Vice President

Commonwealth of Learning

Burnaby, BC

The Opportunity

Here is an exciting opportunity to contribute direction, innovation and thought leadership within a highly respected inter-governmental organisation focused on helping developing nations in the Commonwealth improve access to lifelong learning for sustainable development.

The Organisation

Hosted by the Government of Canada and headquartered in Burnaby, Canada, COL is the world’s only intergovernmental organisation with the mandate to promote open and distance learning.

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) was created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to create and widen access to quality education and lifelong learning through the use of appropriate technologies. COL helps governments and institutions to expand the scale, efficiency and quality of learning by using open, distance and technology-based approaches. It is financed by voluntary contributions from Commonwealth Member States.

The Role of Vice President

The role of VP is pivotal in achieving COL’s mission.

The VP works closely with the President to ensure that COL’s mission of helping Commonwealth governments and institutions to expand the scope, scale and quality of learning at various levels is achieved. He or she provides direction, innovation and thought leadership in ‘learning for sustainable development’ through the use of appropriate technologies.  This includes the strategic development and effective management of COL and CEMCA, COL’s regional office in New Delhi, India.

 The VP fosters appreciation of COL and the Commonwealth generally to advance COL’s outcomes and impact and generates financial support for the organisation from member governments as well as additional sources. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Builds, maintains and enhances relationships with Member States, establishing the necessary contacts, networks, protocols and information systems to maintain regular and effective links; makes visits to Member States to promote and advance the programme and its impact and effectiveness while enhancing their awareness of COL’s capacity to assist them in achieving national goals.
• Initiates, in a timely manner, the planning for and development of six-year strategic plans for the organisation, working with staff and key stakeholders, for submission to the Board and to the Commonwealth Ministers of Education.
• Leads and directs COL’s programme development and implementation using a results-based management framework through detailed planning, effective resource allocation and monitoring and evaluation.
• Focuses the programme on a limited number of high-impact activities that are aligned with COL’s strategy to maximise the relevance of COL’s work to the international development agenda and the aspirations of Member States.
• Manages fund-raising and generates resources in support of COL’s programme which is integral to COL’s operations.
• Directs the eLearning for International Organisations initiative to develop partnerships with key development agencies, deliver effective training solutions and seek additional funding.
• Guides and monitors CEMCA to ensure alignment with COL’s programme outcomes and impact.
• Supports the Board of Governors meetings, as required.
•  Assists the President with stakeholder relations and general management of COL, including adherence to policies and procedures and strategic risk management; oversees the office in the absence of the President and represents COL, as required.
• Facilitates and mentors staff to set and meet their objectives, assists staff in identifying appropriate training and development opportunities and conducts performance reviews for all direct reports.
• Perform other duties, as directed.

Direct Reports

§   Education Specialists and Senior Advisers

§   Advisers and Managers

§   Research Coordinator

§   Programme Assistant

§   Consultants

Qualifications and Experience

• A PhD level degree in Education, Social Sciences, Development, Technology or other area relevant to the post.
• Extensive and relevant senior leadership experience in governmental and international relations, including implementing strategic plans and building partnerships.
• Significant management experience, preferably in an international setting.
• Demonstrated experience of mobilising resources in an international environment.
• Knowledge and experience of educational technology/Open and distance learning for development.

Skills and Competencies

• Injects originality into daily work through research, personal knowledge, and networking relationships while encouraging new ideas and innovations; has the domain expertise to be perceived as a thought leader and a credible interlocutor by COL’s stakeholders and partners.
• Proven leadership abilities and sound knowledge of results-based management, budgeting principles, governance and accountability.
• Excellent interpersonal and representational skills for a broad range of stakeholders as well as the ability to lead teams and communicate and work with others, both within and outside COL, by promoting co-operation and collaboration to achieve collective outcomes.
• Demonstrated capacity to mobilize and utilize financial and other resources efficiently while delivering ‘value for money’.
• Consistently models high standards of performance, honesty and integrity, especially with appropriate use of funds. 

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to the ideals of COL, notably to the role of learning as the key to sustainable development and to the capacity of technology to enhance that role.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with a readiness to adapt to the work culture, where integrity, mutual respect and dedication to the organisation are expected.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to opportunities@kmclaughlin.com