Director, Student Experience and Communities

Director, Student Experience and Communities
Faculty/Department:  Office of Student Life

Number of Positions:  1

Appointment Type:  Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work:  35 hours per week

Non-Union Hiring Zone:  Job Level 11 - $104,500 - $130,900

Posting Date:  February 17, 2026

Closing Date:  March 9, 2026 (7:00 pm EST)

Job Summary:

The Director, Student Experience and Communities, provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for programs and services that foster student engagement, inclusion, and success. This role is responsible for advancing a holistic student experience through the integration of student leadership development, community engagement, accommodated testing services, student housing, and collaborative partnerships with the student union and community stakeholders.

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to building vibrant and supportive student communities both on and off campus. The Director ensures that programs and services are student-centered, accessible, and aligned with institutional and unit priorities. This includes cultivating meaningful co-curricular learning opportunities, managing key operational functions, and strengthening partnerships that enhance the overall student journey.

This position has responsibilities at both the north and downtown university campuses and is required to work on location a minimum of 4 days per week on campus. This position is also required to attend university and community events which may necessitate working a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities/accountabilities:
Strategy and Leadership

Develops and implements a comprehensive Student Experience and Communities Strategy that advances student success, engagement, and belonging.

Develops and implements a comprehensive housing strategy aligned with the university’s student experience framework and institutional priorities.

Develops and implements a comprehensive Accommodated Testing and integrated accessibility supports strategy that is aligned with the university’s accessibility mandate and testing policies.

Fosters a collaborative, student-focused, and data-informed culture across all service areas of responsibility.

Provides leadership, direction and support to managers and professional staff across Student Engagement, Housing, Accommodated Testing, and Community Relations.

Ensures departmental policies, procedures, and programs align with institutional priorities and regulatory requirements (e.g., accessibility legislation, human rights, privacy, and health & safety).

Contributes to university-wide planning committees related to student experience, community engagement, and campus operations, where applicable.

Champions equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement within the Student Experience portfolio.

Oversees departmental budgets, contracts, and service agreements related to housing, testing, and community partnerships.

Ensures sound financial management and alignment with institutional priorities and cost recovery principles.

Develops departmental performance metrics and reporting mechanisms to evaluate impact and service quality.

Ensures compliance with institutional policies, municipal regulations, accessibility standards (e.g., AODA), and health and safety requirements, as required.

Uses data-driven insights to inform planning, service delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Student Experience

Leads the development and delivery of strategies and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success and experience for all Ontario Tech students, with the ability to strengthen programming capacity to support priority groups, including graduate students, Black, Indigenous, persons of colour, 2S+LGBTQ, international students, first-year, transfer, mature students, varsity athletes, and first-generation students, in partnership with relevant campus stakeholders.

Provides operational and strategic planning direction with the intended outcome of optimal evidence-based services, student engagement, and success.

Oversees programs that promote student leadership, orientation and transition, health promotions, and co-curricular engagement.

Ensures all programs and services are informed…