City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

Review of applications will take place early January 2026, with interviews in mid/late January. Anticipated start date February 16, 2026.

About the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is a large department within the Faculty of Science, offering multiple degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. With over 40 faculty members and 15 postdoctoral fellows, our department is home to  incredible teachers and world-renowned researchers. The Department is also the administrative home to the School of Computational Science and Engineering, which offers interdisciplinary programs at the graduate level.  We offer an inclusive and innovative work environment, where our team members feel they can do their best. We are currently seeking a dynamic administrative leader to support key functions of the Department. 

About the Position
Reporting to the Chair, the Academic Department Manager III (ADM III) is responsible for the strategic and operational management of a very large, complex academic department with multiple functions including graduate and undergraduate programming and external partnerships. The ADM III has an integral role in driving the department strategic plan and ensuring alignment with the vision of the University, influencing the culture within the department, reinforcing university values and shaping the direction of the department offerings with a forward-looking perspective. The ADM III role provides administrative and operational leadership and advises the Chair and faculty members on financial and human resources, space, curriculum, academic planning, advising and scheduling, and other strategic matters.

Core Accountabilities
Financial Management: This role independently manages the financial resources (operating, research, facilities/services) of the department.
•    Serves as the Chair’s delegate and has financial decision making and signing authority necessary    for the continued operation of the Department.
•    Develops and prepares reports, monitors and manages multiple budgets and daily activity (operating, research, graduate and postdoc scholarship, TA, PDA, trusts) according to institutional policies and procedures.
•    Participates, together with the Chair  or delegate, in negotiating Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) regarding educational or research arrangements with internal and external partners.
•    Represents the Department at University Committee and working groups.
• Works with ROADS and Research Finance to advise, monitor, reconcile and report research funds. 
• Consults with Chair to evaluate and commit Department funds for matching grant and other programs (ERA, CRCs, etc.).

Strategic Planning: The ADM III plays a key role in advising the Chair on strategic planning, not only in the respective Department but also within the Faculty.
•    Drives the implementation of the department strategy and ensures alignment with the strategic vision of the University, influences the culture within the Department, reinforces university values and shapes the direction of the Department offerings with a forward-looking perspective.
•    Provides critical analysis of the Department’s needs related to planning, resourcing and proposal development using detailed data analytics.
•    Leads the development of Departmental strategic financial resource management and implements strategic financial plans that are consistent with the department's teaching, operations and research requirements. 

Operational Management: This role is responsible for ensuring that the Department is managed in an effective and efficient manner. It develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates all infrastructure activities of the Department including staff recruitment, promotion, human resource, finance, research and teaching activities within the Department.
•    Ensures Collective Agreements are respected and management rights are preserved.
•    Participates in or leads crisis-response planning, such as developing contingency  plans in the case of strikes and other events.
•    Sits on Department committees as part of the senior management team and participates in the development of new policies and procedures, in the revision of existing policies and monitors the effectiveness with which these departmental policies/procedures are executed.
•    Organizes and conducts Departmental and Program reviews.

Human Resources Management: The ADM III has significant responsibility for managing human resources activity within the Department, overseeing every aspect:
•    Manages all direct reports including hiring, work assignment, conflict management, performance management, disciplinary action, training and development for direct reports.
•    Establishes and ensures adherence to quality and quantity standards and coordinates the resource needs of the staff, balances workloads, assesses and meets training requirements.
•    Writes job descriptions for new staff positions to meet changing needs and initiates re-evaluation of existing positions.
•    Develops recruitment, retention and succession planning strategies for the Department’s staff and faculty.
•    Develops departmental human resource goals, objectives, plans and support systems to enable  the accomplishment of the department’s strategic goals.
•    Mediates conflicts among staff and between staff and faculty, leads management change initiatives.
•    Maintains current knowledge of the UNIFOR Collective Agreement, MUFA Agreement, CUPE   Agreements, Employment Standards Act and University policy and procedures.
•    Works with Employee/Labour Relations to manage any pre-grievances or conflicts.

Physical Resource Management: The Academic Department Manager III plays a key role in the area of physical resource management within the Department.

Education Administrative Support: This role is responsible for managing the resources and infrastructure supporting education activities within the Department and is heavily involved in academic planning, advising and development.

Research Administrative Support: The ADM III oversees the administrative support of research activity within the Department:
• Consults with research finance on complex financial or legal matters as required, providing advice and direction to the Chair and faculty members. 
• Facilitates the appropriate processes within the department for the submission of research proposals (MILO forms, etc.), providing advice on and assistance with proposal development (i.e., budgets, staffing). 

Special Projects Committee Membership: This role is expected to lead or participate in special projects and/or sit on committees as the Department or faculty representative in potentially many areas both within the Faculty, the broader University and in the community

Key knowledge/skills:
•    Broad understanding of research, finance, Faculty and University initiatives.
•    Knowledge and experience interpreting policies, procedures, and guidelines.
•    Demonstrated leadership and management skills and be a proven strategic and pragmatic thinker.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills, including outstanding verbal and written communication skills and a proven record of demonstrated tact, judgment, and diplomacy.
•    Must be organized, a long-range planner and an accomplished problem- solver, able to quickly assess situations and  implement solutions.
•    Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions and to build consensus.
•    Proven track record of successful relationship-building is essential as the ADM  must work effectively and collaboratively across faculties and departments, with various internal and external stakeholders.
•    Tact, diplomacy, negotiating and persuasion skills, strategic thinking, superior communications skills, ability  to build and inspire trust and build bridges and relationships.
•    Advanced user experience with Microsoft Office suite.

Total Rewards

McMaster offers a robust, market-driven total rewards package. To learn more about total rewards available to the members of the Management Group (TMG), you can access an overview here: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2022/05/TMG-Total-Rewards-Overview-June-2022.pdf .
Our total rewards package includes, but is not limited to: 
•    Employer Paid benefits such as Extended Health, Dental, Emergency Out-of-Country Travel Coverage, Life Insurance.
•    Participation in a Group RRSP plan
•    Progressive paid annual vacation plan.
•    Training, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
•    Employee tuition assistance for continuous development and education.
•    Opportunity to be a part of an academic environment working alongside professionals who share a passion for learning.