Associate Vice President, Applied Research and Continuing Education

General Accountability
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is the province’s only polytechnic and the primary institution for post-secondary applied education and research. Proudly sharing land located in the homeland of the Metis people and on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territory, we serve more than 26,000 students through campuses located in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers more than 150 certificate, diploma, and degree programs, including two collaborative baccalaureate degree programs and a collaborative master’s degree program, basic education and academic upgrading, credit and non-credit extension courses, apprenticeship training, televised, hybrid, online, distance and off-campus programming. Our programs are led by a most accomplished and innovative faculty. As a member of Polytechnics Canada, we are committed to offering a broad range of educational experiences that are student-centered and industry responsive.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic provides the skills and education that the province needs to grow and prosper. We have a long history of working with industry and the community to meet education needs demonstrated by our excellence in teaching, strength in research and proven student success. Through our partnerships we ensure our programs match opportunities in the real world.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this position plays a key leadership role in two portfolios including:

Applied Research
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is a leading polytechnic with a notable track record in applied research. The Associate Vice President, Applied Research and Continuing Education will provide effective leadership and collaboration in the development, management and representation of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s applied research initiatives. This position is essential to fostering, expanding and establishing successful applied research that supports Saskatchewan Polytechnic and its promises to students, faculty and employees, industry and the Province of Saskatchewan.

With our strong focus on providing skills and education that enhances the provinces’ growth and prosperity, this position will look to industry partnerships, community opportunities and third-party agencies to meet our educational and student-centered applied research strategies. We will develop collaborative and inspiring relationships with other educational partners to encourage and challenge our continued growth in applied research with leading policies, practices and operations.

Continuing Education
The Center for Continuing Education creates new pathways and offerings outside the traditional core funded programming to engage learners at all stages of life and to build partnerships both within and beyond Saskatchewan Polytechnic. The Associate Vice President, Applied Research and Continuing Education is responsible for building and nurturing relationships with other schools and departments within Saskatchewan Polytechnic, as well as with external stakeholders at local, provincial and national levels.

The incumbent will ensure excellence in teaching and program quality, explore new market opportunities for continuing education and corporate offerings, develop new and enhanced programming for part-time studies and for corporate, not-for-profit, and governmental organizations to address the changing needs of industry and Canadian economy and to generate additional revenue for Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Nature and Scope
The Associate Vice President Applied Research and Continuing Education reports to the Provost and Vice President, Academic and will be an important contributor to our Senior Management and Academic Leadership teams, as well as interact regularly with external organizations and professional bodies, including granting agencies. The Associate Vice President also provides a key voice and representation for applied research and innovation at the institute as well as in the broader academic and non-academic community. The scope of this role is to serve our institution and advance our reputation at the national and international level.

This position will directly supervise five positions in support of Continuing Education and Applied Research (four Directors and one Executive Assistant). This will also include supporting the Deans in the oversight of the Applied Research Centers in the achievement of our applied research projects and initiatives.

Based at any of our campus locations, this position is one of 4 AVP’s reporting to the Provost and Vice President, Academic. Programming is provided at all four Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses as well as through virtual mediums and brokerage arrangements. Travel is required between all campuses for program and administrative responsibilities, as well as travel provincially, nationally and occasionally internationally to represent the portfolio and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Specific Accountabilities
1. Applied Research Leadership
• Play a lead role in the planning, development, coordination and implementation of goals and objectives for applied research initiatives.
• Foster and enhance a sustainable and integrated culture of inquiry, research and innovation that enables students, faculty and staff to
achieve excellence in applied research.
• Provide leadership, direction, advice and support in applied research and other scholarly activities at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
• Advance, expand and accelerate institutional success and direct industry impact of applied research activities.
• Lead an integrated support unit that is integral to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s connection with industry.
• Lead in the facilitation and promotion of applied research activities.
• Provide oversight for human and animal ethics, responsible conduct of research, and research security.
• Promote collaboration across Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions in applied research.
• Demonstrate courage and sound decision-making to create strategies for applied research and initiatives.

2. Continuing Education Strategic Leadership
• Lead the development and execution of the continuing education strategies including a broad range of learner recruitment, program offerings
and delivery methods.
• Provide oversight and understanding of the key business indicators and drivers, inspiring the continuing education team to achieve strategic
enrolment objectives and measures that align with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s strategic objectives.
• Inspire learning opportunities into new and/or evolved continuing education markets to ensure sustained success.
• Develop and lead the vision for the advancement of extension and revenue-generating opportunities to create an entrepreneurial and forward-
thinking mindset that is embedded and fostered within the school.
• Build partnerships with businesses, industry, and local, provincial and federal governments and agencies to develop corporate and custom-
designed training opportunities to enhance Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s reputation as a learning provider, as well as to drive revenue
generation.
• Empower future-focused learning and teaching methods with an increased importance of technology adoption in both the learning environment and
industry.

3. Operations and Governance
• Develop a common direction for implementing policies, guidelines, processes and practices that govern all aspects of applied research and
continuing education throughout the institution.
• Design and coordinate the organizational structure, processes, policies and controls related to research and continuing education.
• Ensure common operations and administration of contracts, including deployment, resourcing and risk assessment.
• Support the Senior Management Committee in guiding applied research policy at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and in government both provincially and
nationally.
• Represent Saskatchewan Polytechnic in the role of principle investigator and contract authorizer, in accordance with management structure and
governing authorities.

4. Relationship Management
Internal
• Work closely with the provost and vice president, academic, fellow associate vice presidents, deans and directors to ensure high quality and
consistent applied research and continuing education initiatives are integrated and meet the overall institutional direction.
• Encourage and support relationships across both academic and administrative divisions.
• Seek and build collaborative relationships across both academic and administrative divisions to optimize efforts and ensure both the portfolio
and organizational objectives are reached.
• Build and maintain relationships with students and student groups across Saskatchewan Polytechnic to understand the needs and value applied
research projects can have in the student experience and opportunities for lifelong career development through continuing education.
Harnessing the creativity of students and academic innovators is imperative. Connecting this strength back to industry and potential financial
partners is transformational.

External
• Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies, various ministries and government organizations, and other partners in the applied
research and training system (provincial, national and international).
• Work closely with the Ministry of Advanced Education in supporting applied research and continuing education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
• Cultivate and support the development of provincial, national and international applied research and continuing education collaborations and
partnerships.

5. People Management
• Ensure a positive, diverse and inclusive work, research and learning environment promoting teamwork and collaboration to maximize ideas and
initiatives.
• Promote an environment that meets and exceeds health and safety standards, supporting leading practices and processes for our students, staff
and partners.
• Recruit, orient and retain outstanding staff in pursuit of academic service excellence aligned to Sask Polytech’s values: respect, integrity,
sustainability and excellence.
• Coach, develop and mentor direct reports to ensure their success.
• Hold employees accountable for outcomes and a high level of performance by addressing people management issues in a timely manner.
• Plan for future key leadership roles by ensuring succession and workforce planning initiatives are implemented.
• Promote and model strong employee engagement through inspiring leadership and value-based actions.

6. Resource Allocation
• Provide leadership in the preparation and management of the portfolio budget.
• Ensure resource allocation for all projects and initiatives are aligned with the contract commitments and obligations.
• Plan for required capital and operational requirements within the Multiyear Business Plan.
• Develop and manage both operational and capital budgets in accordance with divisional objectives; monitor the division’s progress in meeting
divisional objectives, project plans and priorities as set in the Multiyear Business Plan.
• Create innovative solutions to resource challenges while ensuring alignment with and support of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s strategic plans.
• Provide monthly and ad hoc reports to the provost and vice president, academic as required.

7. Risk Assessment and Management
• Identify, assess and manage risks in applied research and continuing education operations, contracts and strategies.
• Ensure accountability and transparency of the division’s activities, information, contracts and reports.
• Responsible for compliance with federal and provincial laws, regulations, Saskatchewan Polytechnic policies, funding agency and partnership
contracts and collective agreements.
• Ensure the general safeguarding and stewardship of all resources within the division.

Email a cover letter and resume to Shalini Bhatty or Heather Fookes at calgary@leadersinternational.com with the job title in the subject line of the email.