Senior Consultant, Strategy Decision Support

Job Summary

Strategy & Decision Support (SDS) is responsible for providing the UBC Executive, Faculty Leadership and Business Units Leads with the strategic insight and capabilities to enable UBC to identify and realize the major opportunities and to tackle the major challenges that will shape the University's current and future success.

Collaborating with UBC partners to realize the University’s vision, SDS provides a suite of in-house advisory services to UBC Faculties and Administration in strategy development and integration, financial health, and operational effectiveness.

SDS concentrates on focused pieces of work to answer strategic questions, identify solutions to complex problems and provide advice on how to confront complex challenges.

All of the assignments undertaken by SDS have a significant impact for UBC and are aligned with the University Executive's overall direction.

The Senior Consultant, Strategy and Decision Support has the opportunity to manage and lead strategic initiatives / projects across all SDS service offerings including business strategy development, strategic planning, financial health and operational effectiveness referenced for decision making purposes within the University's multi-billion dollar budget.

The Senior Consultant provides significant expertise and has demonstrated experience in managing / leading strategic planning in a complex stakeholder environment including facilitation, consensus building, synthesis of key strategic insights, project management, and formulation of a cohesive strategic plan.

The Senior Consultant is also responsible for planning and managing strategic projects across diverse portfolios at the University supporting both Academic and Administrative initiatives involving complex analysis, strategy formulation, strategic recommendations to support decision making, financial modelling and business process improvement.

Organizational Status

Reports to Associate Director, Strategy & Decision Support. Regularly interacts with other managers and directors throughout the University on a project basis, led by SDS Director, Associate Director, or Managers.

Works in an office environment with frequent deadlines on multiple projects that may require flexibility on work hours.

Work Performed

Strategy and Decision Support

Managing strategic planning projects in a multi-stakeholder environment including facilitation, consensus building, synthesis, project management, and formulation of a cohesive strategic plan

Responsible for managing complex projects across all SDS service offerings (strategy, financial health and operational effectiveness) including :

Develop project plans including objectives, scope, approach, budget, schedule, performance measures, interdependencies, etc.

in order to accomplish project objectives.

Responsibility for the implementation of the project plans within the agreed upon scope, timeline and budget.

Engagement in the formulation of strategic insights and advisory and decision support to meet project objectives

Leading or facilitating client-facing and external facing meetings including interviews, focus group discussions, facilitated sessions and engagement meetings.

Developing project reports and presentations as required.

Responsible for leading strategic projects across diverse portfolios at the University supporting both Academic and Administrative initiatives.

Collaborates in close partnership with Senior Leadership and both Administrative and Academic Department Heads on projects of a sensitive, confidential nature by identifying, clarifying and resolving complex issues that are critical to the strategic and operating success of the University by :

Conducting multisource research to support innovative solution development

Testing quality of data and reconciling data across sources,

Distilling research data, discussion and ideas into key findings and insights

Contributing to the development of analytical models

Designing the form of output of complex results in order to highlight trends and critical patterns

Developing scenarios and sensitivity studies

Managing stakeholder relationships across the University at many different levels of seniority

Assisting with sizing risk and identifying mitigation strategies

Helping interpret results from multiple project components and translating these findings into clear, compelling and incisive recommendations and solutions

Contributing to the development of financial models for a broad range of University and department strategic initiatives.

The financial modelling will be prepared as required to assess the financial viability and resource allocation impact of new and existing strategic initiative projects.

Develops tools / reports for Senior Leadership that enables them to monitor the financial health of the Departments, make informed resource allocation decisions and enable potential problems to be detected.

Provides strategic advice to units in regards to the usage of financial resources aligned with organizational objectives.

Provides analysis and review on the annual financial budgets and business plan as required by the Board of Governors.

Prepares and / or assists in the preparation of Board reporting and presentations as required.

Performs ad-hoc analytical reporting.

Analyzes, prepares and assists in preparing forecast results for current and future years by determining assumptions, coordinating input from various sources and compiling results.

Researches and reports on various finance issues and the potential impact on University programs.

Business Process Improvement / Operational Effectiveness

Partners with many levels of the University's department and academic units to ensure organizational operations are effective, efficient, consistent and aligned with strategic objectives through analysis of business processes, business outcomes and key performance measures.

Engages sponsors and key stakeholders to determine business needs, cost reductions, reforms and improvement opportunities.

Defines key metrics required for strategic decision making in various organizations across UBC.

Analyzes and evaluates organizational metrics against strategic objectives and provides recommendations for measure adjustments / changes to more effectively monitor performance.

Enables multiple organizations to work cooperatively to develop optimized shared processes, to streamline operations and improve effectiveness.

Project Management

Plans, manages, and structures work as well as drives execution of assigned projects, while guiding and directing project team members.

Develops project plans including scope, approach, budget, schedule, performance measures, interdependencies, etc. in order to accomplish project objectives.

Manages the implementation of the projects within the agreed upon scope, timeline and budget, using innovation in the planning, analysis and execution of tasks and judgment in the assessment and resolution of unusual problems.

Facilitates / co-facilitates, plans, schedules and prepares for workshops and interviews, gathering documentation, and liaising with client staff.

Coordinates, directs and oversees work done by Consultants and / or subcontractors.

Leads consulting projects or work streams that consistently deliver results that meet or exceed client expectations.

Executes engagement tasks independently or in a team setting and delivers to high quality standards.

Other

Develops an understanding of the functions and procedures of each Admin / Academic / Business Unit.

Remains current on University priorities

Presents final deliverables to senior roles in various areas of the organization.

Responsible for building and maintaining positive working relationships with relevant stakeholders.

Remains current on financial and analytical concepts.

Represents SDS on relevant committees to work towards University goals.

Extracting data and generating financial reports by using Workday as required.

Performs other related duties as required by the position.

Consequence of Error / Judgement

As a member of the Strategy & Decision Support team whose mandate is to provide institution wide support, any errors in assessment could materially impact the planning, decision making and financial viability of central operations, faculties, and departments.

Inaccurate financial modelling, projections and forecasts may lead to mismanagement of resources, which could result in significant financial losses and negatively impact UBC's ability to perform and uphold its reputation as a world class institution.

Supervision Received

Works within broad policy and procedural guidelines in accordance with professional standards. Works under the direction of a Manager, Associate Director, or Director, Strategy & Decision Support.

Work is reviewed in terms of adherence to University policy, legal and financial obligations.

Supervision Given

This position currently has no direct reports, however the nature of the project work requires project teams or working groups to be developed for defined periods of time to deliver specific objectives In general, SDS leads these working groups and as such the Senior Consultant is required to manage resources and work load of cross-organizational project team of up to 6 people.

May supervise consultants, clerical staff and student workers.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Minimum of seven years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant discipline preferred. Alternatively, the successful candidate may possess an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Relevant disciplines are preferably in the area of Economics, Commerce, Business Administration and Engineering.

Preference would be given to individuals with an MBA.

Experience must be in a related business or financial role with similar scope and accountability.

Strategic planning, analytical and planning experience.

Experience in financial modeling and business process improvement is an asset.

Special Knowledge / Skills :

Knowledge and expertise in strategic planning and business strategy.

Knowledge and expertise in facilitation and consensus building.

Knowledge and expertise in highly complex business concepts.

Knowledge of accounting systems, project financing procedures and financial instruments.

Advanced knowledge of computer software applications (primarily Excel and Microsoft product platform) including complex spreadsheets, data warehousing and business intelligence tools.

Effective verbal and written communication, report writing, interpersonal, problem-solving, planning, and organizational skills.

Ability to work with a high degree of accuracy, analyze and extract complex data to produce business, statistical and financial reporting.

Ability to think strategically, grasp complex business and financial theories, identify key information and issues and suggest viable options as required.

Ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing priorities, multi-task, and meet deadlines.

Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

Ability to build relationships at all levels of the department, and the University. Commitment to respectful, collaborative work environment.

Must be able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.

Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail while maintaining an overall big picture perspective.