Executive Director, Ancillary Operations in Hamilton

McMaster University is actively seeking a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as its Executive Director of Ancillary Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of a diverse $140-million portfolio of ancillary services, driving service excellence, operational integration, innovation, and sustainable growth while enhancing the student experience and advancing the University's long-term financial sustainability.

Ancillary Operations at McMaster University delivers a wide range of essential services across campus, including housing, hospitality, retail, printing, parking, and other key offerings that contribute directly to the vibrancy and functioning of the university. Together these units deliver important support services to the McMaster community, contributing to the student-life experience, and generating revenues which contribute to the overall financial health of the University.

The Executive Director, Ancillary Operations provides leadership and strategic oversight for McMaster University’s ancillaries. The role is accountable for leading a diverse revenue-generating portfolio of ancillary operations with a dual mandate of delivering exceptional, student-centred campus services while achieving long-term strategic growth and operational excellence through entrepreneurial leadership, innovative service delivery, and evolving business models. The role serves as a key advisor to the Vice-President (Operations and Finance) on ancillary strategy, financial risk, capital investments and emerging issues.

The Executive Director establishes the framework to ensure ancillary operations contribute meaningfully to the University’s student experience, long-term financial sustainability and broader institutional priorities. Through a team of Directors, the role provides strategic direction and oversight to maximize revenue opportunities, strengthen cost management practices, respond to market trends and partnership opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and ensure high-quality, accessible, and campus services across the ancillary portfolio.

The Executive Director will shape and lead the transition to a more integrated, coordinated enterprise - designing shared standards and common governance while advancing a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across the portfolio. As a member of the Operations and Finance division, the Executive Director serves as a strategic partner to senior leaders across the University, fostering collaborative relationships that advance institutional priorities, enhance the student and campus experience, and identify opportunities for innovation, integration and service excellence.

The Ideal Candidate

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as business, higher education leadership, finance, or public administration. Graduate Degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex, unionized, multi-internal and external partner environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large, high-performing teams, building strategic partnerships, and fostering collaboration across diverse constituent groups.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including financial stewardship, revenue generation, budgeting, forecasting, business case development, profit-and-loss accountability, and the use of data and performance metrics to drive results.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and advocacy and strategic advisory skills, with the ability to engage diverse constituents, build consensus, drive organizational alignment, and champion the strategic role of ancillary services across the institution.

Applications should be submitted by October 9th. McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity, and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. We strive to hire individuals who share our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.