Reporting to the Senior Director, Institutional & Strategic Priorities, the Director, Institutional Programs is responsible for effecting change through institutional level policy and program initiatives. The overall purpose of this role is to challenge existing structures and facilitate culture change through transformative initiatives. The incumbent will lead the Policy & Program unit, working closely with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the university.  

The Director, Institutional Programs also provides advice on highly sensitive and confidential matters that are critical to the University. This role serves on university committees and working groups as an equity and anti-racism policy advisor and resource, providing leadership on major and cross-institutional priorities. 

Leads the Strategic Direction of the EDI-R Office’s Policy & Programs portfolio.

• Provides leadership and direction in developing long-term strategic plans for advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism across the University, consulting and providing expert counsel to senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students across the university on equity and anti-racism issues
• Engages with the University community to explore, understand and address equity and anti-racism matters, based on protected groups, including citizenship, race, place of origin, ethnic origin, colour, ancestry, disability, age, creed, sex/pregnancy, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and the intersectionality of these identities as they relate to faculty, staff, and students
• Represents the EDI-R leadership team, working closely with collaborating offices across campus, including but not limited to Indigenous Relations, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response, and Conflict Management and Human Rights, as well as other equity and anti-racism roles across campus
• Serves on University committees and groups exploring challenges and barriers of historically marginalized, excluded, and racialized communities
• Consults with senior decision-makers on a range of equity and anti-racism issues, ensuring the confidentiality and sensitivity of complex issues are appropriately managed
• Consults with the Inclusive Communications team in the development of equity and anti-racism communications for a variety of purposes
• Maintains a high-level of understanding of best practices in equity and anti-racism issues
• Builds strong relationships with students, staff, and faculty to solicit input on key equity and anti-racism initiatives

Program Development, Review & Implementation

• Assesses, recommends, and develops new strategies, initiatives, events, and programs to identify and remove systemic barriers to underrepresented groups, promote a culture of equity and anti-racism, and build engagement within the campus community
• Responsible for the oversight of the planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting annually on cross-institutional priorities
• Employs Project Management approaches to ensure that equity and anti-racism strategies, events and initiatives are effectively and efficiently managed, including monitoring of information, logistics and progress, and reporting on project deliverables
• Develops and assesses strategies to support equitable access to teaching, and learning, and to develop and review University practices, programs, and procedures with an equity and anti-racism lens
• Maintains a strong understanding of the current literature and the legal and legislative frameworks related to equity and anti-racism, and conducts related research (e.g., literature reviews, needs assessments, data collection and analysis)

Policy Development, Review & Implementation

• Leads the development and review of institutional policies from an equity and anti-racism lens
• Research and analyzes existing policies to identify areas for improvement or gaps in addressing equity and anti-racism issues
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders such as faculty, staff, students, and campus groups to gather input and feedback on proposed or revised policies
• Ensure new and revised policies are in alignment with legal requirements, institutional values, and best practices in EDI
• Monitor progress and outcomes of policy implementation efforts and contribute to strategies as needed
• Establish processes for regularly reviewing and evaluating institutional policies
• Prepares reports and presentations on policies and outcomes for internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership and governing bodies

Risk Management & Record Keeping

• Performs regular internal audits to ensure compliance with and efficacy of policies and procedures
• Monitors risk strategies to ensure they remain relevant and effective
• Maintains database of risk management activities and outcomes
• Provides regular reporting to the Senior Director related to risk management activities
• Ensure compliance with all record keeping requirements and confidentiality guidelines
• Assists with the coordination of regular campus audits, consultations, and policy reviews and revisions in conformity with university requirements

Leads, manages, motivates, and coaches staff

• Leads the Policy & Programs unit
• Hires, manages, and deploys staff to productively meet unit’s goals and objectives
• Coaches, trains, and develops employee(s) to assure growth and development
• Conduct Annual Performance Plans with direct report(s) and ensure adherence to Annual Performance Planning and Review process within the department

• Master’s degree required in a relevant area of study, preferably with a focus on human rights, diversity, equity and anti-racism and inclusion or acceptable combination of education and experience
• Experience in progressively senior positions addressing, leading and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within a research-intensive, or post-secondary environment or similar complex organization
• Experience in project management and proven ability to align work priorities and realize strategic goals
• Experience implementing and enforcing corporate equity and anti-racism policies
• Staff management experience including a track record of performance management with direct reports
• Experience leading and supporting largescale change initiatives, mentoring, and leading a team of professionals
• Demonstrated understanding of the historical, social, economic, legal, and political context underlying equity and anti-racism and anti-oppression movements in Ontario
• Significant experience working with stakeholders with competing interests and limited knowledge/expertise in equity and anti-racism
• Significant knowledge of, and demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racism, anti-racism, decolonization, critical race theory (CRT), Black feminist thought/theory, anti-oppression, and a track record of demonstrably addressing equity and anti-racism issues at a large, decentralized, and complex university or institution
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans and institutional-wide programs
• Experience effecting organizational change, including policy, procedural, practical, cultural, and behavioral change
• Experience, and demonstrated ability to build partnerships, collaborate and consult meaningfully with racialized, marginalized, and excluded communities
• Experience in developing equity and anti-racism related education, policies, and programming
• Experience developing and managing corporate budgets
• Expert-level political acuity and strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated strong understanding of equity and anti-racism, intersectionality, decolonization, inclusion, anti-oppression, the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Anti-Racism Act (as well as other relevant legislation), and the application of those terms, frameworks, and legislations in an institutional context
• The professional confidence and communication skills to effectively engage community members on what can often be contentious or delicate issues
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Ability to work on confidential and sensitive matters with tact and discretion
• A high level of interpersonal skills and the capacity to listen effectively and sensitively to a broad range of diverse stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff members
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Office programs, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and/or other data content management systems, quantitative and qualitative research design, and
• methodologies

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.