President & Vice-Chancellor

Dalhousie University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. We are all Treaty people.

We recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies and contributions have enriched that part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.

Dalhousie University is seeking our next President and Vice-Chancellor to help strengthen one of Canada’s top postsecondary experiences, to accelerate our university on a path to global distinction, and to deepen our commitment to our communities across Nova Scotia and beyond.

Founded in 1818, Dalhousie is located in the Province of Nova Scotia (in the territory of Mi’kma’ki) with 21,000 students on four campuses in Halifax and Truro, and satellite locations in Yarmouth and Saint John, New Brunswick. Nova Scotia is growing rapidly, and Halifax itself is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities with a booming technology community and a diverse economy fueled by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. As one of Nova’s Scotia’s largest employers, and an institution with a unique student composition that is uniquely national and international in character, with 60 per cent of our students coming from outside  Nova Scotia and more than 20 per cent international, Dalhousie has a vital role to play in the life and growth of our province and our country.

Dalhousie is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, distinguished by an exceptional academic and campus experience from year one. Our 13 academic Faculties expand understanding through teaching excellence and a drive for discovery that results in more than $214 million in research funding annually. Our groundbreaking research is rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and has earned Dalhousie a reputation as a national powerhouse and a global player. As we strengthen our important role in service to our province and our communities, our strategic plan, Third Century Promise — a product of an unprecedented level of engagement and consultation — has us poised to grow our enduring positive impact on our world.

The next President will come to the role with the necessary energy, optimism, motivation, and commitment to build upon the university’s significant strengths. A people-centred and ethical leader, with exceptional listening skills, they will be ambitious for Dalhousie, and approach challenges with creativity and optimism.

With distinguished scholarly credentials in their field and a depth of experience in strategic and academic leadership from a research-intensive university, including financial acumen and experience in management, the next President will be well poised to lead in a complex environment. They will bring an international outlook alongside knowledge of, and experience within, the Canadian post-secondary education system. An inclusive and inspiring people leader, they will have experience working effectively with a Board and Senate as well as significant skills related to external engagement and fundraising.

The ideal candidate has a demonstrable commitment to, and significant experience in, advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as well as to Truth and Reconciliation. They will possess the leadership skills required to advance these issues meaningfully across a complex institution. Carrying themselves with integrity and humility, they will be capable of championing Dalhousie’s commitment to inclusive excellence and inspiring, building, and supporting a culture that enables our students, faculty, and staff to thrive.

Dalhousie is partnering with the executive search firm Perrett Laver on this selection process. Applications should consist of a full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications and relevant achievements. It should be accompanied by a cover letter describing how candidates meet the selection criteria, why the appointment is of interest, and what they believe they can bring to the role.  A complete application also includes a self-identification form which can be found at https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/hr/Employment-Equity/SelfID-External-Questionnaire-2022.pdf. Further information, including a full position description, selection criteria, and details of how to apply, can be downloaded at http://www.perrettlaver.com/candidates quoting reference number 6327. Interested candidates are asked to submit applications by Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit http://www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.

If we contact you for an interview and you are a person with a disability who requires technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and any way in which we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University recognizes its obligation to accommodate candidates in order to ensure full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.

Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerized database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.

Our legal basis for much of our data processing activity is ‘Legitimate Interests’. You have the right to object to us processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and our approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit our website http://www.perrettlaver.com/information/privacy-policy/