Director of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning
Overview
The Director of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning is responsible for the strategic direction, planning, and implementation of initiatives out of the Office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL). The Director will lead the ongoing development and implementation of an operational plan to build on Lakehead’s teaching and research vision, mission, and values to include new, ancillary programming for both the Simcoe County and Thunder Bay communities that are aligned with the Lakehead University’s Strategic Plan EvoLUtion (2025-2030). The Director will coordinate a team of employees, students, and volunteers across both campuses to facilitate community partnership building, program co-creation and delivery of continuing education and elevating the brand of Lakehead University.
Responsibilities
- The Director will work to identify, build, and strengthen community relations with a large variety of community members and organizations by creating and facilitating innovative continuing educational opportunities that address social responsibility, economic development, workforce development, and third age learning.
- The Director will serve as one of Lakehead’s primary community contacts, sitting at varied multidisciplinary roundtables in community to ascertain municipal and regional direction and industry needs. This regular presence in community will cultivate and maintain relationships that will stream opportunities for engagement, including dissemination of research, developing, highlighting, and inviting talent, and opening the doors to new and responsive learning opportunities.
- The Director will collaborate with the Deputy Provost, Office of the Principal, Research and Innovation, Careers and Co-op, Alumni Relations, International, Advancement, and other offices where necessary, when programming is identified that responds to these emerging regional needs for flexible continuing studies delivery, upskilling, and industry demand.
- The Director will coordinate various teams in order to strategically initiate and maintain community connections, develop and deliver responsive programming, and create marketing to ensure optimal promotion and access.
- The Director will enable diverse communities from across Lakehead’s vast and unique regions to connect with Lakehead through programming that not only strengthens and creates local, regional, and possible international partnerships, but also foregrounds social responsibility, upskilling and cross- skilling, and lifelong learning.
- As a member of the Lakehead senior management team, the Director will inform and drive strategic continuing studies on the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses, including growing community engagement, philanthropy, economic development, and ancillary revenue generation.
- The Director will lead the financial and resource management administration for CELL, ensuring the department is well-positioned as a key contributing and revenue-generating unit of the University.
Qualifications
- Post-secondary education at a graduate level in a related field; Business, Public Relations, Communications, Education, or Cultural studies.
- Minimum 5+ years of experience teaching at the postsecondary level, preferably in a university environment.
- Minimum of 5+ years of experience working in a leadership role, preferably within post- secondary in the field of education, fundraising, special event planning, volunteer engagement, business, economic and/or community development
- Possess a keen understanding of university models specific to continuing education and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrated excellence in cultural awareness skills, fostering inclusive relationships, and navigating cross-cultural environments with strong skills in diplomacy and the ability to interact and liaise with individuals from all levels within an organization.
- Demonstrated leadership ability and management skills (i.e.. Human/financial resource management) required, with demonstrated interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated acuity assessing and managing risk, focusing on reputational risk, confidentiality and tact/diplomacy.
- Strong verbal and communication skills to communicate in a professional manner at a high level, including providing briefings to Senior Executives of the University, including a high level of comfort with large groups and diverse populations.
- Demonstrated experience in project management, including budget development and human resource management.
- Knowledge of local community structures, economic development goals, industry needs, and political environments.
Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.
Lakehead University has a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of underrepresented groups among applicants, candidates, and hires. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups, is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
We appreciate your interest; Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343-8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.