Senior Lead, Executive Education

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Temporary Librarian, Administrative and Professional Staff (TLAPO) Agreement , this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and an annual salary range of $67,731 – $112,811. This position has an initial appointment of 1 year.

Location – This role is hybrid, with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Alberta School of Business 

The Alberta School of Business is one of the world’s leading institutions in business education and research and is the first and longest continually accredited business school in Canada. We’re positioned to help shape the future of business with over 140 tenured, tenure track faculty and full and part-time academic teaching staff members who are at the forefront of cutting-edge research and innovative teaching. With 3400 students in our undergraduate program and 950 students in our graduate programs (including 58 PhD students), we are dedicated to fostering a welcome and supportive environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. We equip our faculty and students with the latest insights and tools to ensure students receive a transformative learning experience that prepares them for success in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Since 1916, the innovative ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership of the school’s more than 33,000 alumni have strengthened businesses and communities worldwide. We actively foster partnerships with local businesses, organizations and government agencies, allowing our students and faculty to address real-world challenges and contribute directly to the local and global economy. Our outreach programs extend beyond the classroom, empowering students to use their skills for the betterment of society.

At the Alberta School of Business, you’ll be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking community that values collaboration, inclusivity and continuous growth, making it an exceptional place to contribute your talents and expertise.

For more information about the school, please visit our website at: https://www.ualberta.ca/business.

Position 

Reporting to the Associate Dean, this role is a member of the senior leadership team of the Master’s & Executive Education Office. The Senior Lead is the key position responsible for leading and managing all Executive Education programs, providing leadership and strategic advice on all issues impacting Executive Education, setting direction for the program team, ensuring impactful learning programs are created and delivered, and building a growing business via accountability for all activities related to generating qualified leads for Executive Education programs. With the official closure of the Executive Education Office in 2020, a number of ongoing Executive Education programs transitioned under the Master’s Office at the Alberta School of Business, while others were immediately shut down. The Senior Lead position is a key role in building up the reputational and partnership capacity of the University and Faculty of Business, with hundreds of learners and dozens of Instructors impacted by the closure, and developing a strong vision for the future of Executive Education moving forward.

The Senior Lead is responsible for all aspects of Executive Education programming, including: development and implementation of business and strategic plans; development and management of all program budgets; growth in programming revenue through the growth in existing client relationships and launch of new programs through business development efforts; leadership and management of advisors / administrators who manage program logistics; managing client relationships; development of custom programs through needs assessment of clients, responding to appropriate RFP requests, as well as analysis of industry trends; management of partner relationships; recruitment, development and retention of instructors and faculty from universities, industry and government across North America; promoting and investigating opportunities for growth and expansion along new and existing lines of business; and leading the development of proposals for new custom business. The Senior Lead works collaboratively within the Master’s Programs & Executive Education Office, the Alberta School of Business, Online & Continuing Education, other University of Alberta partners, and Executive Education communities of practice to ensure research, ideas, insights, and best practices are shared and cultivated. The position will align the mission, vision and values of Executive Education with the U of A while meeting the needs of participants and communities.

Duties 

• Works with existing clients to ensure needs are being met with current program offerings, and to develop opportunities for new custom programs.
• Leads the development of proposals for new programs, both custom and open to meet the needs in the marketplace.
• Leads instructor management including recruitment, training, evaluating and providing feedback to instructors to achieve client and program goals. Has decision-making authority to remove instructors as necessary.
• Manages conflict resolution with respect to client dissatisfaction, instructor performance issues, or other matters.
• Recruitment, development and retention of instructors and faculty, various service providers and contracts with respect to marketing, eClass support, IT support, and other platforms, to ensure a high-quality learning program.
• Leads and supports Program Advisors in researching activities to gather information regarding industry trends to ensure Executive Education is on the leading edge of new program development.
• Promotes and builds awareness of Executive Education through ongoing networking and business development at events, seminars, trade shows and conferences, as well as membership at appropriate organizations / associations.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of the business development strategy, business plans and strategic plans to ensure overall programming and revenue goals are met.
• Accountable for meeting Executive Education performance objectives, and critically analyzes and evaluates Executive Education’s performance against the strategy, implementing changes as required.
• Develops marketing plans to ensure plan adequately markets and promotes all Executive Education programs.
• Responsible for monitoring budgets during program year to ensure efficiencies and maintenance of minimum margin targets, ensuring fiscal responsibility through the effective use of funds.
• Responsible for identifying and managing and developing all relationships and partnerships with external parties, as it relates to programming and growing revenue for Executive Education.
• Collaborate with instructors and faculty to provide innovative and state of the art executive programs.
• Negotiate rates of pay for instructors as well as all contract terms.
• Responsible for the leadership, management and development of the EE team which entails supervision of program advisors and administrators, as well as program Instructors.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a graduate degree in a related field, Master’s degree preferred. Equivalencies will be considered.
• Five to ten years of relevant experience in a senior level position related to the development of adult learning programs.
• Considerable experience in sales, marketing, business development, program development, program management, and/or account management experience.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of various organizational types and sectors, as well as broad knowledge of EDI and Indigenous issues as it relates to learning best practices.
• A proven record of accomplishment of building effective relationships is required.
• Experience and comfort in working with senior executives at organizations.
• Experience leading and managing a team is an asset.
• Well-developed skills and knowledge facilitating, creating, and delivering adult learning programs is required.
• Knowledge in adult education, corporate learning, and professional development including research, best practices, evidence-based decision-making, and assessment/quality assurance practices is required.
• A skilled leader who fosters agreement among team members and possesses visionary thinking.
• Knowledge of budget management (forecasting, preparation, monitor, and control), and negotiation best practices.
• Familiarity with higher education governance.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic thinker with proven success in implementing strategic plans.
• Demonstrates initiative, resourcefulness, problem-solving abilities, and results orientation.
• Proven project management skills.
• Creative in his / her ability to satisfy business needs.
• Organized, enthusiastic, innovative, and able to deal with ambiguity and tight deadlines while working effectively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to influence.
• Proficient in Microsoft software.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.