Provost and Vice-President, Academic

The Provost and Vice-President, Academic (“Provost”) is the most senior Vice President and plays a pivotal role at UFV, taking responsibility for the development of excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and service. In addition to the traditional duties associated with the role, the Provost is also responsible for integrated planning and operational coordination to ensure educational and research programs, faculty and staff recruitment, career development, support services, policies, practices, standards, and resource allocations are aligned with the University's values, vision and prioritized goals. A key aspect of this position is the Provost’s contribution toward establishing UFV as a place of learning that recognizes, respects, supports and includes diversity and Indigenous ways of knowing. The Provost works closely with the President to provide leadership and direction to other members of the University's senior team, including other Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, and Directors.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a visionary post-secondary leader to help take a thriving institution to the next level. Although UFV is a on sound fiscal footing given the broader Canadian post-secondary context, the Provost must nevertheless balance fiscal responsibility with the need to support key initiatives, including a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and EDI, that will continue to allow UFV to grow and thrive. They should understand that as a teaching intensive university with strong commitments to its regional communities, UFV recognizes scholarship in teaching and learning, and promotes applied research initiatives that connects directly with the Fraser Valley.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning:

• Champion, implement and deliver on an exciting vision and strategic plan;
• Clearly identify and articulate the value proposition of UFV’s academic enterprise;
• Identify innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for UFV to support the evolving economy;
• Develop and lead comprehensive plans to address priorities and key performance indicators; and
• Provide strategic input into UFV’s goals to become fully Indigenized, with Indigenous worldviews permeating classwork, recreation, ceremonies and programs, while managing internal engagement at UFV in this process to ensure that the community recognizes and respects this commitment.

Academic Planning:

• Oversee and lead the implementation and evolution of the Strategic Enrolment Management Plan;
• Maintain collaborative relationships with other post-secondary institutions and the wider community;
• Promote and properly fund Indigenous education and reconciliation; support diversity and Indigenization in the curriculum; and
• Lead the process to strategically integrate the breadth of UFV’s programs, aligning with the future vision.

Leadership:

• Lead and support all members of the Provost’s Cabinet reporting into the Provost position;
• Influence the development of new undergraduate, graduate and research programs, keeping Indigenization, EDI, and community needs top of mind;
• Work closely with other VPs and Senior Executive Team Members to ensure student support and success;
• Keep UFV’s degree programs at the forefront of learning through work on the President’s administrative leadership team; and
• Leveraging a horizontal leadership style, foster an inclusive and respectful environment that is committed to supporting the needs of a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Student Success:

• Understand and champion the diverse and changing needs of students;
• Support the implementation of institutional mechanisms that assist students in aligning their academic pursuits with viable and fulfilling career trajectories; and
• Encourage a community that will support diverse students, learners and faculty and will offer a more fulfilling university experience; enable a student-ready university.

THE PERSON:
The Provost should be a visionary leader who possesses the collaborative skills, presence, and wherewithal to inspire UFV’s communities and partners. The Provost comes from an academic background, leading at both the strategic and operational levels, convening partner groups inside and outside of the institution to achieve great things. Leading transparently and with humility, they should live with a sense of integrity that aligns with UFV’s mission as a teaching-intensive university and have experience operating in a bicameral governance structure. Meaningful engagement with Truth and Reconciliation, and equity, diversity and inclusion is expected. The Provost should possess the business acumen, innovative spirit, global view, agility, and forward thinking required to guide the academic divisions of the institution through growth and evolution.

Professional & Personal Qualifications
The successful candidate will have:

• A solid teaching and research profile, a doctoral degree, and a proven track record of outstanding leadership and administrative experience within a post-secondary institution;
• Proven ability to develop a clear and compelling academic vision with a track record of follow-through to implementation and execution;
• A deep understanding of the realities of Indigenization and reconciliation in a post- secondary setting;
• A passion for education and appreciation of the changing nature of the higher education landscape;
• A record of fostering academic excellence and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring a commitment to quality in teaching and learning, and research and scholarship;
• Experience in effectively managing complex financial and budgetary information, and related decisions;
• A reputation for inclusive, collaborative, empowering, and enlightened decision-making, combined with the ability to make difficult decisions and deliver results;
• A commitment to sustainability in all areas of responsibility within the portfolio;
• Familiarity with the principles of integrated planning in an academic environment, with demonstrable and transformational change management skills; deep understanding of SEM is important;
• Champions the strength of inclusion and diversity and the value it brings to the academic environment;
• The ability to lead and inspire change that enhances the total student experience;
• An understanding of the varying interests of academic units and sensitivity to the broad range of viewpoints in the UFV community;
• Willingness to establish a strong rapport with and be welcoming and accessible to students, staff, and faculty, coupled with the ability to work collaboratively with members of the senior leadership teams across UFV’s campus locations;
• Experience leading teams in a unionized environment is a strong preference, as would a track record of facilitating constructive labour relations;
• Experience in a transformative role at an organization marked by creativity, and success;
• Excellent communication, planning and interpersonal skills, combined with the ability to cultivate a team environment, delegate appropriately and motivate and engage staff; and
• The ability to work effectively with the Board and balance governance and management responsibilities.

UFV welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and will assist the institution to expand its capacity for diversity. UFV encourages applications from equity seeking groups; these include women, persons with diverse gender expressions, persons of all sexual orientations, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons. However, all qualified people are encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION:
A competitive compensation package will be provided including an attractive salary and excellent benefits. Further details will be discussed in an interview. The salary range is $179,232—$274,822, with a maximum hiring level (control point) of $238,976.

To apply, please visit our website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nick Lay or Tony Kirschner
LEADERS INTERNATIONAL
#880—609 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5
Phone: (604) 688-8422
Email: [email protected]