Director of Student Services

The Opportunity

The Director of Student Services is responsible for the overall management of the Student Services group comprised of Career Services, Entrepreneurial Services, Advocacy and Wellbeing. They assist full time and part time students across all BCIT campuses. This role is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives, leading change processes, managing and supporting staff, problem-solving, and representing the department in internal and external capacities. The Director works closely with the senior management team to advance our vision and contributes to the development of organizational-wide strategy, ensuring implementation at the departmental level. They build and maintain long-lasting relationships, partnerships, and networks with various stakeholders, including professional associations, BCIT contacts and especially businesses, to further departmental objectives. They develop and implement strategies to grow the reach, knowledge, and impact of Student Services through innovative and sustainable strategies. This position also advances BCITSA’s equity, diversity and inclusion values and incorporates these values into their work, their team’s work and professional relationships.

What You Will Do:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Provide strategic leadership to Career Services, Entrepreneurial Services, Advocacy and Wellbeing departments, and other services as needed, including strategic planning, project management, human resources and financial management
• Support all departments in the development, implementation, and evaluation of services and programs
• Oversee review of student feedback on current and potential future services to continually ensure services remain valuable, relevant, and impactful
• Maintain accountabilities for all services, programming, and special events, delivered by Student Service Managers
• Generate, maintain, and supervise, key stakeholder relationships as they relate to student services
• Actively collaborate with the Engagement group to develop innovative campaigns that increase awareness of and participation in all student services.
• Ensure services include part time students and all BCIT campuses, to meet the goals of our outreach strategy
• Establish and lead the strategic direction for the group and develop strategic plans, ensuring cross-departmental alignment, integration across student services and alignment with broader organizational strategic goals

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION

• Build and sustain meaningful partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including BCIT staff, Student Executives, and organizations at the local, national, and international level, to support the growth of student opportunities
• Act as main contact point for the department
• Act as a BCITSA representative on various committees related to student services
• Attend internal meetings, committees, and both formal and ad hoc functions, as required to increase opportunities for the department and association as a whole
• Liaise with off-campus partners as necessary to increase awareness of, and invite participation in the activities and goals of the BCITSA
• Liaise with appropriate BCIT stakeholders to integrate services into academic and co-curricular programming, and increase their impact

OPERATIONAL DUTIES

• Establish departmental goals and objectives that support and advance the SA’s strategic priorities
• Ensure development and continuous improvement of all departmental policies and procedures
• Maintain policy compliance within the department by ensuring all procedures are reviewed, clearly understood, and consistently followed.
• Create and regularly maintain departmental reports, manuals, records, statistics, and data security
• Oversee equipment maintenance to meet operational and OHS requirements, and coordinate repairs as needed
• Ensure departments have required supplies and materials

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• Manage, coach and mentor department managers and direct reports in all aspects of People & Culture, and support them in the delivery of services and programs
• Provide leadership to Student Services employees with effective communication, clear expectations, and fairness
• Responsible for the hiring, discipline, and termination of Student Services Managers, and support managers in these processes for their employees
• Guide and maintain positive employee relationships, encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and a supportive workplace culture
• Support employee and volunteer growth by implementing targeted professional development and training programs that optimize departmental impact
• Conduct all Manager reviews including probationary, annual, and ad hoc, providing ongoing coaching
• Orient and train Managers, overseeing departmental training and learning opportunities
• Manage accident and incident reporting, collaborating with People & Culture
• Schedule Managers including managing coverage for vacations and other leaves
• Conduct Management, employee, and volunteer meetings as required
• Effectively manage and resolve managerial conflicts with a focus on maintaining positive, long-term working relationships
• Proactively anticipate team needs, elevating employee perspectives, removing barriers, and balancing staff advocacy with organizational priorities

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Manage the department’s finances by developing all department budgets in collaboration with managers, ensuring financial targets are met, adjusting as necessary
• Manage departmental financial resources and revenue streams in accordance with policies and program requirements, including grants, donations, and sponsorship funds
• Develop business strategies and opportunities to increase revenue generation

OTHER RELATED DUTIES

• Support Managers and Student Executives in their respective initiatives as needed
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices and theories in the student services field through networking and professional development
• Attend all staff meetings and training sessions as required
• Attend after-hours meetings and events as required
• Some travel may be required

About You:

You are an accomplished leader with extensive experience managing or directing student services or related non-profit or post-secondary services. You have expertise in one or more of the program areas, and are passionate about student success and program development and evaluation. You know how to develop and run successful experiential learning and education-based programming. You set a high bar for your teams, and you have the ability to develop collaborative relationships within and across the organization to help fulfill the BCITSA mission and vision.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work, social services, or a related field; Master’s degree considered an asset
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in a similar position, with 2 years in a senior leadership or management role in a post-secondary environment
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in student services in at least one of the following areas: Career Development, Student Wellbeing, Entrepreneurship, or Student Advocacy
• Experience in program development and evaluation
• Proven experience developing strong partnerships and working collaboratively across programs
• Experience leading and providing strategic direction to cross functional departments within one portfolio
• Experience working with students in a similar context

KNOWELDGE & ABILITIES

• Superior organizational skills managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated with a proven record of accomplishment leading and managing complex projects and teams
• Proficiency in CRM systems, Microsoft 365 applications including SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Teams, Microsoft Suite and project management platforms
• Ability to assess, adopt, and integrate emerging technologies
• Genuine passion for student-focused services
• High level of integrity, judgment, and accountability
• Strong business acumen, including building, forecasting, and resource allocation
• Demonstrated project management expertise, translating strategic vision into executable plans aligned with organizational goals in complex, ambiguous environments
• Track record of driving measurable results and organizational impact
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; strong presentation skills
• Strong ability to prioritize effectively and apply innovative problem-solving approaches

REQUIREMENTS

• Occasionally stands for long periods of time
• Local travel occasionally to other campuses
• Local travel to networking events and employer locations
• Occasional regional or national travel to conferences
• Occasional evening meetings and weekend commitments

Our goal is to be inclusive, diverse, and representative of the communities where we work while creating an environment where every person can enjoy a successful career. This commitment applies to all candidates and employees regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, place of origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, disability, age, and any other protected characteristic. Requests for accommodation due to a disability or any other protected characteristic can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and during employment by contacting our People & Culture Team.

BCITSA respectfully acknowledges that the land on which BCIT’s main campuses are located is the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the shared traditional territories of the Səl ̓ ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and xʷ məθkʷəyə̓ m (Musqueam) First Nations