Job Description & How to Apply Below
University of Windsor – Windsor, ON
The University of Windsor is seeking an experienced and values-driven leader to serve as its Vice‑President, Finance and Operations (VPFO). This pivotal opportunity shapes the future of the University through strategic, innovative, and collaborative leadership in support of UWindsor’s academic mission and long‑term success.
The Organization
University of Windsor is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations: the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. It is a comprehensive research and teaching institution with more than 16,000 students, located in Canada’s border city. The university combines excellence in teaching, research, and professional practice with a commitment to build stronger communities, treat people with respect and dignity, and address pressing societal needs.
The Role
Reporting to the President and Vice‑Chancellor, the VPFO provides strategic, ethical, and people‑centred leadership across the University’s administrative and operational portfolios including finance, facilities, information technology, ancillary services, environmental sustainability, enterprise risk management, and campus safety. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the VPFO works in close partnership with the Provost to advance integrated planning and decision‑making that aligns resources with academic priorities and long‑term institutional aspirations.
The VPFO plays a critical role in enabling the academic mission of the institution, ensuring that financial and operational decisions support the long‑term success of the University, its students, employees, and the Windsor community.
The university is at an important moment of transition and renewal. The VPFO will be a builder and change leader who moves the institution from short‑term, siloed decision‑making toward integrated, future‑focused resource planning. This leader fosters trust, curiosity, and a culture of creativity, helping teams move beyond entrenched practices and toward sustainable ways of working that support teaching, research, and community impact.
Key Areas of Oversight and Responsibility
Strategic Leadership & Governance – Provide forward‑looking leadership across portfolios, strengthen integrated institutional planning processes, and support effective governance practices. Lead transformational change and ensure long‑term aspirations shape financial and operational decisions.
Financial Stewardship – Lead financial operations, long‑term planning, and financial risk management with rigor and transparency, while advancing financial sustainability through thoughtful business planning and responsible revenue development. Engage academic leaders as partners in financial decision‑making and recognize the diversity and administrative complexity of academic programming, regulatory frameworks, and professional obligations.
Operational Management – Oversee facilities, information technology, ancillary services, sustainability, and campus safety, ensuring service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Prioritize modernizing and streamlining processes.
People‑Centred Leadership – Foster a supportive workplace culture rooted in reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Lead change with empathy and clarity, creating a supportive space for teams to learn, adapt, and take considered risks in service of the institution’s future.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate is a collaborative, curious, and future‑oriented leader with a demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex, unionized, and values‑driven community. Bring strong financial and operational expertise, paired with humility, empathy, and a genuine commitment to learning the academic context. Known as a builder and change‑maker who asks questions, listens carefully, and resists defaulting to “the way things have always been done.”
Understand that financial and operational leadership in higher education is about enabling people, programs, and research to thrive, not imposing control.
Qualifications and Experience
A degree in…
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