President and Chief Executive Officer

Portage College connects people with knowledge, skills and opportunities, empowering them to transform themselves and make a difference. Collaboration, inclusion, and a commitment to success and accountability are at the core of the College’s values. Portage College provides education programs to foster a passion for lifelong learning, promote personal wellness, develop appreciation for cultural diversity, and inspire social engagement.

Board governed and operating publicly under the Alberta Post-secondary Learning Act, Portage College has been serving the region since 1968 and is proud to be the first choice for learners in northeast Alberta. The College boasts seven strategically located campuses throughout the region including, Lac La Biche, Boyle, Cold Lake, Frog Lake First Nations, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, St. Paul, and Whitefish Lake First Nation #128.

Portage College provides over 40 certificate and diploma programs as well as a wide selection of Continuing Education training to more than 4,100 students annually. Portage is the home for experiential learning, combining hands-on training with state-of-the-art labs and classrooms. We have a long standing history of cultural sensitivity and continue to work to respect Indigenous Ways of Knowing in our programs and services as well as foster an organizational culture that is positive and respectful.

Reporting to the Board of Governors, the President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for all aspects of Portage College’s academic, financial and community performance. The primary role of the President is to lead the College, our executive team, faculty and staff, across our multiple campuses, in the achievement of the Institution’s goals and expectations. This includes formulating and articulating a vision for the College to address future evolving social, economic and political factors and establishing priorities that will build and advance the college with the internal and external partners.  The President provides positive leadership internally and serves as an ambassador of the College with communities, government and industry.

The President provides direct leadership to the team of executives and provides recommendations to the Board of Governors on all operational matters of the College.  The President must have exceptional knowledge and experience in business planning, strategic development and fiscal stewardship at a high-level business environment. The President is responsible for advocacy with Provincial and Federal governments to secure and maintain funding for programming, staffing or infrastructure. 

As the successful candidate, you will preferably have a postgraduate degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant leadership, as well as experience in higher education and/or business/industry. You will bring progressive management experience in a complex, multi-faceted organization with demonstrated success of at least 10 years’ experience working with or in business, industry, public agencies, government and higher education with an exceptional record of developing strong relationships. You should have a strong understanding of unionized environments and collective bargaining in Alberta. The President will be a strategic thinker and visionary with the ability to communicate a shared vision and initiate strategies to achieve the vision. You will inspire the College community with passion and commitment while being a highly visible leader within the College and surrounding communities. As President, you will bring demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diverse make-up of the College community and its needs with specific sensitivity to the Indigenous people and Indigenous communities which the College serves. Senior educational administration experience and knowledge of alternate delivery methodologies and distance education in a rural setting is preferred. Lastly, the expectation is that the successful relocate to the Lac La Biche area.

Portage College has engaged DHR Global to manage this search. To explore this exciting opportunity further, please contact or submit your resume to lmiller@dhrglobal.com. This application portal will remain open until the position is filled.

This is a global search that is an open competition where the committee will consider both internal and external candidates. The application portal will remain open until the position is filled.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

Portage College is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the College to apply.