Position Title
Executive Director
Department/Unit
Ocean Frontier Institute
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Employee Group
Grant-Paid (non-union)
Duration of Contract (if applicable)
2 years
Employment Type
Full Time
Full-time Equivalency (FTE)
1.0
Salary
Salary to commensurate with experience
About Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.
Job Summary
The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), led by Dalhousie University, is a globally recognized ocean research institute advancing interdisciplinary research, innovation, and partnerships to address pressing ocean and climate challenges. Reporting to the Scientific Director, OFI, the Executive Director (ED) is the senior operational and administrative leader of the OFI, responsible for organizational management, strategic implementation, governance administration, and operational excellence across the Institute.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership to advance OFI’s research mission and long-term sustainability, while fostering an inclusive, respectful, and engaged organizational culture grounded in equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and Indigenous engagement principles.
- Lead organizational governance, compliance, and accountability, ensuring effective policies, reporting frameworks, risk management, and alignment with institutional and funder requirements.
- Oversee financial, administrative, and people operations, supporting responsible resource stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and workforce planning.
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with academic institutions, governments, Indigenous and other communities, industry, funders, and international collaborators.
- Advance communications, knowledge mobilization, innovation, and impact initiatives that enhance OFI’s visibility, influence, and contribution to society.
- Support organizational planning and performance, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and alignment across programs and initiatives.
Note
The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate degree in a related research field and significant senior administrative and managerial experience in business, government, NGO or related sector (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
- Proven record of providing strategic advice to senior leaders and the confidence to voice and defend differing opinions.
- Strong leadership skills, including providing guidance to a team of direct reports and track record of leading them to create effective implementation of organizational strategy and tactics.
- Strong experience in governance, human resource and financial, partnership development, and communications.
- Seasoned public speaker with training and experience talking to the media and delivering high level presentations to national and international audiences.
- Track record of practical experience, professional development, and learning in areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Experience working within, or in close collaboration with a government or policy environment and/or private sector enterprise.
Assets
- Experience within a post-secondary or research-intensive environment.
- Experience working in close collaboration with communities, including Indigenous communities.
- PhD in a related field.
- Leadership experience in an early-stage bioeconomy or ocean sector company, ocean-sector NGO, or relevant governmental sector.
- Experience implementing a large, multi-organization research grant, such as a Canada First Research Excellence Fund, or similar.
- Bi-lingual (English and French).
- Government and International relations experience.
Job Competencies
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s
core and
leadership competencies, in particular:
- Respect & Inclusion
- Relationship Building
- Resource & Process Management
- Accountability for Performance & Results
- Change & Innovation
Additional Information
Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a voluntary RRSP, health and dental plans, a wellness allowance, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.
Application Consideration
Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.
We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or People and Culture.
Diversity Statement
Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity
If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.
