Job Description

Director, External Relations and Strategic Projects

Primary Purpose: The Director of External Relations and Strategic Projects will serve as a confidential advisor to the Dean. The Director will be strategic in effectively and efficiently coordinating both the external relations and engagement portfolio and the strategic projects profile by maximizing on opportunities to intersect the IDEAS project components with the comprehensive campaign. Within the scope of the External Relations Portfolio, the Director will develop and execute strategic and effective engagement activities and is responsible for holding the strategic focus set by the Dean and the VP University Relations for the external relations team in the college of engineering and delivering these priorities within available resources. Within the scope of Strategic Projects, the Director will provide effective strategies for an integrated engineering facility and lead initiatives that support the unique objectives and operational requirements of the IDEAS Building. Nature of Work: Reporting directly to the Dean, the Director will be responsible for identifying opportunities to build relationships and develop shared initiatives that support and advance the university and college of engineering strategic goals. The Director will develop close working relationships across the college and engineering leadership team and the applicable central university shared services \xe2\x80\x93 University Relations and Facilities. Versatile and adaptable, the ideal candidate will have an ability to navigate seamlessly between different working styles. The Director will proactively engage with College leaders and Faculty to understand their needs and opportunities, and bring focus and organization to moving plans forward. Well-versed and effective in both strategy and execution, the Director will bring a strong customer-service mindset and attention to detail. This role bridges across several disciplines, all which have a major value added and revenue generating potential for the college with disparate disciplines and expertise and very different disciplinary cultures and values. Navigating the tensions and synergies between these disciplines and an ability to uplift their complementary strengths is a critical skill set. This position will provide oversight to the College of Engineering External Relations Team and under the direction of the Dean (or designate) of the College of Engineering, will provide oversight on initiatives that support projects related to the IDEAS building plan and execution, particularly where doner funds are being leveraged to move the IDEAS project forward. The external relations team manages the lifecycle of engagement from recruiting and admissions, to building affinity and a culture of philanthropy and gratitude within our student body, to alumni relations, donor relations, and development and stewarding of major gifts. There is a cycle of events and communications throughout the year and it is critical for the effectiveness of this highly integrated team that there be line of sight on scope of work and coordinated workflow. High standards and a culture of commitment to the team must be balanced against making time for high impact strategic planning and capacity building initiatives. A key deliverable will be keeping the dean\xe2\x80\x99s strategic goals present for the team, and keeping the very real constraints of time, resources and the need to prioritize in line of sight for the dean. Close communications and collaboration with the office of the VP University Relations will be a key accountability. Typical Duties or Accountabilities: External Relations:

• Work with the Dean and across the external relations portfolio to coordinate implementation of plans for student recruiting and marketing, community engagement, alumni engagement, donor relations, and fundraising priorities. Identify goals, monitor outcomes, and identify course corrections when necessary. Advise the dean on direction and planning.
• Ensure appropriate budgets and resources are in place to achieve fundraising, campus- and community-connected initiatives, and activities goals.
• Determine the annual cycle of workflow for the External Relations team in the College of Engineering to ensure alignment with strategic direction.
• Collaborate with, encourage, support, coach, develop and mentor others who may or may not have formal reporting responsibilities to the portfolio so that the college builds on an existing culture of welcoming donor, alumni and stakeholder engagement. A byproduct of these activities is to build a sense of community and uplift morale within the college.
• Provide a high level of support to the Dean, ensuring that the development and tracking of all fundraising materials (e.g., gift agreements, proposals, cases for support), donor correspondence, briefings, impact reports, and event plans stay on track.
• Ensure members of the team are appropriately engaging and/or consulting internal stakeholders in the planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns and major events
• Provide coaching and performance feedback to members of the external relations team, supporting professional growth and development and managing performance as appropriate.
• Regular briefings to the dean are an essential part of the role

Strategic Projects (IDEAS building planning and execution):

• Act as the liaison between the college/unit and Services Centres of Excellence (Facilities, Enterprise Project Management Office, Infrastructure Planning and Land Development, etc) on major donor funded projects related to the IDEAS building renewal and expansion. This includes space liberation and clearing in preparation for key renovations;
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with a variety of constituents across campus, including college and support centre staff, central office colleagues, and service centre partners to ensure success and acceleration of IDEAS project initiatives in meeting the college\xe2\x80\x99s, unit\xe2\x80\x99s, and university\xe2\x80\x99s strategic and operational goals;
• Leading and/or participating in projects to advance excellence in donor funded deliverables and reporting the tools and supports delivered by Facilities to colleges and units across campus;
• Work collaboratively with specialist groups in our Services Centre of Excellence: Facilities, Enterprise Project Management Office, and Infrastructure Planning and Land Development, to help achieve facilities and space strategies for the IDEAS Building;
• Monitor progress on approved projects and initiatives, ensuring the services provided by service centre partners (i.e. Facilities, Enterprise Project Management Office, and Infrastructure Planning and Land Development) are timely, accurate and effective;
• Present and convey accurate information and data to ensure financially viable and sustainable decision-making and problem-solving;
• Ensure that college/unit space utilization is aligned with the university\xe2\x80\x99s space framework;
• Support the Facilities SBA portfolio from a leadership perspective and support the Facilities SBA on Capital Projects.

Qualifications:

• A relevant university degree, along with a minimum of five (5) years\xe2\x80\x99 experience in a complex and dynamic environment with multi-purpose facilities;
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered.
• PMP certification is considered an asset

Experience: The successful applicant will have familiarity with the full range of external relations roles and an appreciation for their role in the context of a large college but will not normally be a specialist in any of these areas. The focus of this role is to focus the team on high performance and impact, while ensuring there is a structure to deliver daily deliverables and accountabilities, a high standard of client care, and meaningful balance within the team.

Skills:

• The ability to influence outcomes and provide guidance to project management decisions unique to a college or unit;
• Excellent facilitation, conflict resolution, analytical, problem solving, and communication skills to provide strategic supports and guidance
• The ability to work collaboratively, build relationships with internal and external partners, and manage multiple demands to meet deadlines;
• Experience working within a multi-reporting organizational structure is an asset;
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications and a high level of attention to detail are required.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues (including cultural, socio-economic and other factors) affecting Indigenous peoples and an awareness that Indigenous engagement is a strategic priority at the university;

Strong internal candidate Department: College of Engineering-DnOffce
Status: Term 12 months with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $79,448.00 - 132,331.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Managerial
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 3
Posted Date: 2/22/2023
Closing Date: 2/28/2023 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus
The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where \'Yes\' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver\'s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable Please review the University of Saskatchewan\'s health and safety requirements for faculty, staff and students in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. The University of Saskatchewan\xe2\x80\x99s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the M\xc3\xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and M\xc3\xa9tis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.