Director, Office of Academic Innovation and Teaching Excellence

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) is a community of learning grounded in scholarship and academic freedom, preparing students to be independent thinkers, ethical leaders and citizens for the common good.

CUE campus is situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood. Supporting a student body of nearly 3,000, we are known for our small class sizes and our excellence in teaching. Our small classes and diverse student population provide an excellent opportunity for engaging with students in a sustained and nurturing way unique within the Canadian university system. CUE is an institution that values research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and management. Our vision is to become Canada’s preeminent small university.

CUE is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for work, study, and living. We actively promote dignity for all, rejecting action and language that are harmful to mutual respect.

Reporting to the Deputy Provost, the Director, Office of Academic Innovation and Teaching Excellence (“Director”) provides strategic leadership for academic innovation, portfolio development, curriculum renewal, faculty development, and teaching excellence at Concordia University of Edmonton (“CUE”).

The Director serves as a catalyst for institutional innovation, helping faculties and academic leaders transform strategic opportunities into high quality academic programs, curricula, and learning experiences that advance student success and support the university's strategic and enrolment objectives.

Working collaboratively with Deans, faculty members, Institutional Research and Program Development, Student Services, Information Technology Services, and other campus partners, the Director fosters a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and academic excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Innovation & Strategy

• Market-Driven Development: Partners with Institutional Research to transform market data and labor trends into modern, high-demand academic offerings, including traditional degrees, stackable certificates, and micro-credentials.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Works closely with the Deputy Provost, Deans, and faculties to facilitate institution-wide dialogue, guide new program design, and facilitate and support the rollout of approved academic initiatives that promote innovation in teaching, learning, and curriculum, including approved interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Educational Model Innovation: Foster experimentation with new pedagogies, delivery models, and educational technologies to advance innovative approaches to student learning and engagement.

Curriculum Modernization & Quality Assurance

• Framework Design: Guides faculties through the technical side of education—curriculum mapping, learning outcome alignment, and program-level assessment.
• High-Impact Integration: Infuses modern educational practices into the curriculum, specifically targeting experiential learning, digital learning, artificial intelligence, educational technology, work-integrated learning, and evidence-based design.
• Accreditation Support: Acts as a key resource for academic units navigating rigorous program reviews and external accreditation milestones.

Faculty Development & Teaching Excellence

• Faculty Development: Designs and delivers comprehensive faculty programming, ranging from new faculty orientation to ongoing professional development in advanced teaching methodologies and ed-tech integration.
• Culture of Inquiry: Fosters collaborative communities of practice and champions scholarship of teaching and learning across the institution.

Strategic Institutional Initiatives

• Executive Projects: Leads and coordinates high-priority academic projects assigned by the Provost and Vice President, Academic or the Deputy Provost.
• Student-Centric Outcomes: Drives targeted initiatives aimed at boosting student success, academic engagement, and retention metrics.
• External Resourcing: Proactively identifies and pursues external funding opportunities to support teaching innovations.

Centre Leadership & Administration

• Operational Management: Directs the daily operations, budget, and annual strategic goals of the Centre.
• Assessment and Continuous Improvement: Measures, assesses, and reports on the tangible impact of the Centre's initiatives on the wider university community.
• External Advocacy: Represents the institution in professional networks and builds strategic partnerships both internally and externally.

REQUIREMENTS:

· Doctoral degree from a recognized institution in education, a disciplinary field, or a related area is required.

· A minimum of five (5) combined years of demonstrated leadership experience in higher education and a record of successful teaching in post-secondary education is required.

· Significant experience supporting teaching and learning initiatives is required.

· Experience in curriculum design, curriculum renewal, or academic program development is required.

· Demonstrated success leading complex projects and managing organizational change is considered an asset.

· Experience working collaboratively with faculty and academic leaders is required.

· Knowledge of current trends and emerging practices in post-secondary education is considered an asset.

· Ability to pass a clear criminal record check is required.

Closing Date: Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Please direct all questions and inquiries to Human Resources at Concordia University of Edmonton [email protected].

Concordia University of Edmonton encourages applications from members of racialized groups, visible minorities, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, women, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and others who may support a diversity of perspectives at CUE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.