Position description
Mount Allison University is searching for a new Registrar to support the University’s efforts to fulfill its strategic commitment to student success and to creating an exceptional student experience.
The Organization
Mount Allison University is located within the territory of Mi’kma’ki, the unceded, ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq. The University has been recognized by Maclean's annual university rankings as the top primarily undergraduate university in Canada 23 times in the past 32 years — a record unmatched by any other institution. Mount Allison offers more than 50 programs to choose from so students can create their own unique bachelor's degree. Mount Allison prides itself on providing a high-quality academic experience, combined with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in a close-knit community.
The Role
Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research, and working closely with the Director of Recruitment, Admissions, and Awards, the Registrar provides visionary and operational leadership to the Registrar’s Office, ensuring a high standard of excellence in the delivery of registrarial services to all stakeholders. They are a strategic leader focused on supporting exceptional experiences at the University through creative and sustainable approaches to systems design and management. The Registrar plays an important role in guiding academic program development and redesign, transfer and articulation pathways, and Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) submissions. They provide this leadership and vision while ensuring the confidentiality of personal data, accuracy of records, and appropriate and timely access to information. This includes reporting enrolment for operating funds purposes and complying with freedom of information requirements. They will also be responsible for leading the development of a contemporary data strategy in collaboration with key leaders across campus. The Registrar supports the development of strategic student retention initiatives that reflect the University’s goals and commitment to student persistence and success. They work collaboratively with the University community and academic committees to support academic policy development.
Key areas of oversight and responsibility are:
- Strategic Vision and Systems Transformation – Providing creative, strategic leadership at senior decision-making levels and managing the development and integration of university systems that support equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) aligned with the University’s unique identity.
- Operational Management – Providing direction, coaching, and support to the Registrar’s Office staff and ensuring ongoing provision of student-centered services that offer stability, flexibility, inclusivity, and accountability.
- Enrolment Management and Data Strategy – Contributing to strategic enrolment management, working closely with Admissions and senior leadership, and oversees management of student data seamlessly and securely from recruitment to admission and throughout their relationship with the University.
Qualifications/skills
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be a highly experienced and strategic leader, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and an open, collegial management style. They are a compassionate, caring leader with integrity. They will be knowledgeable about processes and responsibilities in a registrarial setting and have a track record of improving and innovating operations, with a demonstrated commitment to service for students, faculty and other constituents. Expertise in systems development, data analysis, managing staff within a complex and unionized environment, developing strong cross-campus partnerships and knowledge of enrolment best practices are all required. They are a data-informed decision maker who has a record of building strong and effective relationships across administrative and faculty departments in a complex university setting.
Qualifications and Experience:
While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.
- Bachelor’s degree, with a graduate degree considered an asset.
- Significant, progressive senior leadership experience in an academic institution with supervisory, operational, and administrative duties.
- Demonstrated commitment to Indigenization and decolonization; and equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Experience in student information technology, including relational databases (i.e. student information systems, LMS), human-centred systems design, and experience leading digital upgrade projects.
- Demonstrated ability to align policies and operations with broader institutional goals.
- Experience leading, supporting, and coaching a team, and overseeing complex budgets and operations.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
You are someone with:
- Creativity, empathy, and curiosity as a leader.
- A relentless optimist – striving to innovate and seeing possibilities where others see problems.
- The ability to face challenges and to exercise integrity, flexibility, wisdom, and good judgment in meeting them.
- The ability to work collegially and effectively within a unionized environment, building strong, trusting relationships.
- An exceptional listener who prioritizes human-centred practice, acting as a steward of positive culture while upholding Mount Allison’s values and principles.
- Decisiveness combined with a facilitative style and the ability to effectively explain decisions.
- A high energy level and the capacity to balance multiple priorities.
Mount Allison University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact accommodations@kbrs.ca to request accommodation.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Debra Clinton at dclinton@kbrs.ca, Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, or Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca or submit your full application package online at:https://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17423