Director, Admissions and Student Services
About Queen’s University
Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.
We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
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Job Summary
Reporting to the Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (VP/DSGSPA) and working as part of the SGSPA leadership team, the Director, Admissions and Student Services, provides strategic leadership with respect to admission, enrolment, student awards and student services. The Director, Admissions and Student Services, is responsible for policy and service development and leads a team of employees in delivering efficient and effective customer service to prospective and current students, and staff and faculty at the university. The incumbent provides guidance and expert advice to the SGSPA leadership team and the broader University community on policy and procedures that reflect the strategic direction and goals of the University. This position works in close collaboration with diverse key partners including other University departments, and external partners.
As the functional subject matter expert on policies and practices for graduate studies across the university, the Director works with key partners across the university to develop recommendations for system and process enhancements to optimize support for graduate recruitment, admissions, student records and registration functions.
The Director is a data governance leader for graduate studies and promotes the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of graduate student data in central and local systems. The Director provides, analyzes and interprets student data for academic leadership across the institution and, as the Freedom of Information Privacy Protection Act (FIPPA) contact for graduate studies, provides expert advice on privacy protection and support for fulfilling requests under Act.
The Director is the Academic Integrity Administrator for the SGSPA, responsible for providing advice and required documentation to instructors, maintaining records, and submitting an annual report, as required in the relevant University Senate procedures.
The incumbent plays a role in the University’s efforts to enhance equity, diversity and inclusivity, while contributing to the shared mission of supporting and engaging students in safe and meaningful ways.
Job Description

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Graduate degree in a relevant field from a recognized university is required
• Ten years demonstrated experience working in a related field such as graduate admissions and registration, student awards, or other related fields.
• Proven management, leadership and relationship building experience with demonstrated skills in organizing, motivating and directing professional staff and colleagues, and working effectively with senior leadership.
• Knowledge and experience in change management is required.
• Progressive management and leadership experience in a complex, service-oriented environment; proven experience with graduate student services would be an asset.
• Experience in graduate education administration and strong knowledge of Queen’s University policies, governance structure, and organization is an asset.
• Experience in implementing complex academic policies in collaboration with a variety of campus constituencies
• Strong understanding of the higher education sector is an asset.
• Experience in leading cross-functional collaboration and relationship management with key partners to align institutional priorities.
• Significant experience in discretionary decision-making
• Significant experience with complex student information systems and various computer applications that support student records and registration, admissions, awards and related functions.
• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills
• Strong background in managing group dynamics, conflict resolution and team building
• Ability to develop strong relationships among members of diverse groups
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills to work collaboratively with other professionals, constituents and key partners
• Strong capacity to persuasively communicate and build consensus at all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively in team situations, both within and across departments and with other organizations, to achieve optimal collective results
• Excellent analytical, reasoning and problem-solving skills including the ability to identify, analyze and propose solutions for existing issues as well as an ability to anticipate challenges
• A successful track record in leading complex programs and initiatives, and the ability to set and meet strategic, financial, and operational goals
• Ability to organize and co-ordinate diverse tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner, meeting multiple external and internal deadlines, often with competing and changing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to resolve crisis situations, dealing with moderate to highly complex issues
• Ability to leverage discretion and judgment to deal with confidential matters in a professional and tactful manner
• Extensive ‘change management’ and administrative skills with the ability to adapt to and implement new technologies, policies and systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse student body and commitment to intercultural development, equity, diversity, inclusivity, and indigenous initiatives
• Ability to demonstrate respect, dignity and integrity in interpersonal relationships and to demonstrate positive personal coping and wellness strategies
• Commitment to exceptional customer service
• Strong technical acumen in the effective use of student information systems and current technologies to improve business processes and delivery of services in higher education
• Ability to interpret and apply a broad range of institutional policies and procedures.
  Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement
  The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.
  The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.

SKILLS

• Collaboration
• Policy Interpretation
• Process Analysis

• Develop, lead and implement strategies for services that meet the needs of constituents and reflect the strategic direction of the University and the goals of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
• Lead a team of operational staff that ensures services and programs are responsive to graduate student needs.
• Convene and serve on university committees for key operations that support graduate community.
• Provide advice with respect to local, provincial, national and global trends and issues impacting graduate recruitment and admission.
• Advise Faculty/School admission committees about graduate policies and procedures and ensure that admission policies and procedures are coordinated and implemented consistently and appropriately across the University.
• Collaborate with the Director, Finance and Administration in analysis of and activities related to the tracking, measurement, and reporting of application, enrolment, and graduate student funding trends.
• Develop, measure, and maintain policies that aim to diversify the graduate student population.
• The incumbent provides expert input into proposals for new and modified programs, and as a member of SGSPA and University-wide committees that review and establish policies concerning graduate students.
• Manage effective communications strategies and responses with respect to graduate studies at the university.
• Provide advice with respect to graduate exchange programs and support other global opportunities for graduate student learning.
• Oversee graduate student funding from awards and endowments and for administration of all internal and external graduate level funding competitions.
• Work with the Office of Advancement and the relevant Senate committee to develop and revise terms of reference for graduate level awards.
• Establish and maintain relationships with representatives from other academic institutions, government agencies and other external parties to promote and support the graduate portfolio of the university.
• Serve on a wide variety of internal and external standing and ad hoc committees to support the graduate community and ensure graduate student perspectives are included in all applicable initiatives.
• Promotes a culture of inclusion, with a commitment to the university’s equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.
• Build and maintain relationships campus-wide that support a common vision and awareness of graduate studies and graduate student success and wellbeing.
• Responsible for the academic calendar of the SGSPA.
• Plan, prioritize and manage the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identify the need for staff resources, participate on staffing committees, and make effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manage performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assess staff training and development needs and ensure that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigate, address and resolve employee/labour relations issues, including disciplinary matters. Make decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge and probationary termination.
• Foster and support the creation of a team environment, promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Leads or provides oversight of projects from concept through completion, ensuring alignment with SGSPA strategic goals and priorities.
• Other duties as required in support of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.