Manager, Academic Operations, Whitby Campus

The Manager works in conjunction with the Executive Dean/Principal, Dean, Associate Dean, General Manager CFF and all departments and academic schools at Whitby. This position is the primary conduit for bringing together any and all stakeholders to effect the best possible solutions for all students, staff and partners. While primarily supporting the strategic vision for the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology (START) and W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF), it also has frequent interactions with other academic schools, Facilities and service areas. The Manager provides a key resource in the development of programs and partnerships; ensuring that new and refreshed capital purchases and equipment are in place to meet student and staff needs; leading faculty and staff of the School in planning, securing resources for existing and new programs; implementing and evaluating activities related to academic operations; ensuring service to students, and fiscal management. The Manager represents the Schools both internally to the College and externally to the various stakeholders, partners, government officials and other high-ranking guests. The Manager also serves as part of the institution’s administrative team through active participation in various institutional planning, implementing and evaluating activities.

Project Management and Coordination

• Work with the Executive Dean/Principal, Dean, Associate Dean, General Manager CFF, Facilities & Ancillary Services Directors/Managers, on capital projects that impact the Whitby campus. Provide leadership on projects throughout the year related to academic program projects, repairs, maintenance and replacements when required.
• Works within college and ministry guidelines and budgets for capital acquisitions and construction projects supporting the schools. Ensure all projects are completed on time and within budget. Ensures that procurements are managed responsibly, effectively and ministry reporting targets are met. Also work within the college’s procurement policies and guidelines, such as minimum number of quotes, etc. along with adherence to the Broader Public Sector laws.

Financial Management

• Provides financial resource management for various capital budgets. Accountable for budget maintenance and develop strategies to access resources for capital acquisitions. Prepare annual budget forecasts, projections and capital project proposals.
• Prepare budget report and recommendations for review by dean/principal compiling all requests on a priority basis, presenting to academic leadership and then finalizing long and short lists for submission to college’s capital planning process. Responsible for ensuring all approved contracts are acted upon and in place according to the agreed upon terms.

Human Resources Management

• Provide leadership and supervision to Technician/C of Q Technologist teams who are critical to ensuring all academic labs and classes are fully equipped and operation optimized.
• Manage staff and provide leadership within the department. Accountable for recruitment, training, ensuring staff is following health and safety guidelines and performance management. Requires active understanding of the Collective Agreement, employment standards, and consultation with HR as required.
• Juggle multiple needs in multiple programs. Understand industry requirements, COQ, ensure labs are equipped and meet the needs of students and professors. Consider health and safety factors in setting up labs. Ensure staff is current in their training for prepping labs.

Facilities and Equipment Management

• Provide leadership, effective communication, motivation, initiative, diplomacy, forward thinking, problem solving assistance, and make decisions related to Whitby Campus housekeeping, health and safety, grounds, equipment repair and facility maintenance personnel, to ensure a clean, risk free and healthy environment for students, staff and visitors.
• Apply organizational and decision-making skills to support faculty with prioritization of activities pertaining to academic learning space requirements and equipment for skilled trades and apprenticeship, culinary, hospitality and horticulture program areas. Ensure customer/stakeholder needs are met through excellent customer service.
• Provide leadership in off-site logistical preparation for academic programs to ensure curriculum delivery. Prepare contracts and provide input to RFP’s.

All Campus Administrative Management

• Work with all campus community and external stakeholders regarding on-campus events, ensuring policy and procedures are being followed.
• Identify issues, Health and Safety concerns, resolving issues with workplace operations to mediate concerns and arrive at formal or informal resolutions so all members of the campus community have the supports and resources needed. This position serves as a campus triage in problem-solving, working closely with Facilities, academic schools and service areas, often at the same time.
• Manage other related items such as bio-hazardous waste, metal recycling, chemical inventory, GHS compliance, asset maintenance and donations as required.
• Monitor campus risk management issues by ensuring that all associated insurance-related negotiations, documentation and communications are completed by required deadlines including liaison with appropriate college departments.

The successful candidate will have knowledge of the skilled trades disciplines, along with at least two years of working within a college environment. The successful candidate will have leadership, administrative and project management skills with proven capacity to handle tremendous detail and balance multiple functions at any time. The incumbent will possess exceptional communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills, excellent time-management and organization skills, and will be competent at setting goals and achieving objectives. They will display the ability to cope with a demanding workload, to remain calm and focused while under pressure, and will be able to deal with a wide range of individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs. The incumbent will have skills in conflict resolution and be an advocate for staff, students, programs and the College as a whole.

The successful candidate will hold a minimum of a three-year diploma or degree in Business Administration or an area of study that would cover Resource and Facilities Management and/or Operations Management, along with minimum of five years progressively responsible leadership experience including project management and budgeting, as well as direct supervisory responsibilities. Project Management Professional (PMP) designation is considered an asset.

Durham College policy requires employees be available for on campus work. In addition, there is currently a requirement to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend our campuses. College policies are listed here.

Required Skills

$86,568 – $108,209

Required Experience

Whitby Campus

Please apply below by submitting your cover letter and resume to the online portal. Job Competition closes at 4pm on Friday March 11, 2022. Competition number AD22-06.