“At SAIT, we need to live and breathe innovation. It’s what keeps us ahead of the curve.” — Janet Welch, Vice President, Academic

In today’s rapidly evolving post-secondary landscape, embracing disruption and challenging the status quo is essential for staying ahead and relevant. The Academic Transformation Office serves as a facilitator for institutional growth and success; we are a dedicated and specialized team designed to help schools navigate and thrive in this dynamic environment.

We explore possibilities with an innovative lens and work closely with leaders across the institute with one goal: improving student experiences. We ensure schools remain operational and at the forefront of innovation. By anticipating future trends and challenges, we enable proactive adaptations that safeguard the institution’s long-term resiliency.

One of our core services is an Incubator program. We work on advanced projects that require a high degree of creativity and independence from traditional organizational structures. Our approach encourages a culture of innovation, making implementing new ideas and improvements rapidly easier.

The Opportunity

The Academic Transformation Office Incubator Lead will spearhead complicated operating initiatives to identify, develop, and implement innovative strategies and solutions for the Academic Portfolio. This role requires a visionary project leader with a deep understanding of academic trends, technology integration, and change management. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving opportunities and fostering a culture of innovation.

The Role

Leadership & Management (25%)
Develop, articulate, and engage incubator advisory committee members and partners in a strategic vision
Align incubator initiatives with the institution’s mission and strategic goals
Identify key areas for transformation and innovation within the academic landscape
Analyze data and feedback to improve innovation processes and outcomes
Foster a culture of creativity and experimentation within the incubator
Lead and encourage exploring and implementing cutting-edge educational technologies and methodologies
Partner with the Discovery Specialist to facilitate ideation sessions to generate and refine innovative ideas

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)
Build and maintain strong relationships with SAIT Executive leaders, Academic leaders, faculty, and staff
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive academic transformation initiatives related to the assigned incubator
Organize workshops and expert meetings to investigate, brainstorm and uncover opportunities and barriers
Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for the advisory committee
Encourage a continuous learning environment within the incubator and the broader institution

Project Management (20%)
Manage the incubator’s budget, resources, and timeline to ensure effective project delivery
Ensure process workshops or sprints are delivered on time, within scope, and budget
Test, pilot and scale innovative opportunities
Establish and monitor metrics and KPIs to evaluate the success and impact of assigned initiatives

Research, Evaluation and Impact Assessment (20%)
Conduct and oversee any required research to enable ideation, patterns, and trends
Develop and test structural prototypes and pilot solutions to validate new ideas and concepts
Implement assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of incubator projects
Collect and analyze data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement
Prepare and present reports on incubator activities and outcomes to senior leadership

Compliance and Risk Management (15%)
Ensure that all initiatives comply with institutional policies and regulatory requirements
Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with transformation projects
Uphold ethical standards in all incubator activities

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum
Bachelor degree in relevant field such as Business Administration, Organization Effectiveness, Entrepreneurship, or a related discipline
5-7 years of experience in innovative non-technical projects, business analysis, organization structure and change management
Proven track record in business development, innovation, and organization effectiveness project management
Strong leadership abilities with experience in managing teams and projects
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with SAIT Executive leaders, Academic leaders, faculty, and staff
Ability to mentor and support transformation change within a academic setting
Ability to build and maintain partnerships with industry leaders, investors, and academic stakeholders
Experience in developing and facilitating innovative programs, workshops, and training sessions
Additional certifications in entrepreneurship, innovation management, or related areas are advantageous

Preferred
Bachelor degree in Business or Organization Effectiveness or a related field
High proficiency in analyzing market trends and patterns, plans, feasibility, and financial projections
Organization Change Management and Organization Effectiveness or Development training
Familiarity with the specific needs and opportunities within polytechnic and technical education environments
Ability to handle setbacks and challenges with resilience and a positive attitude

Skills

Proven track record of leading and managing transformation initiatives.
Strong understanding of current and emerging trends in higher education.
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and build consensus.
Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and change within an academic environment.
Experience in guiding information-driven decision-making processes.

Job Classification: PROJECT COORDINATOR (B) – P2044

Salary Range: $80,000 – $90,000

Paid Leave: 4 Weeks Vacation / 14 Flex Days per year

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Posting Close Date: August 30, 2024

View a summary of our benefits and perks for salaried employees as one of Alberta’s Top Employers, including health & dental care, pension plan, vacation & special leave and flexible work options at our beautiful inner-city campus.

About SAIT

SAIT is a global leader in applied education. Named one of Alberta’s Top Employers, we offer the chance to work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers.

Building on our 100+ year history, we’re looking for innovative, bold and collaborative employees who embrace change and deliver world-class customer experiences. Your future starts now at SAIT.

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about EDI at SAIT.

At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT – so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.

SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to the Talent Advisor.

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