Subject Matter Expert | Leadership Growth Certificate

Call for Course Authors (Subject Matter Expertise): Leadership Growth Certificate, Higher Education Leadership Program

The Higher Education Leadership Certificate Program is a multi-level leadership development program designed to support academic and administrative leaders as they shape institutional direction, steward strategic resources, and guide transformation across the university.

The program will consist of three scaffolded certificates—Essentials, Growth, and Excellence—each comprising eight distinct courses that integrate leadership and business skills for a higher education context. The initiative is grounded in the university’s strategic priorities and aims to cultivate core competencies in academic and administrative leadership, institutional governance, strategic decision-making, and inclusive excellence.

The Leadership Growth Certificate supports higher education leaders guiding teams, programs, or initiatives, with growing responsibility for shaping divisional priorities and outcomes, through eight asynchronous courses.

Program Description

The Leadership Growth Certificate is designed for mid-level academic and administrative leaders who are responsible for programs, departments, initiatives, and institutional priorities within a university setting. This certificate equips participants with the tools, strategies, and applied knowledge needed to lead people, manage operations, and align unit-level efforts with broader institutional goals.

Participants will develop confidence and competence in leading academic programs, facilitating teams and committees, implementing equitable practices, managing budgets, interpreting institutional data, and navigating change. Emphasizing collaboration, accountability, and inclusive leadership, the certificate supports leaders in making evidence-informed decisions while cultivating high-performing, student-centered environments.

The Leadership Growth Certificate emphasizes inclusive and reconciliation-informed leadership practices. Participants will learn to embed Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) principles into decision-making, program design, operations, and team leadership, recognizing their responsibility to foster equitable, accessible, and culturally safe environments for students, staff, and faculty.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be able to:

Analyze and plan programs or initiatives that align unit-level activities with institutional mission and community priorities
Apply systems and process thinking to coordinate people, resources, and timelines effectively across functions
Use institutional data and feedback to assess program impact, identify improvement opportunities, and inform decision-making
Develop resource and budget plans that balance fiscal responsibility with accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability
Design and lead teams, committees, and working groups that demonstrate accountability, trust, and collaboration
Apply equitable, inclusive, and reconciliation-informed approaches to leadership decisions, operations, and change initiatives
Communicate and influence effectively to engage stakeholders, manage conflict, and build alignment across diverse groups
Evaluate personal leadership practice through reflection, feedback, and continuous learning to strengthen agility and resilience

Courses

Leading Initiatives and Programs
Leading Teams, Committees and Working Groups
Finance and Resource Management
Data, Digital and AI for Leaders
Change Management in Higher Education
Equity, Inclusion and Workforce Relations
Student, Staff and Community Experience Leadership
Human-Centred Leadership and Coaching

Experience & Qualifications

We are currently seeking SMEs with experience in areas such as:

Academic strategy, institutional planning, and governance
Higher education leadership and organizational change
Labour relations, faculty affairs, and institutional culture
Financial stewardship, enterprise budgeting, and resource allocation
Data governance, evidence-informed decision-making, and institutional research
Digital transformation, technology strategy, and AI policy in higher education
Equity, inclusion, decolonization, accessibility, and reconciliation in leadership practice

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree preferred in a relevant field (e.g., Leadership, Business, Higher Education, Public Administration, Organizational Development)
Distinguished record of scholarship and/or professional leadership in higher education or related sectors, with demonstrated impact at the department and/or college level
Substantial leadership experience (10+ years) in academic, administrative, or senior operational roles
Proven experience in curriculum or course development, with preference given to those who have developed online, self-directed learning programs
Strong record of teaching, training, or facilitation for adult or professional learners
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across disciplines and institutional units to meet project milestones.

Compensation and Engagement

SMEs will be engaged as independent contractors. Each engagement includes structured planning, development of asynchronous activities, design of applied case studies and assessments, and collaborative development with the design team. The estimated range of effort is 30–40 hours. This
should be considered a guideline, as actual time may vary depending on course scope, content complexity, the developer’s prior experience with course development, institutional timelines, technology requirements, and the level of collaboration required.

Note: Developments would commence through Fall 2026 – Fall 2027 based on launch schedule.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your subject matter expertise and relevant experience by January 31, 2026, for full consideration.

Applications may continue to be accepted after this date until suitable candidates are identified.

Please include the course(s) in which you wish to develop.

Lisa Blenkinsop, Program Manager, Global Initiatives, School of Continuing Studies
Email: lblenkin@uoguelph.ca