Job Description

Position Information

Position Title

Assistant Vice-President Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging

Department/Unit

People and Culture

Location

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Posting Number

S170-25

Employee Group

EXAD

Position Type

Regular, On-Going

Duration of Contract (if applicable)

Employment Type

Full Time

Full-time Equivalency (FTE)

1.0

Salary

Classification

Provisional Statement

About Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada's leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region's intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary

The Office of Equity and Inclusion provide leadership, builds capacity, and encourages collaborative action to advance sustainable, systemic, and structural change that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in all dimensions of the mission, culture, and operations of Dalhousie University. The office works with senior leaders and colleagues to make a collective impact in educating, preventing, and addressing a wide variety of equity issues and at all levels in the institution.

In keeping with Dalhousie's continued commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility initiatives, we invite applications for the position of

Assistant Vice-President (

AVP

) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility (

EDIA

) and Belonging

.



Reporting directly to the Vice-President, People and Culture (VP) and working in close collaboration and partnership with senior leaders within People and Culture and across the institution, the AVP will set the strategic vision for EDIA and then translate that strategy into tangible outcomes. The AVP will ensure the successful implementation and coordination of initiatives and programs, and embed EDIA principles into university policies, practices, and culture. The AVP will also work closely with the Provost and Vice-President Academic and other academic leaders to establish EDIA goals and strategies related to Dalhousie's academic mission and student experience.

The AVP provides leadership for Dalhousie's Employment Equity unit and program, the Accessibility, Accommodation and Wellness unit as well as fosters education and community engagement across the institution.

As a senior leader, the AVP will play a critical role in fostering a culture of belonging by championing equity, inclusion, and psychological safety across all levels of the organization. The AVP will be responsible for shaping and implementing policies, programs, and structural changes that support an inclusive workplace environment where individuals feel valued and empowered. This includes driving organization-wide learning initiatives, embedding inclusive practices into business strategy, and modeling inclusive leadership. The AVP will collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify barriers to inclusion, measure progress, and ensure accountability for sustained workplace culture change.

Key Responsibilities

Key priorities for

AVP

EDIA

& Belonging will include:

Translating the strategic vision set in collaboration with the VP into actionable initiatives that advance EDIA across the university with clear, measurable goals and metrics to track the implementation of EDIA initiatives and assess impact. Developing an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging strategy for the university, establishing and maintaining clear governance structures for EDIA work across the university, and promoting accountability and consistency. Providing leadership and support for unit staff, fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment, and developing unit workplans, strategies, and deliverables for the unit. Building and maintaining strong relationships with students, staff, faculty, and community partners, particularly from equity-deserving groups. Fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and collaborative problem-solving within the campus community by engaging regularly with EDIA committees, caucuses, Associate Deans in the Faculty responsible for EDIA, and advisory groups to ensure alignment and coherence of EDIA efforts. Serving as one of the primary spokespersons for the university on EDIA-related matters, developing communication strategies that highlight EDIA successes and ongoing challenges, and fostering campus-wide awareness and engagement while maintaining visibility and transparency.

Note

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a respected leader with a strong inclination towards strategy, program, and policy development. A commitment to inclusive leadership and the ability to navigate complex institutional systems will be crucial to this role. While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is expected to meet all criteria equally, the following qualifications will guide the assessment process.

Bachelor's degree required; a combination of comparable education and/or professional experience may be considered. Demonstrated leadership in delivering equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives within complex institutional settings. Strong operational planning skills, with the ability to execute long-term vision through practical and measurable actions. Proven experience in relationship-building, collaboration, and fostering inclusive environments. Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences through clear, accessible, and persuasive messaging. Expertise in policy, program, and strategy development. Demonstrated commitment to anti-oppression, social justice, anti-racism, and community-centred approaches to leadership. Collaborative conflict resolution skills and transformative leadership practices that foster growth and build leadership capacity within the team and with colleagues. Experience with budget management, improving efficiencies. Experience navigating internal and external challenges in EDIA advocacy and leadership. High emotional intelligence, self-awareness, diplomacy, and the capacity to manage conversations in a constructive and respectful manner.

Assets

Graduate degree will be considered a strong asset. Experience leading and developing equity programs in an academic environment. Involvement with accessibility programs and accommodations. Familiarity with wellness initiatives and/or employee benefits programs. Ability to work within the intersectionality between programs, policies, and communities. Experience working with Mi'kmaq and African Nova Scotian communities. Track record in developing metrics for evaluating EDIA initiatives and communicating progress effectively.

Job Competencies

Like all senior leaders at Dalhousie, the AVP, EDIA and Belonging will be expected to demonstrate the

core

and

leadership

competencies that make up the Dalhousie Competencies. Of particular interest to the committee will be the following competencies:

Respect & Inclusion Thinking and Acting Strategically Relationship Building Communication Change and Innovation

Additional Information

A complete application will include a full CV and cover letter describing how you meet the selection criteria, why the appointment is of interest, and what you believe you can bring to the role. To be considered, please submit your application by October 26, 2025.



For more information and to review the more detailed position brief, please contact the leadership recruitment team at

exec.search@dal.ca

.

Application Consideration

To be eligible for this position, you must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed below. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups, please visit

www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi'kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit

www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity

If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed

here

.


Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies

1

Open Date

09/08/2025

Close Date

10/26/2025

Open Until Filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicant

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting

https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/19590