Vice President, Community Engagement{
Long before Canada was formed, the Stó:lō (people of the river) occupied the land on which the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is located. They lived in the Fraser Valley and lower Fraser Canyon of British Columbia and they spoke Halq'eméylem, also known as the upriver dialect. The university is steadfastly committed to Indigenization and the honouring of Indigenous knowledge at all touchpoints of learning. Learn more about Stó:lō territory by watching the video: Beautiful Land of the River
UFV is a fully accredited, public university that enrolls approximately 15,000 students per year. Founded in 1974 as Fraser Valley College, UFV achieved university status in 2008 and from its inception has been a student-centred institution and dedicated partner in the Fraser Valley’s social, cultural, economic, and sustainable development. It has campuses and locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Hope, and a presence in Chandigarh, India. UFV is large enough to offer variety, and yet small class sizes allow students to get to know instructors and learn in a supportive and enriching environment with an abundance of opportunities for practical experience. UFV offers more than 100 programs, including three master’s degrees, 21 bachelor’s degrees with majors, minors, and extended minors in more than 35 subject areas, four graduate certificates, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs. UFV has nearly 46,000 alumni, 15,000 current students, and 1,300 employees. To learn more about working at UFV, please watch the following video: Why Not Both.
As one of BC’s top employers for the past eight consecutive years, UFV is in one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in British Columbia and is driving distance to the beautiful city of Vancouver. In 2021, UFV launched a new integrated strategic plan titled IYAQAWTWX (House of Transformation). Grounded in UFV’s core values of integrity, inclusivity, community, and excellence, the plan defines the strategic goals and imperatives UFV will integrate into all activities to transform its work and carry out its mission of engaging learners, transforming lives, and building community.
It is within this context that UFV welcomes nominations and applications for the position of Vice President, Community Engagement (“Vice President”).
Reporting to the President and working closely with other members of UFV’s senior executive team, the Vice President provides vision and leadership to internal and external constituents to advance UFV’s vision, mission, and integrated strategic plan. The role holds primary responsibility for planning and programming related to marketing, communications, university advancement, alumni engagement, community engagement, and ceremonies and events. Strongly connected to diverse internal and external communities, the Vice President is responsive to those communities through relationship‐building, strategic communications, and partnerships. In all, the Vice President is focused on UFV’s commitment to excellence in postsecondary education by identifying ways to maintain and enhance the university’s reputation and partnerships locally, provincially, and beyond.
As the ideal candidate, you have significant strategic leadership experience and business acumen gained through related experiences in your career. Your progressive career path includes senior management accountabilities, preferably in a unionized public sector environment. As a high-integrity leader, you build a team culture that is collaborative, agile, responsive, empowering, and supportive of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and supporting Indigenous peoples through the TRC’s Calls to Actions to decolonize academic institutions. You bring a depth of experience in major gift fundraising, stewardship and relationship building through public and private philanthropic activities, and developing and implementing organizational marketing and communications strategies. You demonstrate a proven record of forging strong relationships with cross‐functional teams and external stakeholders, with building internal and external support for strategic goals and objectives, and with developing and executing strategic plans. Applicants for this position will hold a Master’s degree; however an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
To explore this opportunity please contact Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) and Denny Young (denny@griffithgroup.ca).
UFV welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
In accordance with the provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Griffith Group and UFV throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact jane@griffithgroup.ca