Senior Operations Speclialist

​COMPETITION NUMBER: 1749
CLOSING DATE: JULY 2, 2026 @ 11:59PM MDT

ACADEMIC OPERATIONS

Reporting to the Programs & Business Operations Manager, this role provides dedicated operations coordination support to Associate Deans across schools within the Academic portfolio. This role provides high-level analysis, planning, and coordination support to enable the Associate Deans to lead the schools they are assigned as high-performing academic business units.

The role operates within a hybrid reporting structure, balancing portfolio-based coordination support to Associate Deans with institution-wide operational coordination and standardization under the leadership of the Programs & Business Operations Manager.

This position synthetizes data, helps identifies risk, provides information to support decision-making, and ensures alignment between school-level operations and strategy.

This position does not hold direct supervisory responsibility for Program Leads (such as Program Chairs, Associate Chairs or similar) or the faculties but may influence outcomes through expertise, facilitation, and coordination support.

This position enhances Associate Dean’s ability to:

• Lead strategically rather than react operationally
• Make data-informed, financially sound decisions
• Anticipate and mitigate risks
• Integrate institutional priorities into School operations
• Strengthen execution discipline across the school

The Programs & Business Operations Manager will be responsible for setting up the standard, processes, and performance expectations for this position. This position would act as partners but remain structurally centralized.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Coordinate annual and multi-year school planning priorities
• Work with the Associate Dean to translate institutional strategy into actionable school-level objectives
• Monitor key performance indicators and flag emerging risks or opportunities
• Oversee faculty records management to ensure legislative and accreditation compliance, accuracy and regular upkeep 
• Coordinate purchasing of goods and services in collaboration with the Associate Dean, ensuring requests follow institutional approval processes (Lab Kits – Relates to enrolment changes/increases)
• Prepare high-level presentations, reports, and briefing materials in collaboration with the Associate Dean and Deans’ Office Administrators to support leadership decision-making
• Contribute to the development of standardized planning tools, reporting templates, and performance frameworks across Schools
• Collaborate with members of the team holding the same position to ensure consistency in analytical approaches, planning processes, and governance documentation
• Participate in community of practice forums to share risks, insights, and best practices across Schools
• Provide operational support to Senior Leadership on enterprise-level initiatives beyond the assigned School portfolio, as required
• Coordinate academic scheduling and course delivery planning for assigned Schools, ensuring alignment with enrolment targets, faculty complement, and delivery strategies
• Develop and finalize timetables, addressing delivery formats (in-person, hybrid, online, intensive) to optimize program objectives and resources
• Liaise with Program Administrators and central scheduling/timetabling units to implement schedule adjustments, resolve conflicts, and address space or resource constraints

WHAT YOU BRING

• Undergraduate degree (minimum requirement)
• Process improvement and/or change management formal training/certifications is considered an asset.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in post-secondary education or similarly complex public-sector environments
• Demonstrated strength in planning and analysis
• Experience providing senior leaders with operational direction
• Business analysis experience with a focus on process improvement and automation
• Knowledge of academic governance and quality assurance frameworks
• Strong system capabilities (Microsoft Suite, PeopleSoft, Power Platform, CoPilot or similar
• Knowledge of academic timetabling processes or similar

WHAT MAKES YOU A DIFFERENCE MAKER?

As a difference maker you bring experience in:

• Advanced communication skills
• Integrated systems thinking
• Senior-leadership level communication
• Financial literacy and analytical reasoning
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Data interpretation and performance insight
• High discretion and professional judgement
• Process improvement, standardization and automation

SALARY: $81,819 - $102,242 annually, reflective upon what you bring AKA your education and experience. This is a full-time, permanent position that offers immediate access to comprehensive pension and benefits programs, generous vacation entitlements, a flexible benefits package, and a strong culture of continuous learning. We are proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures.

We offer flexible work options. We strive for balance between a flexible work environment, connectedness to the campus community, and ensuring NorQuesters are set up to succeed in their roles and responsibilities.

Additional Information: Pre-Employment Checks will be completed to assess the candidate’s suitability for a role. These checks may include (but are not limited to): references, criminal record check, academic verification, etc.

For applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada, it is recommended they obtain an assessment of their credentials from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator, such as:

• International Qualifications Assessment Service https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment
• World Education Services https://www.wes.org/ca/

We encourage applicants to include the assessment certificate as part of their application.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across NorQuest College, at the same or lower classification level.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We're on a journey to become an inclusive, anti-racist, and decolonized organization. NorQuesters are trailblazers – we are curious, creative, and innovative - our lived experiences are honoured, creating accessibility and a sense of belonging for everyone.

NorQuest 2030 We Are Who We Include shares our strength and difference comes from who is included, and along with our students we are learning and growing to listen deeply and say what we feel.

NorQuest College is committed to being an employer of choice for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people by recognizing, respecting, and supporting Indigenous people's self-determination through the institution’s work in decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.

Accessibility: At NorQuest, we are who we include. We strive to provide access and accommodation throughout the recruitment, application, and selection process. We want to create opportunities for you to confidently be your authentic self. If you would like an accommodation at any stage of the process, please reach out to Careers@norquest.ca.

Apply to Become a NorQuester: If this opportunity delights you and your expertise will shine in this role, we invite you to apply for this position online by uploading your resume and cover letter combined as one document.

PSST: Only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted and we’ll make sure to do this within 28 days of the closing date.