Executive Director, People and Organization Development
Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is Canada’s engaged university, defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement and impact. SFU is unconventional, fearless, compassionate, approachable, and ready. SFU aspires to represent the diversity of people, ideas, and cultures to the fullest of ways throughout our institution.

Our principles prioritize people and communities with a focus on academic and intellectual freedom, diversity, internationalization, respect for Indigenous peoples and cultures, a supportive and healthy work environment, and sustainability.

With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey—SFU has 2,500 staff and over 1,000 faculty that deliver world-class programs to approximately 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students.   SFU has consistently been ranked as a top employer in Canada.

SFU has recently created a new executive-level portfolio that oversees Faculty Relations, People Planning (including Human Resources/Labour Relations and Organization Development) and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  Led by the Vice President, People, Equity, and Inclusion (VPPEI), and reporting to the President, this new portfolio provides strategic leadership to advance the University’s commitment to EDI, is the primary people leader and strategist of the University and a key member of the executive team.

Reporting to the VPPEI is a newly created Executive Director, People and Organization Development (POD) role.  The ED POD works closely with their colleagues in labour relations, faculty affairs, and EDI to round out the People, Equity, and Inclusion portfolio and provide executive leadership and vision to the development and execution of developmental initiatives, strategies, programs, policies, and services that support university-wide goals and objectives.  This role is responsible for leading and overseeing all functional areas within SFU’s People Strategy Model that sets the foundation for a supportive and healthy work environment and proactive people practices achieving the University’s strategic goals, including managing change and Organization Development (including university engagement and culture development support), training and development, employee wellness and workforce planning.  The Executive Director establishes and maintains effective relationships with other EDs in the PEI portfolio, unions, and employee groups and supports the President, Vice Presidents and Deans across the university on complex People, Equity, and Inclusion matters as needed.

As the ideal candidate, you will have a demonstrated track record of success in strategic Human Resources and Organization Development leadership roles within a complex, unionized, multi-stakeholder environment.  You will ideally bring experience in the public sector and/or higher education. Through exceptional people skills, a service orientation, and a collaborative, results-driven approach, you will provide the leadership needed in the SFU PEI function of one of the country’s top universities.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values for Simon Fraser University. SFU encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the university.