Chief Information Officer 

The University of Waterloo is actively seeking a strategic and collaborative IT leader to serve as their next Chief Information Officer (CIO). The CIO will join the University of Waterloo at an exciting time, as the institution embarks on developing the University’s IT strategy and vision.   

In 1957, the University of Waterloo opened its doors to 74 engineering students with co-operative education as its cornerstone. Today, with more than 42,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections. With a global network spanning more than 220,000 alumni in 151 countries, Waterloo attracts world-class scholars including a Nobel Laureate, leads in providing work-integrated learning opportunities with 7,100+ active co-op employers and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit that’s created 5,000+ jobs through Velocity alone, Canada’s most productive start-up incubator by private investment.

The University of Waterloo is one of Canada’s premier institutions in post-secondary education. For the last 30 years, Waterloo has consistently ranked highest as Canada’s most innovative university by Maclean’s magazine. Strategically located in the innovation and disruption hub of Canada, the Toronto-Waterloo innovation corridor, the University of Waterloo is part of a network of 15,000 tech companies, 200,000 tech workers, and 5,200 tech start-ups within a 112 km region that represents the second largest technology cluster in North America.

Reporting to the Vice President, Administration and Finance, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) works closely with the President, Provost, and other members of the leadership team, and leaders of other IT units on campus to achieve the goals and directions set out in the University’s strategic plan. The CIO supports the Vice President, Administration and Finance on operational priorities that will support the academic mission, as well as the development and implementation of long-term plans and transformational change to move the University ahead and enhance organizational results. The role of the CIO is to provide the strategic thinking, leadership, and managerial excellence to harness the University’s significant investment in information systems and technology. Operating within an institution characterized by decentralized decision making, the CIO will spearhead the implementation of a best-in-class enterprise technology platform and an integrated approach to technology deployment across a distributed IT community.  Through engagement and collaboration with administrators, faculty, technical personnel and students, articulation of strategy and policy, enhancement of business processes and systems, and determination of a requisite organization design and governance framework, the CIO will be a champion for information systems and technology excellence as well as a catalyst for collaboration and systems integration crucial to the University’s future.

As the ideal candidate, you are a strategic IT leader with proven experience leading teams and overseeing IT strategy, transformation, and governance within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. You possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and are known for being highly collaborative, solutions-oriented and for your ability to build strong relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. You have demonstrated the ability to prioritize multiple, conflicting demands within a complex IT environment, while maintaining an eye on the future trajectory of the University. You have an adaptive leadership approach with demonstrated large-scale change leadership and culture shift expertise. Your experience in leading technology-enabled change supports your ability to coach your team and your clients in adopting, embracing and leveraging new processes and ways of working. You are a leader with exceptional drive, agility, resilience, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial acumen. Your talent for fostering a culture of innovation, transparency and accountability will help bring new IT strategies and initiatives to life.

If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply online at: www.kbrs.ca/Career/16720. For more information, please contact Katherine Frank at kfrank@kbrs.ca or Lauren Wright at lwright@kbrs.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

KBRS will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including any accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require an accommodation to participate as a candidate, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca