Chief Administrative Officer

Position Information

**Position Title**
- Chief Administrative Officer

**Department/Unit**
- Ocean Frontier Institute

**Research Project**

**Location**
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

**Posting Number**
- GP29-25

**Employee Group**
- Grant-Paid

**Position Type**
- Term

**Duration of Contract (if applicable)**
- 3 years with possibility of extension (secondments will be considered)

**Employment Type**
- Full Time

**Full-time Equivalency (FTE)**
- 1.0

**Salary**
- Commensurate with qualifications

**About the Organization**
- Dalhousie University’s Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) is one of the world’s most significant ocean science research and training collaborations with partnerships extending globally, across many sectors such as university, government, research institutes, industry, NGO, and philanthropic. OFI administers several ocean research and training programs, including Dalhousie’s two largest research grants from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF): _Transforming Climate Action: Addressing the Missing Ocean_ (TCA), and _Safe and Sustainable Development of the Ocean Frontier_(SSDOF) with institutional partners Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université Laval, Memorial University, and University of Prince Edward Island. For more information about OFI, visit ofi.ca.

**Job Summary**
- Reporting to the CEO & Scientific Director, and a key member of the OFI executive team, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) leads the administration of the OFI, including responsibility for finance, governance, and human resources, and is responsible for the implementation strategy of the two CFREF programs (TCA and SSDOF) and other strategic initiatives within OFI’s 3 research pillars: i) climate/carbon, ii) biodiversity, iii) bioresources. The CAO has 6 direct and 3 indirect reports.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Develop and implement strategy, policy, and processes to address key operational and administrative issues, often requiring engagement with other Dalhousie University administrative units and Faculties to ensure alignment.
- Human resource and financial planning and effective and efficient deployment of those resources towards OFI strategy and commitments, including provision of leadership for managing financial operations for OFI programs and grants with over ~$500M in funding and in-kind commitments.
- Advise on and manage governance processes, including policy and procedures development, implementation, and compliance.
- Strategically manage governing bodies (which include members internal to Dalhousie as well as members from other universities, government organizations, Indigenous community, NGOs, and industry) through agenda management, chairing and serving on governance bodies as mandated, engaging governing bodies on administrative and operational topics such as finance, human resources, risk management, policy, and other strategic areas, and overseeing implementation of decisions.
- Direct and oversee internal and external reporting requirements, and provide direction and oversight on implementation of resultant outcomes.
- Guide, coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance and promote a culture of respectful engagement and teamwork.

**Note**
- The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

**Required Qualifications**
- Master’s degree with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a complex senior level administrative role (or comparable), preferably within a university research environment.
- Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and guidance to a team of direct reports towards strategy and tactics implementation.
- Proven record of providing strategic advice to senior leaders and the confidence to voice and defend differing opinions.
- Strong understanding of governance, human resource management, and financial strategy

**Assets**
- Experience implementing a large, multi-organization research grant, such as a Canada First Research Excellence Fund, or similar
- PhD
- Bi-lingual (English and French)
- International relations experience

**Additional Information**
- Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a voluntary _RRSP_, health and dental plans and an employee and family assistance program._

**Application Consideration**

**Diversity Statement**

Posting Detail Information

**Number of Vacancies**
- 1

**Open Date**
- 05/16/2025

**Close Date**
- 05/30/2025

**Open Until Filled**
- No

**Special Instructions to Applicant**

**Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting