Executive Director, Assistant Dean, Osgoode Professional Development, Osgoode Hall Law School

Job Overview
Osgoode Professional Development (OsgoodePD) is the revenue-generating
professional education unit of Osgoode Hall Law School, operating within a highly
competitive commercial market for professional and executive continuing education.
OsgoodePD is unique within law schools: the scope and volume of its offerings and its
financial contribution to the law school is unparalleled. OsgoodePD offers degree and
non-degree programs to both local and international students. Offerings include full-time
and part-time graduate degrees and diplomas, non-degree certificates, short courses
and skills workshops, summer school and bridging programs, webinars, and custom
training for private and public sector organizations. Staff and programs are located at
both the York University campus and Osgoode’s downtown learning centre. A
significant number of offerings are offered online.

The Executive Director & Assistant Dean (ED&AD) provides senior executive leadership
and strategic direction for Osgoode Professional Development (OPD), with
accountability for its academic portfolio, financial performance, market growth, revenue
diversification, long-term sustainability, risk management, and reputation. Reporting to
the Dean, the ED&AD establishes strategic priorities, approves multi-year business and
academic plans, and sets strategic direction for the development of existing and
emerging markets, programs, and revenue opportunities in alignment with Osgoode and
University objectives.

Leading through a management team, the ED&AD oversees the development and
governance of graduate, professional, and non-credit programs, approves business
models and partnership approaches, and leads the development of strategies to
respond to significant changes in market conditions, professional requirements,
regulatory frameworks, and learner demand that may affect enrolment, program
viability, and revenue. The role ensures effective resource allocation and accountability
for program quality, compliance, financial sustainability, and organizational outcomes.
As OPD’s senior representative, the ED&AD provides leadership in academic
governance, represents OPD on internal and external bodies, and builds relationships
within the legal and professional education communities. Drawing on knowledge of
emerging trends and the needs of the profession, the ED&AD serves as a key advisor
to the Dean on law school strategy and professional legal education.

Key Responsibilities
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for Osgoode Professional Development
(OPD), working closely with the Dean to establish its vision, mission, values, and
annual and multi-year strategic and business plans and to advance strategic
opportunities and partnerships that support the priorities of OPD and Osgoode.
• Provide overall leadership and accountability for OPD’s academic, financial,
marketing, and administrative functions through senior managers and professional
staff.
• Oversee environmental scanning, market intelligence, and competitive analysis to
inform OPD’s program portfolio, market positioning, and long-term growth priorities.
• Identify, evaluate, and advance opportunities to expand and diversify OPD’s markets
and revenue streams in Canada and internationally, including entry into new
geographic and learner markets and the development of new programs, credentials,
non-credit offerings, and delivery models.
• Leads the development and implementation of market growth and revenue growth
and diversification strategies, identifying and advancing new markets, program
opportunities, and revenue streams to support the long-term financial sustainability
of the portfolio and mitigate revenue impacts arising from significant changes in the
external regulatory and market environment.
• Ensure OPD’s financial sustainability, operational viability, compliance, and risk
management through oversight of budgets, financial reporting, resource allocation,
revenue strategies, and performance objectives.
• Direct, coach, and evaluate OPD’s management team, empowering managers to
lead day-to-day operations and make decisions within their respective areas of
accountability, while fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and values-driven culture
and ensuring compliance with institutional human resources policies.
• Lead organization-wide change and continuous improvement across OPD by
establishing improvement priorities, directing the redesign of programs, processes,
systems, and service-delivery models, and ensuring changes are implemented and
evaluated through the management team.
• Provide executive oversight of business models, strategic partnerships, and joint
ventures in Canada and internationally, including their development, approval,
governance, and ongoing alignment with OPD’s academic, market development,
and financial objectives.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external institutions,
professional associations, and legal education and training organizations in Canada
and internationally to advance OPD’s academic, market development, partnership,
and growth objectives.
• Collaborate with academic leaders on graduate program governance, including
admissions frameworks, curriculum oversight, instructional resources, academic
accommodations, program evaluation, and quality assurance.
• Ensure appropriate governance structures and accountabilities are in place for
curriculum design, instructional quality, subject-matter expertise, academic policy
compliance, accreditation, and program outcomes.
• Set the strategic direction for marketing and communications, ensuring brand
alignment, market positioning, learner engagement, and enrolment growth objectives
are met.
• Guide decisions regarding infrastructure, systems, technology, and learning-platform
investments to support program quality, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Provide academic leadership and represent OPD within Faculty and University
governance, including Faculty Council, the University’s Non-Degree Studies
Committee, and other academic committees and governance bodies, contributing to
academic policy, program governance, and the advancement of graduate and
professional legal education.
• Maintain accountability for the execution, promotion, and evaluation of OPD’s
program portfolio through established performance measures.
• Provide final-level oversight and direction on escalated student and instructor
matters, ensuring quality, equity, and institutional reputation are upheld.

Minimum Education, Training & Credentials
• A law degree, or, in the absence of a law degree, a master’s degree in business or a
related field.

Minimum Experience
• Eight (8) years of related experience.
• Six (6) years of management experience.
• Experience in the practice of law, academic administration, management, product
development, marketing or business.
• Experience in strategic leadership and financial accountability in a business role
leading a team to produce tangible results.

Knowledge
• Comprehensive knowledge of professional, continuing, executive, and graduate
education, including adult learning principles, credentialling models, curriculum and
program development, delivery modalities, and the needs of professional learners.
• In-depth knowledge of the professional legal education environment, including
emerging trends, competitive offerings, licensing and continuing professional
development requirements, and pathways for internationally trained lawyers.
• Comprehensive knowledge of program portfolio management, market research and
viability assessment, enrolment trends, pricing, and the development of new
educational products and delivery approaches.
• Comprehensive knowledge of strategic and business planning, organizational
development, business-model design, performance management, and growth
strategies applicable to a revenue-generating educational enterprise.
• In-depth knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, revenue
generation, investment analysis, resource allocation, financial controls, and risk
management.
• In-depth knowledge of University and academic governance, including academic
policies, admissions principles, curriculum oversight, quality assurance,
accreditation, program approval, and evaluation processes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of partnership and joint-venture development, contract
and relationship management, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative
governance involving academic institutions, professional associations, and other
external organizations.
• Knowledge of applicable legislative, regulatory, and institutional requirements,
including privacy, accessibility, human rights, employment, labour relations, records
management, and contractual obligations.

Skills
• Effective leadership and interpersonal skills, including ability to foster inclusive, high-performing, results-oriented teams in a complex, unionized environment.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships, establish trust and effectively influence
stakeholders at all levels, including external bodies, Advisory Groups, potential
partners, and academic leadership.
• Ability to persuade potential stakeholders to participate in new initiatives, including
new programs.
• Ability to drive strategic initiatives and achieve outcomes through collaboration, with
a strong client-centred service orientation.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly
and engage diverse audiences.
• Effective strategic thinking and change management skills, with the ability to
conceptualize, implement and continuously improve processes, policies and
operational frameworks.
• Ability to plan, implement and oversee complex, sensitive and high-impact initiatives,
including new product development, infrastructure, facilities and health and safety-related projects.
• Effective problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify
risks and develop practical, solutions-focused and innovative approaches.
• Ability to proactively identify opportunities for revenue generation, product
development, improvement and drive continuous enhancement in operations,
infrastructure management and health and safety practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, integrity, initiative, and maintain confidentiality
and politically sensitive matters with discretion, tact and diplomacy.
• Effective organizational and leadership skills, with strong attention to detail and the
ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintaining a high level of service
to clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to project manage new product development, including new programs, and
new educational technology.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

We appreciate the time and effort all applicants invest in their submissions. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for this role will be contacted directly. However, your profile will remain under consideration for future opportunities that align with your experience and career goals.All qualified applicants will receive fair consideration for employment. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities including those who identify as women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If you require an accommodation, please review our accessibility policy and reach out to our accessibility officer with any questions. Our human recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. On occasion, we also use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.