Lead, Campus Life at OCAD University

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create

Please note that internal job postings are open only to current permanent OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees and temporary OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees with one year of continuous service.

Reporting to the Director, Office of Student Affairs, the Lead, Campus Life provides strategic leadership for co-curricular initiatives that promote student belonging, engagement, and success. The role oversees the design, coordination, and evaluation of key experiences such as Orientation and Welcome activities, student leadership development, and inclusive initiatives for equity-deserving populations. In close collaboration with academic units, student services, and equity-focused offices and committees, the Lead ensures these offerings are student-centred, inclusive, and aligned with institutional goals. The position also supervises staff and student leaders, contributes to departmental planning and assessment, and helps cultivate a vibrant, supportive campus environment.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of co-curricular student life initiatives, including Orientation/Welcome and transition programs, student leadership development, and community-building activities
• Develop frameworks and priorities to support student belonging, engagement, and holistic development, with a focus on equity-deserving and underrepresented student populations
• Coordinate cross-departmental collaborations that align student life programming with institutional goals related to retention, student success, strategic mandate agreements and the University’s Academic & Strategic Plan
• Guide and mentor staff and student leaders involved in delivering student life programs and services
• Identify and pursue opportunities for sponsorship, funding, grants or partnerships to support the strategic programming of the unit

Inclusive Student Programming

• Oversee the development and delivery of programming that supports equity-deserving student populations (such as students who identify as Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour, 2SLGTBQIA+, students with disabilities and mature students)
• Collaborate with campus partners (e.g. International Student Support office, Student Wellness, Indigenous Student Centre, Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers) to align efforts and share resources in support of inclusive campus experiences

Orientation & Transition

• Provide strategic oversight for the design and delivery of the University’s Orientation and Welcome programming, including new student transition supports and extended programming into the academic year
• Build partnerships with academic units and student services to ensure Orientation programming supports both social integration and academic preparedness

Peer Support & Leadership

• Provide direction for peer-based programs such as the Welcome Squad and Peer Mentor programs, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and effective student training, support, and evaluation
• Develop student leader training that incorporates equity, diversity and inclusivity principles, anti-oppressive practice, wellness awareness, conflict resolution, and leadership competencies
• Provide input to policy and procedure development, training, resources and leadership development opportunities to student-led groups (e.g. associations, clubs, and councils) that are formally recognized by the University

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Collect and analyse data to assess the impact of student life programs, inform decision-making, and identify emerging needs and gaps in student support
• Ensure continuous improvement through student feedback, benchmarking, and evidence-informed practices

Operations, Supervision & Collaboration

• Provide regular supervision to casual/student staff supporting student life initiatives, and offer day-to-day oversight and guidance to staff within the unit, with informal input into performance and professional development as appropriate; coordinate budget planning and resource allocation for student life programming in collaboration with departmental leadership
• Contribute to departmental reporting, strategic planning, and cross-campus committees related to student engagement and belonging

Qualifications:

• A university degree in education, student affairs, social sciences, or a related field; a graduate degree is an asset
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in student affairs or higher education, with demonstrated leadership in co-curricular programming, democratic/civic engagement and equity-focused student support
• Experience developing and evaluating student transition, leadership, or engagement initiatives
• Strong understanding of and demonstrated experience and commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism frameworks as they relate to student development and campus programming
• Exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, and team-building skills; experience supervising staff and/or student leaders
• Proven ability to foster collaboration across departments and with students
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including budgeting and resource planning
• Experience with program assessment, data-informed planning, and continuous improvement models
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity and equity, and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty

Compensation: OPSEU Unit I, Appendix B, Grade B3; $77,914.95 to $102,401.21 per annum

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, for a total of 35 hours per week.

Mode of Work: This role is expected to report to work on campus, any flexibility falls under the provisions outlined in the Collective Agreement.

Interested internal permanent OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 or temporary OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees with one year of continuous service applicants are invited to submit an updated *resume and cover letter (PDF) , no later than Monday December 8, 2025.

• Please upload your resume and cover letter as one PDF. Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Job Code

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

OCAD 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 People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities.

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.