Strategic Initiatives Officer

Role Overview

• Conduct the planning, coordination, and successful execution of multiple complex institution-wide initiatives across Shared Services, collaborating closely with diverse faculties and units.
• Provide clear, data-driven recommendations and expert advice that directly informs strategic decision-making by Shared Services leadership and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate crucial discussions and negotiations to ensure strategic initiatives are successfully implemented and remain perfectly aligned with Shared Services’ goals, the USOF portfolio, and the University’s broader strategic vision.
• Develop cutting-edge frameworks, conduct environmental scans, and lead best-practice reviews to ensure the success of strategic projects.
• Systematically analyze deep-seated problems, identify root causes, and engineer holistic solutions that account for multi-causal relationships and wide-ranging institutional impacts.
• Anticipate and skillfully respond to evolving changes and challenges across Shared Services, adjusting initiatives as needed to maintain momentum.
• Coordinate comprehensive communications strategies, including drafting impactful reports, proposals, and presentations in partnership with External Relations.
• Rigorously monitor and manage project milestones, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring seamless, effective communication among leadership teams.
• Provide input at or facilitate, on behalf of Shared Services, at key university meetings, actively contributing to and propelling the advancement of institutional initiatives.
• Foster a truly collaborative environment by participating in and leading communities of practice and specialized project teams.
• Confidentially and discreetly handle sensitive labour/employment relations projects, including contingency planning and/or crisis management situations.

Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in project or strategic initiative management, ideally within a large, complex organizational environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively influence diverse stakeholders and cultivate powerful professional relationships.
• Proven ability to provide expert advice and support to all organizational levels, effectively managing diverse individuals and competing demands within a fast-paced work setting.
• A proven capacity to work independently, demonstrate high flexibility, effectively multi-task, and manage numerous priorities simultaneously.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with an unwavering focus on achieving and exceeding high-quality outcomes.
• Documented experience in developing and executing organizational strategies and contributing directly to the achievement of strategic goals.
• Advanced proficiency in the MS Office Suite, Google Applications, and current project management software.
• Experience within a post-secondary or comparably complex institutional environment is a significant asset.
• Demonstrated influential capability and hands-on experience successfully working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in successfully managing significant change initiatives within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and a clear commitment to continuous professional development.
• Adaptable, agile, and technologically savvy, with advanced capability in PeopleSoft systems, Oracle Recruiting Cloud (ORC), Adobe Acrobat Pro and project management software.
• Experience in facilitating and/or presenting, along with the preparation of high impact reports, slide decks and supporting documents.
• French language proficiency would be an asset (but not required)

Tech Stack

• Cloud
• Oracle

Benefits

• This position has a comprehensive benefits package
• Additional financial benefits will be commensurate with qualifications