Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, SAIT, is Alberta’s leader in applied education and its third-largest post-secondary institution.  It is a beacon of excellence in technical education, innovation, and workforce development in Canada. Our Calgary campus is a dynamic hub for cutting-edge education and industry collaboration.

In its 100+ year history, and through its myriad programs, SAIT has established relationships with over 10,000 distinct corporations, businesses, industry partners, and community groups.  SAIT’s exceptional reputation in industry for fostering deep and meaningful partnerships means that we can support industry with all manner of activities through training, applied research, operations support, capacity building, and many other.

Currently, no single SAIT entity plays a lead role in coordinating, expanding, and convening partners to expand on these relationships and credibility.  SAIT has created the new role of DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT to leverage these relationships and build a team in support of ambitious goals.  Working with the “OneSAIT” philosophy, the Director will develop relationships with industry partners in mutually beneficial ways, while at the same time, understanding and leveraging SAIT’s exceptional breadth and depth of programs and services.

Information for Candidates 

This search is being led by SAIT’s search partner, Christoph Clodius at The Discovery Group, at [email protected].  If you or someone you know is interested or curious, please be in touch.  

Application Timing and Selection Process. All submissions should be received by June 14, 2024.  Please apply to Christoph with a cover letter/expression of interest and resume/CV, in the same document please.

Compensation & Benefits. The salary range for the position is $122,000 – 206,200 with a starting salary expected between $164,000 and $178,000, depending on experience.

SAIT’s extensive support package includes extended health and dental care coverage (with premiums paid by SAIT); choice of Health Spending Account or Taxable Spending Account; a comprehensive pension plan; paid vacation; days off to volunteer and special leave days per year; access to a variety of SAIT courses through the Free Seat program.

SAIT employees have access to many perks to enrich their lifestyle, including: discount on Calgary Transit; covered parking options; exclusive savings on local goods and services such as computers, software, and cell phone plans; on-site health and dental clinics; and access to group savings plans and insurance discounts.

Workplace Location. This role will be based on the main campus.  SAIT provides flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work models depending on the work type and duties.

Diversity and Inclusion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities.

At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT – so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying. SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to Christoph.  

In 2024, SAIT was again acknowledged as one of Alberta’s Top Employers, a competitive designation that recognizes SAIT as an exceptional place to work.

Director, Industry Engagement

Position Purpose

Reporting to the AVP, Advancement, the Director, Industry Engagement is responsible for creating and implementing an Industry Engagement Strategy for SAIT, establishing the Industry Engagement Office as a service-focused corporate portal, representing SAIT’s distinct industry value proposition to current and prospective corporate partners. Together with the Industry Engagement Team, the incumbent will establish practices, processes and resources that support the development of diverse, strategic partnerships in key focus areas that contribute to student success, enhance SAIT’s reputation with industry, and that bring resources and revenue to the institution

The incumbent connects, coordinates, and communicates with units across SAIT through a “OneSAIT” approach, ensuring a seamless interface between SAIT schools and departments and external partners. The Office will be responsible for the creation of an industry “front door” that affords information and access to SAIT’s offerings to industry; engendering a culture of data collection on industry engagement; and development of an Industry Engagement Playbook that helps guide the institution in evaluating and maximizing the value of corporate relationships

Roles and Responsibilities

Internal Management (estimated 40% of time)

• Create and support a cross-institutional forum for knowledge exchange among SAIT personnel involved in industry engagement.
• Participate or lead senior leadership SAIT committees and working groups.
• Staffing and establishing the Industry Engagement Office (IEO)
• Development of marketing materials to facilitate industry engagement in collaboration with Marketing.
• Develop and maintain industry contact plans, databases, and corporate profiles.
• Participate in implementation of a customer relationship management system for use across SAIT.
• Develop metrics to measure and report on progress in industry engagement.
• Annual reporting, budgeting, and metrics
• Connect, collaborate and be high-level knowledgeable on all SAIT divisions on their needs, strategies, offerings, and goals.

External Management (estimated 60% of time)

• Create and implement industry partnership plans for targeted corporations in Calgary, Canada and beyond.
• Identify and engage new industry partnerships.
• Network (and sell) with industry to create new partnerships, opportunities, alliances, and revenue generating scenarios.
• Support deans, academic chairs, and others within SAIT in their engagement with industry partners.
• Support the engagement of SAIT’s president and Executive Management team in corporate relations (President’s Round Table, external activities, corporate meetings)
• Fostering, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with related allied partners (e.g. Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Calgary Economic Development, Platform Calgary)

Candidate Profile

Candidates have varying backgrounds and traits; our hope is that the new Director will embody some combination of the following attributes:

• Exceptionally relationship-oriented. Takes satisfaction in catalysing and connecting for long-term and mutually-beneficial impact.
• Outgoing and proactive. A natural networker actively and consciously seeking to build community.
• Tangible passion for SAIT and its work, products, programs, and initiatives.
• Curious, open-minded, and focused on potential.  Works to identify affinities, opportunities for collaboration, and undiscovered needs.
• Strong service mentality; thrives in seeing communities being built. Has an innate sense and ability to deliver best-in-class service.  An unwavering commitment to follow through and responsiveness.
• A track record of building and deepening relationships as a collaborator, strategic thinker, and all-around go-getter. A start-up and entrepreneurial mindset.
• A business background gleaned from some combination of business development, enterprise sales, or having started (and exited) a business.
• Strategic selling and business operations lens, to both needs and goals; highly attuned to the ‘art of the possible’ with regards what can be created.
• Change management experience; actively creates internal buy-in and proceeds in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.
• Strong ability to prioritize and scope; can actively balance potentially competing priorities quickly and thoughtfully.
• Unquestioned honesty and integrity; gravitas and credibility to be taken seriously and lead from below both within and with partners.
• High EQ to know how best to position themselves and can actively lead from the middle; a low-ego approach.
• A keen and successful negotiator.
• Brilliant communicator and top notch listener.  Can translate skillfully between academia, industry, and others.  Adaptable and flexible.
• Familiarity with and/or experience working within a post-secondary context is helpful but not mandatory.

Skills/Expertise Required:

• Strategic relationship management: ability to prepare and execute high quality engagement plans and strategies that measurably support achievement of institutional objectives.
• Organizational savvy and collaboration: must be capable of successfully operating in a complex organizational environment in which trust, credibility, integrity, and strong campus-wide relationships are integral to success.
• Management skills: proven ability to effectively manage human resources, including hiring, performance management, development, and conflict management.
• Attention to detail: from development to delivery – attention to detail and follow through on plans, activities, budget, and timelines. High quality standards.  Adapt with data management, collection, and analysis including CRM knowledge.
• Service focused: must be attentive and responsive to client needs and operate in a way that is consistent with SAIT’s FIRST principles (Fairness, Integrity, Respect, Safety and Transparency
• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, education, and community engagement, is required.
• While some travel may be expected, most travel will be local and throughout Alberta.