Executive Director, Ancillary Operations

Executive Director of Ancillary Operations

McMaster University is actively seeking a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as its Executive Director of Ancillary Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of a diverse $140-million portfolio of ancillary services, driving service excellence, operational integration, innovation, and sustainable growth while enhancing the student experience and advancing the University's long-term financial sustainability.

McMaster University

Ranked among the top 150 universities globally, through its cutting-edge research and world-class teaching and learning, McMaster University is a research-intensive, student-centred university dedicated to advancing human and societal health and well-being in its community and around the world. Known internationally for excellence in teaching, learning, innovation, and creativity, McMaster prepares students to be engaged, thoughtful citizens equipped to make a positive impact. As a member of Canada’s U15 group, McMaster boasts a research income of $423 million and is recognized for pioneering problem-based learning and educational innovation. With six Faculties including Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences, McMaster fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to solve complex global challenges. The University is the only Canadian member of Universitas 21 and is home to McMaster Innovation Park, a leading hub for research, startups, and industry partnerships.

Ancillary Operations

Ancillary Operations at McMaster University delivers a wide range of essential services across campus, including housing, hospitality, retail, printing, parking, and other key offerings that contribute directly to the vibrancy and functioning of the university. Together these units deliver important support services to the McMaster community, contributing to the student-life experience, and generating revenues which contribute to the overall financial health of the University.

The Position

Reporting to the Vice-President, Operations and Finance, the Executive Director, Ancillary Operations provides leadership and strategic oversight for McMaster University’s ancillaries. With the opening of the new 1400-bed residence (Lincoln Alexander Hall), the total Ancillary Operations portfolio will be about $140 million.

The role is accountable for leading a diverse revenue-generating portfolio of ancillary operations with a dual mandate of delivering exceptional, student-centred campus services while achieving long-term strategic growth and operational excellence through entrepreneurial leadership, innovative service delivery, and evolving business models.

The role serves as a key advisor to the Vice-President (Operations and Finance) on ancillary strategy, financial risk, capital investments and emerging issues.

The Executive Director establishes the framework to ensure ancillary operations contribute meaningfully to the University’s student experience, long-term financial sustainability and broader institutional priorities. Through a team of Directors, the role provides strategic direction and oversight to maximize revenue opportunities, strengthen cost management practices, respond to market trends and partnership opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and ensure high-quality, accessible, and campus services across the ancillary portfolio. The Executive Director will shape and lead the transition to a more integrated, coordinated enterprise
- designing shared standards and common governance while advancing a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

As a member of the Operations and Finance division, the Executive Director serves as a strategic partner to senior leaders across the University, fostering collaborative relationships that advance institutional priorities, enhance the student and campus experience, and identify opportunities for innovation, integration and service excellence.

The Ideal Candidate

Recognizing that no one candidate is likely to meet all of the following qualifications in equal measure, they are desirable and will be used in the assessment of candidates for the position:

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as business, higher education leadership, finance, or public administration. Graduate Degree is preferred.
• Specialized training in strategic planning, operational excellence, and/or student development is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex, unionized, multi-internal and external partner environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large, high-performing teams, building strategic partnerships, and fostering collaboration across diverse constituent groups.
• Experience in a post-secondary environment is an asset, including knowledge of higher educ