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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Ongoing
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Job Summary
The VPFO (Vice-President Finance & Operations) portfolio includes a diverse mix of divisions with approximately 1,400 team members who are responsible for the stewardship of UBC’s physical and financial assets.
UBC is undergoing significant internal and external changes, creating diverse pressures on its administrative functions. The VPFO’s strategic plan provides a framework to better integrate departments within the portfolio, leverage recent technology investments, and identify efficiencies that support long-term sustainability and transform operations.
The Associate Director, Decision Support (“Associate Director”), is a key member of the VPFO’s Transformation & Strategy division, responsible for advancing a portfolio of high-impact, complex and cross-functional initiatives that accelerate the VPFO’s strategic priorities and drive business transformation for UBC as a whole. In addition to conceptualizing, developing, and overseeing the implementation of strategic initiatives, this role delivers strategic advice, analysis and recommendations to support senior executives responsible for institutional decision-making and engagement with the highest levels of university governance.
The Associate Director will work closely with the Transformation & Strategy team, VPFO leadership, and partners across UBC to lead and coordinate multi-partner initiatives with institutional-wide impact. Given the scale and complexity of these initiatives, the role requires a broad understanding of organizational financial and operational considerations, as well as the ability to establish effective governance, foster engagement, resolve competing priorities, and build consensus to advance delivery. The Associate Director is comfortable communicating and working with Vice-Presidents, administrative and academic leaders, and senior staff, and is responsible for developing material and briefings used to inform leadership, Executive, Senior Leadership and Board committees as necessary.
The Associate Director is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of various strategic initiatives, i.e. from initiating, planning, and execution, to monitoring/controlling, and closing. Acting as the senior project lead, the role establishes and manages project teams, defines and establishes governance and delivery structures, prepares and monitors budgets, and organizes logistics and procurement. This role also provides direction and quality oversight of project work. The Associate Director manages stakeholders, engagement, risk, communication, and change activities, ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and that they achieve intended outcomes and sustainable business improvements.
Organizational Status
This position reports to the Executive Director, Transformation & Strategy. The Associate Director liaises and communicates with campus departments and users, and is responsible for maintaining ongoing interaction with internal partners (UBC’s central finance teams, central HR, IT, the Office of the Provost & VP Academic, UBCO, the VP Students portfolio, etc.), as well as engagement with external consultants, faculty, staff, students, and the general public. The Associate Director will manage staff and direct cross-functional teams, including external staff, consultants, and contractors. As the complexity of initiatives varies, the cost and number of resources will vary.
Work Performed
The Associate Director leads the planning, development, and execution of strategic initiatives and transformative programs driven by the portfolio strategic plan. These multi-year initiatives are highly complex and high-risk, require extensive cross-functional collaboration, impact Faculties and VP Units across the organization as well as both campuses, and have significant long-term importance and consequence to the portfolio and to UBC.
The role provides senior project leadership and delivery oversight, ensuring initiatives are effectively governed, resourced, and executed to achieve intended outcomes.
Direct responsibilities include:
Leading business transformation-related strategic initiatives with end-to-end accountability for delivery, while ensuring alignment with the portfolio strategic plan and UBC’s Strategic Directions
Developing business cases, project charters and supporting documentation to secure resourcing sponsorship and executive approval
Establishing and leading project governance structures, including defining decision authorities, escalation paths, and assurance mechanisms
Determining appropriate project delivery models and assigning, directing, and overseeing project management resources as required
Developing and overseeing stakeholder engagement and communication strategies to support change and adoption
Providing senior-level oversight of project execution, monitoring progress against plans and recommending course corrections to maintain scope, schedule, cost, and risk tolerances
Overseeing and managing initiative budgets, including forecasting, variance tracking, and financial reporting
Ensuring operational readiness, sustainability, and benefits realization are incorporated into initiative design, with effective transition to operational owners
For an assigned initiative, this role:
Acts as the delivery lead, guiding initiatives from inception through implementation and closure
Leads project definition and planning from inception to completion, develops recommendations and proposed solutions, and executes on approved goals and priorities in alignment with the wider portfolio strategy
Leads engagements and communications with senior leadership across the university to advance initiatives, identify opportunities, and support decision-making
Sets delivery priorities, approves plans, and negotiates resources and timelines to ensure that the initiatives are completed on time, within scope and budget—with maximum impact
Provides direction and oversight to cross-functional project teams and assigned project managers through influence and collaboration as necessary
Ensures project teams have access to required tools, data, training and guidance to meet delivery expectations
Identifies delivery risks and dependencies early and escalates issues appropriately to maintain momentum and confidence
In addition to stewarding and advancing strategic initiatives, the Associate Director leads strategic decision support for the Executive Director, Transformation & Strategy, as well as VPFO senior leadership. This role:
Enables the VPFO’s transformation efforts by translating strategic intent into sequenced implementation strategies and delivery roadmaps
Designs and leads engagement strategies to build understanding, surface insights, and support change and transformation
Advises leadership on cross-functional alignment, integration opportunities, and institutional readiness
Identifies and builds on linkages between strategic goals and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance value, including cost efficiency and service improvement
Communicates strategy and initiative progress to senior leaders, governance bodies, and key stakeholders
Identifies delivery risks and dependencies early and escalates issues appropriately to maintain momentum and confidence
Partners with data and analytics resources to support insight generation and reporting
Develops executive-level briefings, presentations, and reports for various stakeholder audiences, including governance bodies
Represents the VPFO on committees or working groups, as appropriate
Performs other related duties as required
Consequence of Error/Judgement
Excellent professional judgment, discretion, and accuracy are critical. The Associate Director plays a pivotal role in enabling the VPFO to execute strategic initiatives and enhance operational effectiveness. This position assumes responsibility for decisions which may involve significant resources. Poor decisions may negatively impact asset stewardship, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. Errors in judgment, poor decisions or advice, or failure to act decisively may have a detrimental impact on the University’s reputation and its operations.
Supervision Received
Works under the broad direction of the Executive Director, Transformation & Strategy and within established strategic mandates and university policies, exercising a high degree of autonomy and judgement in decision-making.
Supervision Given
Provides leadership, guidance, and oversight to project team members, including staff, consultants, and contractors to ensure that projects and improvement initiatives are completed successfully. May directly supervise 1 to 3 staff. Monitors progress of projects and leads activities to ensure that deliverables and timelines are met.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Master’s degree preferred. Minimum of eight years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
Professional designation (e.g., PMP, PROSCI, IAP2, CPA) is required.
Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional strategic initiatives in a complex organization is critical
Cumulative ten years of related experience is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to develop business cases, feasibility studies, and financial and non-financial analyses is essential
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to navigate sensitive issues and resolve conflicts
Exceptional facilitation, written, and verbal communication skills, including executive-level communication
Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail
Demonstrated decision-making skills in ambiguous and high-pressure situations
Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills to drive alignment and outcomes
Advanced MS PowerPoint and Excel skills