Full-time: Director, Student Engagement (12 Month Contract)

Closing: February 27, 2026 at 4:00pm

Reports To: General Manager and CEO

Mission: To create an environment that inspires a passion for student success.

Desired Results of the Position: 

A unified, trusted, and student-centred organizational voice across all platforms and touchpoints

Strong alignment between strategic priorities, communications, brand expression, and student engagement initiatives

Highly engaged students who understand, value, and participate in the Algonquin Students’ Association (SA)

Consistent, inclusive, and effective student life programming across all campuses

Department portfolios operating with clarity, cohesion, and measurable impact

Nature and Scope
The Director of Student Engagement is accountable for the strategic integration, oversight, and performance alignment of the SA’s communications, strategy, marketing, brand, and student life portfolios.

This role provides executive leadership to department leads and ensures that organizational strategy, messaging, engagement initiatives, and student programming function as a cohesive system. The Director establishes direction, standards, and accountability to ensure consistency, effectiveness, and strategic impact across departments.

The position operates in a complex, student-facing, multi-campus environment and requires strong executive judgment, systems thinking, and stakeholder leadership while taking the lead on important projects as needed.

Job Duties:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment

Provide strategic leadership to ensure alignment between organizational priorities, brand expression, communications, and student engagement initiatives

Translate Board and General Manager priorities into an integrated strategic direction across all portfolios

Lead cross-portfolio planning to ensure initiatives are prioritized, measurable, and aligned with long-term organizational goals

Brand, Communications & Reputation Oversight

Provide executive oversight of brand strategy, communications frameworks, and public relations approaches

Ensure consistent organizational messaging, tone, and identity across internal and external channels

Oversee reputation management, including crisis communications readiness and issues management in coordination with senior leadership

Student Engagement & Student Life

Provide strategic oversight of student life programming to ensure inclusive, engaging, and high-impact student experiences

Ensure student engagement initiatives align with organizational priorities, equity commitments, and institutional partnerships

Champion student voice, feedback mechanisms, and data-informed engagement strategies

Strategic Planning & Performance Measurement

Oversee organization-wide strategic planning processes in collaboration with the Communications and Strategy portfolio

Ensure the development, monitoring, and evaluation of KPIs across brand, communications, and student engagement initiatives

Use data insights to assess effectiveness, inform decision-making, and drive continuous improvement

People Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

Lead, coach, and support departments to ensure accountability, collaboration, and high performance

Ensure consistent leadership practices related to performance management, succession planning, and professional development

Act as an escalation point for complex cross-departmental or reputational issues in collaboration with Human Resources

Stakeholder & Institutional Relations

Serve as a senior representative of the SA with Algonquin College, community partners, media, and external stakeholders

Support Board visibility and engagement through coordinated communications and engagement strategies

Foster strong internal collaboration across SA departments to strengthen institutional alignment

Policy & Risk Oversight

Ensure compliance with organizational policies, legislative requirements, and accessibility standards related to communications and engagement

Provide oversight of policies governing communications, social media, brand usage, and public engagement

Identify and mitigate reputational, strategic, and engagement-related risks

Reporting & Accountability

Ensure timely, accurate reporting on strategic initiatives, engagement outcomes, and organizational performance

Monitor progress toward stated results and recommend corrective actions where required

Support evidence-based reporting to the General Manager and Board as needed

Special projects as assigned by the General Manager.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership and Systems Thinking

Brand Stewardship and Organizational Narrative

Stakeholder and Student Engagement Leadership

Executive Judgment and Risk Management

People Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Change Leadership and Continuous Improvement

Desired Skills and Qualifications

Required

Post-secondary degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Strategic Planning, or a related field, or equivalent experience

Progressive senior leadership experience of ten (10) years minimum, overseeing multi-disciplinary teams

Demonstrated experience of ten (10) years minimum in communications, marketing, brand management, student engagement or strategic planning.

Strong understanding of reputation management and stakeholder relations

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred

Experience in a post-secondary or student services environment

Experience working within a Board-governed organization

Demonstrated experience leading organization-wide change initiatives

Familiarity with equity, diversity, and inclusion frameworks in student engagement

Other Requirements

Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required

Willingness to travel between campuses

Commitment to upholding the values and reputation of the SA and Algonquin College

Summary

The Director, Student Engagement, provides executive-level leadership to ensure the SA speaks with a unified voice, engages students meaningfully, and delivers inclusive, strategic, high-impact student experiences, while empowering teams to lead operational excellence within their portfolios.

Compensation:

This position is a one-year contract with a salary range of $100,000 to $125,000, with the potential for extension subject to organizational needs and performance.

The Algonquin Students’ Association offers a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. This includes participation in a pension plan, extended health and dental coverage, vision care, and other supportive benefits that promote well-being. Employees also enjoy complimentary access to our on-campus fitness facilities, along with additional perks that foster a healthy, engaged, and active workplace culture.