Associate Vice-President, Student Services

University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa

Ottawa, ON, Canada · Kanata, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Posted on Jun 30, 2026

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Posting Reason:

Replacement of a regular position

Job Type:

Employee

Job Family:

Administrative Upper Management

Faculty/Service - Department:

Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs

Campus:

Main Campus

Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/06/29

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/07/28

The University of Ottawa, founded in 1848, is the largest French-English bilingual university in the world – a crossroads of cultures, languages and perspectives that drives new ideas.

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, the Associate Vice-President, Student Services exercises strategic leadership and operational oversight in order to plan, implement and evaluate services, business and partnership opportunities that provide high-quality, revenue-generating and cost-effective services to the University community, particularly students. The incumbent is responsible for integrating student services into an overall vision for student life, enhancing the student experience and the engagement of the entire University community.

The Associate Vice-President, Student Services ensures continuous improvement of the student experience while providing strategic direction to Student Wellness (Residence Life, Student Health and Wellness Centre, Academic Accommodation), Client Relations (Housing and Residences, Food Services, Conventions and Reservations), Recreation and Varsity Sports. Client Relations encompasses the business side of student residences, including room allocation and the management of residence partnerships. The incumbent develops and implements strategies to meet community needs and ensure the financial sustainability of services, infrastructure, and initiatives. The incumbent focuses on improving student services, measuring student satisfaction, and managing performance, risk and partnerships.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the incumbent plays a significant role in developing University strategic and operational plans and leads initiatives and change management related to campus-wide ancillary services. The incumbent works closely with the Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs in supporting the student experience, and with the Vice-President, Finance and Administration and the broader portfolio — including the Associate Vice-President, Facilities and the Chief Investment Officer — on key matters and major projects including student housing development project, financial sustainability, campus development, performance and quality assurance, and internal and external engagement.

Education

  • Graduate degree in a relevant discipline
  • MBA would be considered an asset

Experience

  • Fifteen years of progressive business management experience in an environment of similar scope, complexity and dynamism, including change management
  • Experience working in an academic or postsecondary environment
  • Experience in setting and implementing long-term strategic direction for business units and establishing policies and protocols that support service excellence while leveraging existing resources
  • Extensive experience in planning major projects with broad organizational impact
  • Experience in providing expert advice to senior management
  • Significant experience in building partnerships with business leaders to improve existing partnerships and develop new business opportunities
  • Experience in leading self-funding, revenue generating business units
  • Leadership experience related to human and financial resources

Skills and personal suitability

  • Demonstrated ability to translate university requirements into business capabilities that improve the overall student experience
  • Demonstrated ability to promote various business priorities and mediate conflicting demands, needs and interests
  • Excellent overall leadership ability
  • Strong analytical skills and strategic-orientation ability
  • Strong negotiation skills (external and internal)
  • Facilitation and consensus-building skills; strong team-building skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Complete fluency in French and English (spoken and written)

If you believe you have the profile we are seeking, please submit your application (CV with a cover letter explaining your interest) via Workday no later than 27/07/2026 at 11:59 pm. All information received will be treated in the strictest confidence. While we appreciate the interest of every candidate, only those selected for the next step in the process will be contacted. The selection process will begin immediately after the closing date and will continue until the position is filled.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We are at our best when everyone has a seat at the table, and when we are made to feel like we belong. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. We welcome applications from Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In keeping with Citizenship and Immigration Canada requirements, all qualified persons are invited to apply. However, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes.

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at vra.affairesprofessorales@uottawa.ca. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.