Position Title
Assistant University Secretary
Department/Unit
President's Office
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Position Type
Regular, On-Going
Duration of Contract (if applicable)
Employment Type
Full Time
Full-time Equivalency (FTE)
1.0
Salary
$91,752 - $123,736 per annum
Provisional Statement
This is a provisional classification. Formal regular review classification procedures may be initiated at any time by the incumbent or supervisor after the incumbent has worked a minimum of six months in the role.
About Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.
Job Summary
The Office of University Legal Counsel is responsible for managing the university’s legal affairs, provision of counsel to senior officers, and administrative and academic units on a wide range of legal issues affecting university programs, activities and operations. Reporting to the General Counsel and University Secretary and to the Associate Vice President, Planning and Strategy, the Assistant University Secretary will oversee the governance work within the University Secretariat. This will include managing the day-today work of the governance staff, as well as leading cross‑functional projects that strengthen institutional governance, compliance, and decision‑making processes. The role oversees governance modernization initiatives, policy updates, technology implementations and process improvements that support the Board of Governors, Senate, and related committees.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the University Secretariat’s governance function, ensuring effective support to the Board, Senate, and their committees.
- Lead and develop a high-performing governance team, including oversight of staffing, performance management, and consistent application of HR policies and best practices.
- Drive governance modernization and continuous improvement initiatives, including implementation of legislative requirements and enhancement of governance processes and frameworks.
- Oversee the design, review, and implementation of institutional policies and committee terms of reference, ensuring alignment with regulatory and legislative obligations.
- Lead complex governance projects from planning through execution, including stakeholder consultation, risk management, and reporting to senior leadership and governing bodies.
- Develop and deliver stakeholder engagement and change management strategies, including communications, training, and facilitation of workshops to support governance initiatives.
Note
The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in management, public administration, law, information management, or related field, with five or more years’ experience in governance, project management, or complex administrative environments (or an equivalent combination of training and experience).
- Experience with governance technology platforms or document/records management systems. Proficiency with project‑tracking tools.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi‑stakeholder projects from planning through completion.
- Understanding of institutional governance, Senate/Board structures.
- Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students.
- High judgment, confidentiality, and diplomatic communication skills, with strong writing and research abilities (briefing notes, policy analysis, project reports).
Assets
- Experience in university or public sector environments.
- Project Management certification (PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2) or governance credential (e.g., Governance Professional designation).
Job Competencies
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s
core and
leadership competencies, in particular:
- Respect & Inclusion
- Adaptability
- Knowledge & Thinking Skills
- Thinking and Acting Strategically
- Relationship Building
- Resource & Process Management
Additional Information
Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.
Application Consideration
Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.
We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or People and Culture.
Diversity Statement
Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please review our Employment Equity information.
If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.
