Provost and Vice-President Academic

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Athabasca University respectfully acknowledges that we live and work on the Traditional Lands of the Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) of Canada. We honour the ancestry, heritage, and gifts of the Indigenous Peoples and give thanks to them.

Located in the stunning Athabasca Region of Alberta, Athabasca University (AU), is Canada’s foremost innovator in flexible, online and accessible learning. AU’s academic mission is devoted to the removal of barriers to post-secondary education for learners, regardless of their age, location, career or education background. With a complement of over 1,200 faculty and staff serving over 45,000 students in every province and territory in Canada and 91 countries worldwide, AU offers more than 850 courses in 55 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the sciences, business, humanities and social sciences, and health disciplines.

Putting AU learners at the center, AU is on an exciting journey of growth and evolution built on its distinctive history, enduring values, and core mandate. Guided by its ambitious Like No Other Strategic Plan 2024-29, AU’s approach to accessible and transformative education and research, in digital space and in place in Athabasca, is highly complex and truly distinctive. As AU looks to its next five years of growth, innovation, and discovery, the University seeks an inspirational, visionary and highly collegial Provost and Vice-President Academic to lead and promote the University’s academic mission, which is centered around access, opportunity and community. With a key role on the most diverse senior leadership team in AU’s history, and supervising a large and diverse portfolio, the Provost will work collaboratively to propel AU into a key phase of strategic plan implementation, technological change, and community impact across place and digital space. The role demands a visionary and relational approach to working with highly diverse interest holders (including community members, student leaders, and Faculties) and reconciling numerous and complex factors influencing institutional impact, excellence, sustainability, and growth.

The Provost has a pivotal role to consistently foster academic excellence, research and scholarship, and high-quality learner experience, to further the reputation, reach and impact of AU as a university like no other. Reporting to the President and working daily with the Vice Presidents, Deans, and other senior leaders at AU, the Provost is the Chief Academic Officer and principal advisor to the President on all academic affairs.

The Provost will possess an earned PhD from an internationally recognized university, significant leadership experience in central university administration in diverse institutional roles, a strong track record of supporting academic excellence, and an appreciation of the diverse academic and organizational culture of an open university that is both online and place-based in Athabasca. They will possess a strong commitment to advancing AU’s academic enterprise; the ability to inspire the University community in pursuit of its academic goals of access, opportunity and community; the capacity to promote intellectual curiosity and a culture of excellence in teaching and learning; and, a genuine dedication to ensuring an outstanding student experience. The Provost must have exceptionally strong interpersonal and communication skills; a transparent and collaborative leadership style combined with a strong institutional vision; a drive for continuous learning, improvement and personal growth; a deep commitment to actions to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility; and an abiding respect for the principles and practices of collegial governance and Truth and Reconciliation. Aligned with the President, an ongoing, meaningful, and active presence in and across the Athabasca region is essential.

Consideration of candidates will commence in December 2024. Applications are encouraged online at https://careers.odgersberndtson.com/en-ca/job/30131. Nominations, applications and/or expressions of interest should be submitted, in confidence, to Andrea Patrick or Krutika Hotwani of Odgers Berndtson no later than January 20, 2025 at athabascauprovost@odgersberndtson.com. The incoming Provost will ideally assume office in April 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. Working outside of Canada is not supported by Athabasca University. You are legally not permitted to work for Athabasca University if you are living outside of Canada.

Athabasca University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, persons of any gender identity and expression, and members of visible minorities.

Athabasca First
Wherever possible, AU seeks to attract and hire qualified team members to reside in the Athabasca region. We will offer relocation assistance for the right candidate should you decide to relocate to the Town of Athabasca. As a resident of the town or county of Athabasca, you can choose to work on and from our beautiful campus in Athabasca.

To discover the Town and Region of Athabasca, go to: Visit Athabasca.ca

Where applicants have equal skills, abilities, and experience, candidates residing within or willing to relocate to the County of Athabasca will be given preference.

Athabasca University and Odgers Berndtson respect people’s different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants during the process. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please inform Odgers Berndtson at athabascauprovost@odgersberndtson.com.

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