Director, Continuous Improvement; Term

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Faculty/Division: VP - University Operations

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description: The Operations and Real Estate Partnerships (OREP) Division is the largest shared service division at the University of Toronto, serving three campuses. OREP manages key portfolios such as Information Technology Services, Facilities and Services, University Planning Design & Construction, and Spaces & Experiences. The Financial Strategy and Services Department provides support to these business areas to ensure efficient financial support to meet and support the University’s mission.

The Director, Continuous Improvement is a senior finance leadership role reporting to the Executive Financial Officer (EFO) and provides leadership support to translate the Financial Strategy and Services Department’s vision into practical improvements across finance processes, technology and system usage, and data management and analytics. The Director will carry out these responsibilities in a cost‑effective manner to ensure timely delivery within approved budgets, and work collaboratively with other directors and managers across the organization to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation and ensure improvements are aligned to the University’s mission.

The focus of this role is finance process improvement, supported by finance system optimization and maintenance, and finance data management and analytics. The Director is expected to operate at both strategic and execution levels, personally leading delivery while guiding a small specialist team and working closely with internal and external stakeholders.

This role is intended for leaders who have built their experience within or closely embedded in finance functions. While it involves continuous improvement, processes, systems, and data, it is not a general project management, PMO, or technology build role.

This is a fixed‑term appointment (2 years with possibility of extension) with a clear mandate to deliver measurable improvements in how Finance operates.

• Develop and lead the strategic planning and overall management of process improvement, data analytics, and finance technology solution development functions, in alignment with Finance and organizational objectives.
• Oversee all aspects of financial operations of the Continuous Improvement (CI) Team, including process improvement, data analytics, and finance system maintenance and optimization.
• Lead finance process improvement initiatives to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs. Oversee process improvement projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive, up‑to‑date process documentation, and ensure effective communication and training to support adoption of improved processes.
• In collaboration with IT teams and vendors, lead the optimization, enhancement, and ongoing support of finance technology solutions, ensuring alignment with business requirements, security standards, and institutional platforms.
• Guide the use, integration, and interpretation of financial data and analytics, including large and complex datasets, to support operational and strategic decision‑making. Ensure divisional level practices aligning with institutional policies and directions, and in compliance with financial data governance, security, and regulatory standards.
• Work closely with Finance leadership, including FP&A, to define data analytics priorities and support data‑driven decision‑making across the organization.
• Develop and implement change management strategies to facilitate adoption of process improvements and technology solutions. Provide guidance and support to teams and stakeholders during periods of change and transition.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the organization, encouraging teams to embrace change and seek opportunities for improvement.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with improvement projects, data analytics processes, and technology implementations.
• Develop and…