Principal and Vice Chancellor

Situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki people, Bishop’s University is located in Lennoxville, a vibrant and diverse borough within the city of Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Founded in 1843, Bishop’s is a predominately undergraduate university providing an exceptional quality liberal education in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, and education. With 2,900 full time students participating in more than 100 programs across three faculties and schools, with 115 full-time faculty members – some of Canada’s best – Bishop’s 550-acre campus features numerous buildings, services, and facilities to allow for a wholly immersive university experience. Bishop’s has an outstanding residence-life program for students. With several faculty, including the Principal and Vice Chancellor, living on campus, Bishop’s is a tightknit community.   Bishop’s outstanding reputation as a Maple League University rests on its model of undergraduate education and the excellent experience afforded to the students by faculty and staff. For more information, visit www.ubishops.ca.

At this important juncture, Bishop’s seeks a highly engaged and collegial Principal and Vice-Chancellor to lead and promote the University’s academic vision by championing excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and service to the community. As the Chief Executive Officer of the University, an ex officio member of the University’s Board of Governors and Chair of Senate, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor reports to the Board of Governors and works in close collaboration with a wide range of internal and external constituencies to provide overall leadership and direction for the University.

The role of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Bishop’s University is to be a highly engaged leader of a diverse and, in many respects, exceptional university community. In doing so, they will be an effective advocate for Bishop’s with other institutions of higher learning in Quebec and maintain and develop partnerships with other educational institutions, community organizations, local and provincial governments, businesses, and the broader Sherbrooke community. Specifically, they will build, lead, and empower a high-performing senior administrative team and provide leadership in academic and financial administration, particularly within the critical area of fundraising. To continue building on the strong foundational values of the University, they will interact regularly with students, and enjoy being present for events such as concerts, drama productions and sports competitions.

The position of Principal and Vice-Chancellor will interest individuals who thrive in an environment with a strong community spirit and a deep commitment to the values of academic excellence & freedom, integrity, equity, and service. The successful candidate will have strong academic credentials, solid business acumen, and be astute to Quebec’s current political climate and challenges. With significant leadership experience within a complex governance structure, they will possess a strong track record in fostering positive relationships and productive partnerships with elected officials and senior civil servants; the ability to inspire the University community in pursuit of its academic goals; and a genuine dedication to ensuring an outstanding student experience. The Principal and Vice-Chancellor must have unwavering integrity; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; a transparent and collaborative leadership style; and an abiding respect for the principles of collegial governance.

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor will be an organizational change agent seeking increased alignment with stated diversity, equity, and inclusion values. They will possess a fundamental understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigeneity from professional, scholarly, and/or lived experience. They will have an understanding of current issues and challenges facing individuals from equity-seeking communities, ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage and work in solidarity with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.  Fluency in both English and French is required.

The new Principal and Vice Chancellor will take office in the summer of 2023 and consideration of candidates will commence in October 2022. Nominations, applications, and/or expressions of interest should be submitted online at www.odgersberndtson.com/en/careers/18344, or in confidence, to Dominik Legault at dominik.legault@odgersberndtson.com

Bishop’s University is committed to the pursuit of equity and diversity within our community. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons with marginalized/minority sexual orientations and gender identities. We welcome applications from candidates with the skills, knowledge, and experience to build and strengthen relationships with diverse communities.

Although all qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Bishop’s University and Odgers Berndtson respect people’s different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure access for applicants during the process. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please inform Odgers Berndtson.