Date: Jul 10, 2025
Location: Waterloo, CA
Company: Wilfrid Laurier University
Department: Library
Job Type: Continuing
Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year)
Campus: Waterloo
Reports to: University Librarian
Employee Group: Management
Application Deadline: 07/21/2025
Requisition ID: 10062
Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.
Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier’s Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier’s Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Administrative Officer (SAO) is a strategic leader and advisor to the University Librarian who ensures that the Wilfrid University Library is well positioned to realize its strategic goals and priorities. As a member of the Library Executive Team (LibExec) and reporting directly to the University Librarian, this position provides strategic advice, as well as administrative and planning support to the University Librarian.
As the senior administrative staff position in the Library, the SAO is accountable for the effective management of administrative operations, financial and human resources in support of the strategic priorities of the Library. The incumbent provides leadership and support for special projects and strategic initiatives, for development of administrative policies and procedures and is the key contact with various administrative offices at the University, with Physical Resources regarding space related matters, with Human Resources and Health and Safety. S/he oversees various security-related functions including policy direction for access and security systems within the Library. The SAO is a member of the Library Management Group (LMG) and works closely with the Library Executive Team (University Librarian and Associate University Librarians), Director of Communication and Cultural Programming, Director of the WLU Press, Library Department Heads and Managers.
The incumbent works closely with counterparts at TriUniversity Group of Libraries (TUG) and Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) Libraries in support of TUG and OCUL shared services and resources as appropriate for the role.
The position supports continuity during Library leadership changes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• a university degree;
• 6 or more years of progressively responsible experience in a comparable environment, including strong financial, human resource management and operations experience;
• experience in an academic library setting is strongly preferred;
• experience with developing and overseeing budgets and strong financial management expertise;
• knowledge of human resources; proven ability to work effectively in a complex unionized environment; experience with recruitment processes for a wide range of academic, technical and administrative functions, preferably in an academic library setting;
• knowledge and understanding of the University organizational structure, including its governance and decision-making processes;
• knowledge of academic library organizational structures and processes is strongly preferred;
• demonstrated leadership skills and ability to mentor and develop staff in a unionized environment;
• strong organizational, decision-making, strategic planning and project management skills;
• advanced problem-solving skills; ability to analyze and streamline complex processes with a strong focus on results
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal);
• knowledge of Excel, and financial reporting systems;
• experience and knowledge of academic library systems, functional relationships and procedures is strongly preferred;
• knowledge of health and safety regulations and best practices as these pertain to science environments, including but not limited to the Ontario Health & Safety Act and Regulations;

Please refer the Job description for details