The Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic (AVPA) is seeking to fill the position of Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives for a two-year term (with the possibility of renewal). The Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives reports to the AVPA and is part of the leadership team in the AVPA office.
Responsibilities
The role has four primary areas of responsibility:
1. Leading the Academic Leadership Program (ALP), which helps academic leaders (chairs, directors of academic units, associate chairs, associate deans) and aspiring academic leaders, develop management and leadership skills, and expand their knowledge of policy and administration. This role includes:
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Leading the ALP's ongoing evolution to better meet the University's needs and strategic priorities;
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Collaborating with subject matter experts as well as leadership and administrators within units, departments, and faculties to deliver programming (e.g., workshops, lunch forums, and coffee chats);
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Seeking information and staying informed about current issues relevant to academic leaders by consulting the professional literature and shared best practices.
2. Leading, on behalf of the AVPA, projects undertaken in implementation of the University's strategic initiatives, such as Waterloo@100, Global Futures, and Academic Innovation Working Groups.
3. Contributing as part of the leadership team in the AVPA portfolio, playing a leadership role in the planning and evaluation of portfolio activities. This includes working with the leadership of the Teaching Assessment Processes (TAP) office, the Academic Quality Enhancement (AQuE) office, the Integrated Teaching Support Unit (ITSU), and staff in the AVPA office to identify project outcome measures and to collect and interpret appropriate data to assess them.
4. Serving as the AVPA’s designate on committees where a designate is an option and as a replacement at meetings when the AVPA is unable to attend.
Qualifications
Applicants to this role should be tenured or permanent faculty members who have held and been successful in an academic leadership role(s) and should:
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Be comfortable in a visible role, making decisions on behalf of the AVPA when needed, and providing leadership within the University;
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Have demonstrated an interest in working with faculty members and/or other professionals in a training, development, and leadership capacity;
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Have a track record that demonstrates skills relevant to planning, delivering, and evaluating a program
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Have a history of productive interactions with senior administrators, faculty, and staff at all levels
How to apply
Applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV (or summary of relevant achievements and experience), and a one-page description of their vision for the Academic Leadership Program via email to Alisa Sivak (alisa.sivak@uwaterloo.ca) by June 19, 2026. As part of the review process, the committee may seek endorsement from administrators who work with applicants.
Queries regarding this role can be directed to: avpacademic@uwaterloo.ca.