number:

Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us:

Student Life connects life to learning. We believe every student should have the opportunity to actively participate in university life, and to find connection and community while discovering new ways of thinking and being in the world. We provide resources, support and engagement opportunities that are inclusive and accessible, making sure every student can build experiences that set them up for a lifetime of success.

Student Experience supports Student Life, and its units, to ensure that staff have the necessary tools and resources to effectively deliver programs, services, and resources. Student Life portfolios include, Student Life Programs & Services, Health & Wellness, and the Centre for International Experience. Student Experience also provides institutional support and leadership on large-scale assessment and projects that enrich the student experience. Units directly within Student Experience include, the Office of the CAO; Student Life IT; Student Life Communications; Student Crisis Response, Progress, & Support; Assessment & Analysis; Innovation Hub; and Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships.

To align with our strategic priorities, we encourage individuals from the Black, Indigenous, and the racialized community to apply.

Your opportunity:

Under general direction of the Executive Director, Student Experience, the Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships provides management, coordination, advice and expertise on a wide range of operational activities related to intra- and interdivisional coordination of initiatives. The incumbent participates on various committees and provides support to senior management to ensure that collaborative initiative objectives, agreements and commitments are in place, are adhered to and met; works with working groups and committee chairs by prioritizing work, advising on process, organizing and supporting initiatives, and managing project goals;works with Communications to share information to the university community on initiatives and activities related to collaborative processes.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing overall project design
• Developing charter, scope, resources and schedule for project(s)
• Planning and implementing project phases
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
• Reviewing and assessing requirements needed to meet project timelines
• Informing project leaders of issues and roadblocks
• Monitoring project accounts
• Directing a small group in a limited area, including responsibility for scheduling and/or workflow

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience in student affairs and project management.
• Minimum six years of relevant experience in the areas of organizational planning and managing complex projects involving inter-and-cross divisional partners.
• Experience with project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to work across difference, finding resolution when conflicts arise and generate participation.
• Computer skills required (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, leadership skills, demonstrated ownership of work.
• Ability to work with diverse groups, strong interpersonal skills and political acumen, ability to build and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Critical thinking and process management skills.
• Ability to make sound recommendations, handle conflicting priorities and build consensus.
• Effective collaboration, influencing, and persuasion skills and able to operate well as a project member in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, taking full accountability for assigned tasks and commitments.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet strict deadlines.
• Flexibility in managing changing priorities in a large and complex environment.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Diplomatic
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Persuasive
• Team player

Note: This is an approximately 14-month term position.

Closing Date: 03/03/2026, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW

Appointment Type: Budget - Term; This is an approximately 14-month term position.

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 15 - $97,348. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $124,491. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Recruiter: Fiona Chan

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

A job description is available upon request