Vice President & Head, Trent Durham Campus

Trent University

We respectfully acknowledge that Trent is on the traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

Ranked as one of Ontario’s top undergraduate universities, Trent University fosters intellectual curiosity and social responsibility, cultivating future leaders who are equipped to make meaningful contributions to society across two beautiful, world-class campuses in Ontario.

Trent University Durham GTA is a growing and dynamic campus that plays an integral role in advancing Trent’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities within one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions. With a strong and distinct campus culture, Trent Durham offers an exceptional student experience, meaningful community connections, and academic programming aligned with regional labour market needs and opportunities. The campus continues to expand its enrolment, research and business partnerships, and reputation across the Durham Region and beyond, supported by deep community engagement, experiential learning, and initiatives that strengthen Trent’s presence as a leader in higher education. Trent Durham’s identity reflects a commitment to student-centred learning, academic excellence, and community-based impact, all while contributing to the broader success and reputation of Trent University as a whole.

Reporting to the President, the Vice-President & Head of Trent Durham Campus provides strategic and administrative leadership for all aspects of the Durham campus. As a member of the executive team and the President’s designate in the region, the Vice-President oversees strategic growth, community and government relations, and philanthropy, and collaborates with the Provost and Dean on academic program development and enrolment management. This highly external-facing role is responsible for advancing Trent Durham’s profile and strengthening the University’s presence across the region. The role ensures effective budget management, campus operations, student services, experiential learning partnerships, and capital planning. The Vice-President leads a dedicated team which works closely with Trent Peterborough to advance institutional priorities, further amplify Trent Durham’s brand, and support its continued growth and impact through a range of strategic initiatives and external files.

As the ideal candidate, you are a strategic, collaborative, and community-minded leader with a record of success in complex academic or public-sector environments. You are an effective communicator and relationship builder who brings proven experience in organizational leadership, partnership development across research, business, community, and higher education sectors, and navigating multifaceted stakeholder landscapes. You initiate, cultivate, and steward high-level partnerships, working with both internal academic leaders and external partners to advance Trent University’s research objectives and regional contributions. With sound financial acumen, you have experience managing budgets, guiding operational decisions, and supporting academic priorities with clarity and accountability. You have a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation, and possess the ability to foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities, government officials, community organizations, donors, and regional partners. You bring a forward-looking mindset, the capacity to inspire confidence, and the ability to build and articulate a compelling vision for Trent Durham’s continued growth, reputation, and community impact.

To apply click here: https://boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3073 or for further information, please contact Kathy Rahme (krahme@boyden.com) and Kate Ralston at kralston@boyden.com.

Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the Vice-President position are invited, with the appointment to be effective Summer 2026.

Trent University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive campus community. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Preference will be given to candidates from underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous People (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities or racialized groups and LGBTQ2+ people.

Trent University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process or require an accessible version of a document/publication, please contact kralston@boyden.com.