President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean & CEO
NOSM University

• • In collaboration with the Administration and other staff, key constituents, and the Board develops and recommends the strategic plan to the Board of Governors for review and approval.
     
  • With the Board, reviews the University’s progress in achieving the objectives set out in the strategic, operational, and capital plans.
     
  • Drafted in collaboration with the Administration and other staff, key constituents, and the Board, develops and recommends the annual operational and capital plans and budgets to the Board of Governors for review and approvals.
     
  • Promotes efforts to build and strengthen NOSM University’s data holdings and analytic capacity so that the University can accurately track, measure, and quantify health outcomes and impact on the North.

• • Ensures that the University delivers high-quality teaching, research, and reports to the Board and Senate.
     
  • Builds on NOSM University’s compelling vision and mission to educate, train, recruit, and retain physicians for the North.
     
  • Identifies opportunities to advance and deliver on that vision, mandate, and direction and ensures programs continue to meet and exceed the standards of quality and continuous improvement which are foundational to NOSM University.
     
  • As Dean, oversees and ensures the accreditation of all programs and their alignment with any accredited specific programs such as Doctor of Medicine governed by the CACMS, CACME, RCPSC, and CFPC standards of accreditation as well as the Institutional Quality Assurance Framework for the University under the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).
     
  • Sets university goals and the determination of priorities and allocation of resources to meet those goals.
     
  • Creates a sense of harmony and unity across the University community and its distributed ‘campus’, stretching across Northern Ontario.
     
  • Leads efforts to strategically enhance the quality of NOSM University’s undergraduate and graduate programs, ensuring they are accredited and of the highest standards.

• • Ensures the integrity of the University’s internal controls and management systems.
     
  • Provides sound administrative and financial stewardship and ensures that NOSM University’s processes for operational and academic decision-making, budgeting, resource allocation, project planning, priority-setting, etc. are well-defined, well-understood, transparent, fair, and objective.
     
  • Ensures the Board has the information needed to execute its fiduciary obligations and the effective corporate governance and fiscal management of the University.
     
  • Identifies and keeps the Board informed on principal risks of the University’s business and ensures the implementation of systems to manage these risks.
     
  • Champions the University's advancement initiatives and campaigns and develops diversified income streams to ensure the long-term financial viability of the University.

• • Develops and implements operational policies to guide the University within the limits prescribed by the framework of the strategic directions adopted by the Board.
     
  • Champions NOSM University’s social accountability mandate and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statement that the University’s learners, faculty, clinicians, Board, staff, and the communities it serves will continue to embrace.

• • Ensures the University maintains a high level of ethical business conduct and operates within the limits of the law.
     
  • Fosters an environment of equity, social accountability, and transparency throughout the University community.

• • Provides guidance, mentorship, and support to NOSM University’s academic and administrative leadership teams, ensuring that they have the tools, resources, infrastructure, and skills to deliver on their respective mandates.
     
  • Approves the position descriptions for those to whom the President delegates their powers and duties, including the Vice-President, Provost, vice deans, associate and assistant deans, division heads, senior administrative staff, faculty, and operational committees. The Vice Dean Academic and/or Provost (if appointed), vice deans, vice presidents, university secretary, and several other staff members report to the President.

• • Is active and visible across NOSM University.
     
  • Fosters a collegial, supportive organizational and academic culture of respect, transparency, diversity, and inclusion that attracts, retains, and ensures success of students, faculty, and employees.
     
  • Negotiates new and renewed relationships with other Universities, colleges, hospitals and academic health science centers, community leads, and organizations that partner with NOSM University.
     
  • Represents and advocates at local, provincial, national, and international levels.
     
  • Builds strong relationships with a range of important external stakeholders (i.e., academic, healthcare, research, community, Indigenous, Francophone, partners in care - primary, acute, long term, home care, etc.) in support of the University’s social accountability mandate.
     
  • Partners with all levels of government to support ongoing investments in NOSM University and rural/remote/Francophone/Indigenous healthcare and community and socio-economic development.
     
  • Nurtures relationships and promotes a higher degree of integration, collaboration, and cross-pollination (i.e., advancement, research partnerships, co-branding, etc.), to leverage their strengths and reduce inefficiency.
     
  • Leads efforts to develop a strategy to diversify and generate new revenues beyond government funding.
     
  • Positions NOSM University, and Northern Ontario, as a hub of research excellence and an importer and exporter of evidence-informed knowledge of and for the North.
     
  • Represents NOSM University at key academic medicine and health policy tables and at all related University tables.
     
  • Partners with other medical or other Universities in Ontario to put forward a strong and shared voice for investments in medical education across the province. Also partners with Canadian Universities, Colleges, and international institutions to build a world-class reputation for the University.

• • Establishes, in conjunction with the Board Chair, an annual list of personal performance objectives (within the context of the strategic plan) to be achieved in the forthcoming year.

• • Establishes agendas in collaboration with the Board Chair that are aligned with the annual Board goals, work plan, and current issues.
     
  • Continues to advance the Board’s ongoing work on governance to ensure compliance with best practices.
     
  • Serves as the Board’s central point of official communication with the Board, its committees, and the Senior Executive Leadership with respect to both Board policy direction and decisions and matters of interest/concern to individual Directors.
     
  • In collaboration with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, develops the standards and format for Board reporting by Board committees and the Senior Executive Leadership.
     
  • Executes documents requiring the President’s signature, unless as otherwise provided for.
     
  • Exercises, under delegated authority from the Board, the authority to act in extraordinary and/or emergency circumstances.

• • Serves as the University’s official spokesperson, except for matters associated with the Board, for which in collaboration of the President, the Chair will serve as spokesperson, unless otherwise delegated.

• Meets regularly and as required with the Board Chair to review important issues and to ensure the Board Chair is provided with relevant and timely information.
   
• Maintains a strong relationship with the Chancellor.
   
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with the Senior Leadership, Faculty, and staff of the University.

• An advanced degree in a relevant field of health sciences (i.e. MA, MPH, PhD, MD, etc.) or leadership/management (i.e. MBA, EdD, etc.).

• Success leading, empowering, and enabling high-performing teams through change.
   
• Success leading sustainable and equitable growth and social accountability that considers human, financial, legal, planetary health, community, socioeconomic, and cross-cultural factors.
   
• Experience overseeing the core functions of a complex operation (finances and budgets, human resources, legal, risk, investment management, tax, master & space planning, infrastructure, project management, marketing, communications, IT, governance, etc.).
   
• Experience engaging or working with Indigenous, Francophone, or other Northern communities, ideally in Ontario.
   

• Experience in leading academic higher education, with a track record of advancing academic excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
   

• Success leading, collaborating, and advocating within a complex, distributed, and dynamic academic, healthcare, or operational environment, ideally in a Northern or rural context.
   

• Relevant board and governance experience, ideally in a public sector or non-profit context.
   

• Success building meaningful relationships and trusted partnerships with individuals, community, governments, Indigenous communities, private industry, academia, healthcare, etc.
   

• Experience in fundraising and securing and diversifying revenue sources.
   

• Experience and success with labour relations, employee relations, and contract negotiations.
   

• A record of student/learner engagement and creating culturally and psychologically appropriate spaces and student experiences.

• Skills in strategic, operational, and financial management.
   
• The skills and enthusiasm to advance, deliver, and rally support for NOSM U’s bold vision.
   
• Exceptional communication, listening, and facilitation skills.
   
• Political acumen and excellent advocacy, presentation, and representational skills.
   
• Flexibility and agility to challenge conventions, embrace change, and drive innovation.
   
• Decisiveness in setting priorities and making important strategic choices that are based on sound evidence and analysis.
   
• Credibility as a sought-out authority in medical education, healthcare, or related field.
   
• Composure and confidence in the face of challenge, complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty.
   
• The drive, clarity, and focus to lead and navigate organizational and system-level change/integration.
   
• The ability to shepherd new academic health programs, facilitate a first-rate student experience and attract and retain exceptional students, faculty, and staff.
   
• Ability to establish and strengthen relationships of mutual respect between the University and Indigenous Peoples and Francophone communities.
   
• Comfort and skill to diversify and attract donors, investments, and collaborations.
   
• The ability to communicate in English and French is preferred; the ability to communicate in other languages is an asset.

• A deep commitment to advancing health equity, accessibility, diversity, and social accountability.
   
• Enthusiasm and passion for NOSM University.
   
• Cross-cultural sensitivity in mobilizing teams and modeling anti-racism and anti-oppression.
   
• A respectful, empowering, and trusting approach that supports a collegial and shared-leadership environment.
   
• Authenticity and emotional intelligence (self-awareness, empathy, humility, care, compassion, generosity, vulnerability, etc.).
   
• A “rassembleur” who brings people and communities together around a shared purpose.
   
• Energy and a strong work ethic.
   
• Strategic foresight and a holistic and integrative mindset.
   
• Courage and a willingness to take appropriate, informed, and manageable risks.

While not required, these would be considered assets:

• Knowledge and appreciation of the unique priorities and challenges of Northern Ontario and how NOSM U can drive positive impact and retain its faculty and graduates in the North.
   
• Experience in bi-cameral, post-secondary governance.
   
• International perspective and connectivity and an appreciation for international trends, markets, geopolitics, risks, etc. and their implications on universities.
   
• Experience advocating to the Ontario and Federal governments; previous experience working with Universities Canada and Council of Ontario Universities.