Athabasca University'sVP Information Technology and CIO is recruiting two permanent, full time positions for Manager, Business Relationship Management.

The Position

The Manager, Business Relationship Management is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing, developing, and leading the Business Relationship Management (BRM) and Business Analysis (BA) practices at Athabasca University. As one of two roles, this position plays a critical leadership function in strengthening and advancing strategic relationships between IT and the university's faculties or administrative units. This position leads a team of Business Analysts in ensuring consistent engagement across the institution and aligning IT services and initiatives with AU's strategic priorities.

Working under the direction of the Director, Business Relationship Management, this role supervises day-to-day operations of their team to ensure quality and consistency in business engagement practices that, contribute to the development of solutions that support AU's operational and strategic objectives. The Manager maintains strong working relationships with AU stakeholders and IT colleagues to ensure IT activities are well understood, expectations are managed, and opportunities for improvement are identified and acted upon. The Manager provides direct people leadership to a team of Business Analysts including responsibility for workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and professional development. This also includes establishing role clarity, competency expectations, and consistent engagement standards across the practice, as well as fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

In addition to managerial responsibilities, the Manager actively performs Business Relationship Management functions. This includes directly engaging with senior academic and administrative stakeholders, leading complex or high-impact relationships, facilitating strategic planning discussions, translating business needs into prioritized technology demands, and contributing directly to the development of institutional and IT roadmaps. The Manager models effective BRM practices and sets the standard for engagement quality and strategic thinking across the team.

This role requires a deep understanding of Athabasca University's academic, administrative, and operational processes, as well as the systems that support them. This includes keeping abreast of sector and technology trends to bring insights and ideas into AU. This knowledge will enable the team to play a key role in driving innovationthat benefits both staff and learners. The Manager will ensure the BRM practice develops deep contextual knowledge of stakeholder needs and translates those needs into coherent, prioritized technology roadmaps in collaboration with the IT delivery and operational team. Through leadership, hands-on development, and strategic engagement, the Manager, Business Relationship Management plays a critical role in strengthening trust, driving innovation, and ensuring technology investments deliver meaningful value for staff, faculty, and learners.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years progressive experience working in a business-facing IT organization with demonstrated successful experience in partnering with business stakeholders. Direct experience of relationship management, business relationship management, or other adjacent fields. Diploma or degree in a relevant technology or business discipline, recognized in Canada. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong business enablement orientation, able to offer constructive suggestions and act as a trusted advisor to the business.
• A sound understanding of information technology and how it can be used to support the delivery of business solutions
• Excellent communications skills and the ability to facilitate strategic discussion and agreement across multiple functions
• Excellent problem solving and critical thinking abilities, able to offer creative, innovative, and strategic solutions to business challenges.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Highly self-motivated and self-directed.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and developing new skills and a desire for continuous improvement.

Assets:

• Recognized qualification in business relationship management, change management, or business analysis.

A detailed job description can be viewed at: Manager, Business Relationship Management.

Contact Information:
For more information regarding this role, please contact Oksana Delgado,Director, Business Relationship Management, atoksana@athabascau.ca.