Director, Student Experience and Communities

Director, Student Experience and Communities

Tracking Code: req1901

Faculty/Department: Office of Student Life

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing,

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week 

Non-Union Hiring Zone: Job Level 11 - $104,500 - $130,900

Posting Date: February 17, 2026

Closing Date: March 9, :00 pm EST)

Job Summary: 

The Director, Student Experience and Communities,
provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for programs and services
that foster student engagement, inclusion, and success. This role is
responsible for advancing a holistic student experience through the integration
of student leadership development, community engagement, accommodated testing services,
student housing, and collaborative partnerships with the student union and
community stakeholders.

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team
dedicated to building vibrant and supportive student communities both on and
off campus. The Director ensures that programs and services are student-centered,
accessible, and aligned with institutional and unit priorities. This includes
cultivating meaningful co-curricular learning opportunities, managing key operational
functions, and strengthening partnerships that enhance the overall student
journey.

This position has responsibilities at both the
north and downtown university campuses and is required to work on location a
minimum of 4 days per week on campus. This position is also required to attend
university and community events which may necessitate working a flexible
schedule. 

Responsibilities/accountabilities: 

Strategy and
Leadership

• Develops and implements a comprehensive Student Experience and
  Communities Strategy that advances student success, engagement, and
  belonging.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive housing strategy aligned
  with the university's student experience framework and institutional
  priorities.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive Accommodated Testing and
  integrated accessibility supports strategy that is aligned with the
  university's accessibility mandate and testing policies.
• Fosters a collaborative, student-focused, and data-informed
  culture across all service areas of responsibility.
• Provides leadership, direction and support to managers and
  professional staff across Student Engagement, Housing, Accommodated
  Testing, and Community Relations.
• Ensures departmental policies, procedures, and programs align
  with institutional priorities and regulatory requirements (e.g.,
  accessibility legislation, human rights, privacy, and health &
  safety).
• Contributes to university-wide planning committees related to
  student experience, community engagement, and campus operations, where
  applicable.
• Champions equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement within
  the Student Experience portfolio.
• Oversees departmental budgets, contracts, and service agreements
  related to housing, testing, and community partnerships.
• Ensures sound financial management and alignment with
  institutional priorities and cost recovery principles.
• Develops departmental performance metrics and reporting
  mechanisms to evaluate impact and service quality.
• Ensures compliance with institutional policies, municipal
  regulations, accessibility standards (e.g., AODA), and health and safety
  requirements, as required.
• Uses data-driven insights to inform planning, service delivery,
  and continuous improvement initiatives.

Student
Experience

• Leads the development and delivery of
  strategies and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success and
  experience for all Ontario Tech students, with the ability to strengthen
  programming capacity to support priority groups, including graduate
  students, Black, Indigenous, persons of colour, 2S+LGBTQ, international
  students, first-year, transfer, mature students, varsity athletes, and
  first-generation students, in partnership with relevant campus
  stakeholders.
• Provides operational and strategic planning
  direction with the intended outcome of optimal evidence-based services,
  student engagement, and success.
• Oversees programs that promote student
  leadership, orientation and transition, health promotions, and
  co-curricular engagement.
• Ensures all programs and services are
  informed by theory and grounded in best practices related to student
  retention, engagement, and development.
• Supports the university in achieving its
  institutional goals by adopting a comprehensive and intentional, student-centered
  approach to departmental programming and services aimed at increasing engagement
  and retention.
• Builds strong relationships with cultural
  and community organizations to enhance intercultural learning,
  belonging, and civic participation.
• Supervises professional staff and student
  leaders responsible for events, campus life programming, and
  cross-cultural initiatives.
• Develops and chairs an Ontario Tech Student
  Experience Working Group comprised of representatives from various
  supports and services across the institution.
• Provides guidance and support to university
  departments and student organizations engaging in community initiatives,
  ensuring consistent standards and best practices, as required.
• Ensures compliance with institutional
  policies, privacy legislation, and accessibility standards.
• Contributes to integrating and aligning the
  student experience with Communication and Marketing and the brand team
  on student facing communications.

Community Engagement

• Cultivates strong, collaborative
  relationships across university departments to promote a unified and
  student-centered campus culture.
• Partners with supports and services such as
  Student Mental Health, Student Accessibility Services, Library,
  Residence, Indigenous Education and Cultural Services, Careers, Academic
  Advising, and Campus Safety to develop initiatives that support
  belonging, engagement, and well-being.
• Leads the development and maintenance of
  partnerships with community organizations, municipalities, service
  agencies, and cultural groups that enrich the student experience and enhance
  community engagement.
• Establishes and oversee collaborations with
  external partners such as regional transit authorities, local housing
  providers, and community service organizations to improve access and
  support for students.
• Represents the university in community
  networks and partnerships to advance shared goals related to education,
  inclusion, and regional development.

Student Union
Liaison

• Serves as the main liaison with the student
  union, providing guidance and ensuring alignment with university
  policies.
• Facilitates regular meetings with student
  union leadership to discuss priorities, concerns, events, and advocacy
  issues.
• Advises on the application of university
  policies to student union activities, events, and operations.
• Works proactively and in partnership with
  the Office of Risk Management to minimize risks associated with
  student-led events and activities.
• Collaborates with the student union on joint
  programs, student engagement initiatives, and campus-wide events that
  enhance student experience.
• Supports and advises the student union
  executive on student leadership development, and compliance with
  university policies and applicable legislation.
• Promotes effective conflict resolution and
  accountability processes between the university and the student union.

Housing

• Serves as the primary liaison with any
  third-party housing company (on and off campus) to ensure high-quality
  operations, maintenance, safety and integrated student support services.
• Establishes performance metrics, service
  standards, and accountability measures for third-party partners.
• Collaborates on occupancy planning,
  marketing, and student satisfaction initiatives.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships
  with local landlords, property managers, and municipal partners to
  enhance the quality and safety of off-campus student housing options.
• Establishes and oversees partnerships with
  third-party platforms that support off-campus housing listings and
  off-campus student engagement.
• Ensures compliance with university policies,
  municipal regulations, and safety standards.
• Fosters a living environment that supports
  academic success, inclusion, and personal development.
• Collaborates with student support and
  service leads to ensure coordinated support for student residents.
• Develops and supports integrated initiatives
  that enhance transition, retention, and overall student satisfaction
  between the university and housing partners.

Test Services

• Oversees the administration of
  accommodated testing and integrated services in compliance with
  accessibility legislation (e.g., AODA) and university policy.
• Member of the Test Centre Advisory
  group - representatives from various supports and services across the
  institution.
• Uses data analytics and performance
  metrics to drive operational efficiency, service quality, and continuous
  improvement.
• Ensures the fair and proper conduct of examinations
  in an environment that enables students to appropriately access their
  eligible testing accommodations following academic integrity and
  University procedures.
• Implements an annual optimization
  process to support cost mitigation.
• Formulates data-driven recommendations
  for capacity management and operational process modifications that
  continually add value to stakeholders.
• Ensures adherence to academic integrity
  standards and institutional testing policies.
• Manages academic integrity issues in
  partnership with Test Centre Manager.
• Maintains confidentiality, accuracy,
  and professionalism in all accommodation processes and communications.
• Oversees the development and
  maintenance of standard operating procedures, emergency protocols, and
  risk management strategies related to testing support.

Required Skills: 

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize,
  implement and evaluate new programs, interact at all levels within the organization/institution,
  and effectively manage budget and human resource issues
• Demonstrated ability to build
  collaborative relationships both inside and outside of the organization

Required Education: 

• Completion of a University Program consisting
  of Four Academic Years directly related to the requirements of the job.
• Master's degree in business, education, student
  development or a related field preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

Required Experience: 

• Five to seven years' experience working
  with diverse groups, including those with varying abilities, in the
  post-secondary sector
• Experienced people manager with excellent
  communication, coaching, organizational and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated success in providing
  multi-team leadership of learning and success programs within a
  post-secondary environment
• Demonstrated experience in
  organizational development, change management and strategic planning
• Experience using data, benchmarking, and
  assessment to inform decisions and demonstrate impact

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of accessibility
  standards, academic integrity principles, and testing best practices
• Understanding of health, safety, risk
  management, and regulatory compliance within residential environments
• Familiarity with students conduct
  processes, crisis response, and mental health considerations within residence
  settings

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until March 9, 2026 or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Ontario
Tech University is actively committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenization
and decolonization (EDIID), and welcomes applications from all qualified
candidates, while especially encouraging applications from First Nations,
Metis, Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons,
persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or
2SLGBTQ+.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply;
however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and those eligible to work in
Canada, will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university's Accessibility Policy.

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date: 3/1/2026