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Employment Posting:
Manager, Quality Assurance and Program Innovation

Employment Type:
Full-time Administrative
Department
Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research
Employment Definition (Status)
Full-time Administration
Wage Grade
SL 6
Supervisor
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Job Description:
Manager, Quality Assurance and Program Innovation
Closing Date:

With the development of a new Strategic Plan, Nipissing University invites applications for the position of Dean, Arts and Science. Reporting to the Provost, Vice-President, Academic, the Dean, Arts and Science is a key member of the University’s senior management team and plays a pivotal leadership role in the development of the liberal arts and science programming and research at Nipissing University. The successful incumbent will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of the Arts & Science programs, contributing to the ongoing growth and development. The new Dean will be tasked with rebuilding and reorienting the department to meet the evolving needs of our students and community. The department of Arts & Science consists of 24 programs with a faculty of 85 members.

Nipissing is seeking an established scholar and intellectual leader with excellent administrative and interpersonal skills, and the ability to provide energetic and dynamic leadership across the academic breadth of the Faculty of Arts and Science. The new Dean will promote innovative research and teaching across all disciplines, will promote the faculty inside and outside the university, and will foster and develop partnerships to meet the educational, research and innovation agenda of the University and the North Bay region.

The ideal candidate will hold a minimum of a doctoral degree in a relevant field along with at least five years of progressively responsible management experience in a university environment.  The ideal candidate will have demonstrated accomplishments in a senior university administrative role, with superior analytical, organizational, managerial, and leadership skills, with the ability to see the bigger picture for the long-term benefit of the Faculty and the University.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest outlining your leadership philosophy and curriculum vitae by 4:00 p.m. on May 3, 2024 and should be emailed to careers@nipissingu.ca. The ideal start date for this position is July 1, 2024.

Duties and Responsibilities

Quality Assurance 60%

  • Support the Provost and Vice-President, Academic in providing leadership to the institution concerning the implementation of the Quality Assurance Framework and by acting as an ambassador for academic quality and an institutional culture of continuous improvement.
  • Work collaboratively with Faculties to implement the Institutional Quality Assurance Protocol (IQAP) and other related processes.
  • Ensure the timely and appropriate review of academic units and their programs are in line with the highest academic standards and IQAP including the selection of appropriate peer reviewers, the submission of full implementation plans, the drafting of accurate and appropriate materials for governance, timely reporting and appropriate accountability.
  • Coordinate the internal approval process for the progress and final reports by ensuring sign-off by all appropriate stakeholders as well as proper internal governance approval while following the review timelines and schedules.
  • Ensure the University’s structures, rules, regulations and guidelines support quality, minimize risk and are consistent with the Quality Assurance Framework for Ontario and other relevant policies.
  • Support the Provost and Vice-President, Academic in ensuring the University’s compliance with the IQAP and preparedness for audit under the Quality Assurance Framework for Ontario.
  • Highlight any issues, concerns or deficiencies with program submissions to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic.
  • Ensure the review process and requirements conform to high standards.
  • Develop intimate familiarity with the Quality Council’s Quality Assurance Framework and Nipissing University’s Institutional Quality Assurance Protocol (IQAP) and procedures.
  • Maintain an up-to-date schedule of reviews and results and communicate with the appropriate academic leaders to ensure timely submissions while providing sufficient time for review and revisions.
  • Participate on and advise the Academic Quality Assurance and Planning Committee (and other relevant university committees) as a non-voting member.
  • Serves as the University’s primary contact for provincial quality assurance and with the Quality Council of Ontario.
  • Ensure the office serves as a central repository of accurate records of program accreditation.
  • Maintain contact with peer institutions to support discussion of best practices.
  • Oversees development and delivery of an annual quality assurance workshop for academic leaders and administrative departments.
  • Oversee and coordinate the academic planning process with the faculties.
  • Prepare and regularly update proposal templates for new programs.
  • Act as a first point of contact for new program proposals by providing expert advice throughout the approval process.
  • Provide updated environmental scans of labour market trends and analyses to new program proponents for inclusion in the new program proposal.
  • Track new program and major modification activity.
  • Maintain and update the Quality Assurance webpage as part of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic’s website.

Academic Program and Curriculum Changes 25%

  • Coordinate and serve as the primary contact for information on governance approval process of proposals or revisions to academic programs, degree and program requirements, and academic policies and agreements.
  • Act as primary contact for academic leaders and administrative colleagues concerning particularly complex proposals and initiatives.
  • Convene and generate conversations across academic units to ensure the development of the best programs and the most resource sharing of information, best practice, and program architecture.
  • Advise administrative staff and academic administrators on proposals for new degree programs, graduate diplomas, collaborative programs, and combined degree programs, changes to existing programs including graduate courses and decisions to close program across their life-cycle including governance approval, external oversight and Ministry of Colleges and Universities submission.
  • Understand the importance of Learning Outcomes and assist colleagues in assessing the impact of academic change in terms of impact on learning outcomes, taking into consideration any external implications such as accreditation.
  • Assume responsibility for prompt, accurate and full reporting of academic program change to all appropriate offices and bodies.
  • Oversee and provide expert guidance concerning the creation, closure, or significant restructuring of academic programs and their support through governance.
  • Ensure the provision of consolidated and accurate data concerning the University’s academic programs and academic administrative structures to all offices/divisions supporting a wide range of reporting and institutional needs and purposes.
  • Oversee research on concerning academic structures and models at peer institutions.
  • Advise academic and administrative leaders on issues relating to academic program and academic unit structures.
  • Provide guidance on appropriate governance approval paths.

Office Management 15%

  • Oversees the work of the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic relative to Quality Assurance by establishing priorities and providing advice and guidance.
  • Responsible for ensuring service-oriented, responsive, inclusive, consultative support with the highest standards in work.
  • Ensure development and provision of templates to support clarity and consistency in work and help guide proponents in addressing required categories that support assessment of quality.
  • Supports building of excellent relationships with administrative office across the University.
  • Maintains positive relationships with internal and external colleagues.
  • Contribute to and advise on institutional agreements involving academic programs and standards.
  • Communication of new program approvals with relevant departments to ensure the accurate creation of promotional materials for the recruitment of students.
  • Represent Nipissing University at meetings and conferences on academic quality assurance.

Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

Education

Graduate degree in a relevant discipline (such as Education or Public Administration) is required.

Training and/or experience may be substituted for formal academic training at the discretion of the University.

Training, Experience, Knowledge & Skills Required

  • 5-7 years of recent and related experience in a university environment.
  • Knowledge of and engagement in Quality Assurance processes, academic program and curriculum changes, and active involvement in supporting academic and institutional change processes.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in undergraduate and graduate program structures, standards, and expectations across the full range of programs within a University environment.
  • Knowledge and understanding of University governance processes.
  • Superior oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Superior analytical and organizational skills.
  • Ability to establish credibility and work with senior University Officers and Senior academic leaders.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Ability to work independently with a high-level of tact and in a highly consultative/collaborative manner.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Superior demonstrated ability to manage complex and long-term projects and see them to successful, timely completion.
  • Ability to identify emerging issues of high importance and ensure they are addressed.
  • Ability to think critically to understand how apparently unconnected activities and programs may have unintended repercussions.
  • Proven ability to synthesize and interpret accurately large bodies of complex and nuanced material accurately.

Working Conditions

Relationships/Contacts:

Supervised by: Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Internal Contacts: Students, staff, faculty

External Contacts: Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance

Materials Utilized:

  • Office equipment
  • Senate policies and procedures
  • Quality assurance policies and procedures
  • Academic Calendar
  • Collective agreements
  • Other relevant university policies and procedures

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

  • Considerable visual and mental concentration
  • Sitting, standing and walking
  • Comfortable office with separate work station
  • Frequent interruptions

Nipissing University is committed to employment equity and strongly encourages applications, which may include self-identification in a cover letter from Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ and racialized minorities. 

Nipissing University must gather information from applicants to determine eligibility to work in Canada.  Please include a statement in your application to identify whether you are a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or are otherwise legally eligible to work in Canada.

Nipissing University will provide accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. You can request accommodation at any stage of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at access@nipissingu.ca.

The search committee would like to thank all applicants for their interest in Nipissing University. Please note that only those candidates invited for an interview will be contacted.