Why AUArts?

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is situated on the ancestral land of the Siksikaitsitapi - Blackfoot Confederacy which includes the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani Nations and the shared territories of the Tsuut’ina Nation as well as the Iyarhe Nakoda-Stoney which includes Bearspaw, Chiniki, Good Stoney Nations and also the home of the Métis Nation of District 5 and 6. The City of Calgary has long been called Moh’kins’tsis by the Siksikaitsitapi, Guts’ists’i by the Tsuut’ina, and Wîchîspa by the Nakoda.

The Alberta University of the Arts is one of only four major art, craft and design focused Universities in Canada. Our internationally recognized programs and state-of-the-art facilities offer our 1,100 students a hands-on, studio-based education that leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Design, and an MFA in Craft Media. AUArts has deep roots in Calgary’s creative community and our alumni have had an impact on creativity around the world.

Alberta

University of the Arts will be celebrating its centennial in 2026.

Do you believe in the power of ideas, possibility, and in building community? AUArts is a community of thinkers, shapers, makers, and risk takers. We are students, faculty, staff, and alumni rich in diversity of culture and thought, challenged to fearlessly explore what moves us, drives us, and compels us to see the world differently.

The Opportunity

Competition #2627-OC-ET-05

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is looking for an Executive Assistant, President and CEO to provide high-level executive support and operational management to support the advancement of the university's strategic priorities. This position is accountable for providing comprehensive executive, administrative, and operational support to the President and overseeing the daily operations of the Office of the President The Executive Assistant to the President plays a critical role in ensuring the effective management of the Office of the President by serving as a key liaison between the President and internal and external constituents. This position requires exceptional judgment, discretion, organizational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic and complex post-secondary setting.

The incumbent acts as a trusted partner to the President, enabling strategic priorities to be advanced through effective coordination, operational oversight, and administrative leadership.

This is a full-time temporary position starting as soon as possible until approximately the end of January 2027. Hours of work are 35 hours per week, 7 hours per day. Occasional evenings may be required to support meetings and events.

The deadline to apply is November 6, 2026.

Key Responsibilities

- Serve as the primary point of contact for individuals and groups seeking access to the President and exercise sound judgment in prioritizing and responding to inquiries.

- Monitor and manage incoming communications. Prepare correspondence, briefing notes, presentations, meeting packages, and collateral materials that are accurate, timely, and tailored to specific audiences.

- Provide strategic calendar management for the President and CEO, balancing meetings with focused work time, applying sound judgment on priorities, participants, and timing,



and maintaining flexibility to respond to rapidly changing agendas. Arrange travel as required.
- Coordinate high profile meetings and events, ensuring appropriate participation, logistics, preparation, scheduling, room and equipment bookings, catering, and travel arrangements as required.

- Provide administrative support to committees including scheduling all meetings, planning annual retreats, preparing and distributing agendas, co-ordinating and compiling relevant data/research for the President, and recording official minutes. Proactively assist the President with action items resulting from internal and external cabinet/committee/organization work.
- Serves as liaison between the President and other University administrators, members of the Board of Governors, public and private officials, various boards, faculty, staff, students, and the various publics served by the University by communicating and/or interpreting policy, decisions, and documents issued by the University, gathering information and providing information to the President, and representing the President’s Office when required.

- Manage budgets, expenditures, payments processing, expense claims, procurement activities, and reconciliation processes in accordance with university policies.

- Oversees and manages University projects as directed by the President and CEO, and participates in selected projects/research, providing information as requested. Monitors project budgets and costs to ensure activities are completed and correctly authorized; oversees project status reporting; and consults with team members to track agreement/contract dates, relevant data and any necessary adjustments.

- Conduct research, compile information, and prepare background materials to support decision-making, meetings and projects,

Competencies:

AUArts has established five common competencies to promote unity of vision and action in the organization:

- Healthy Spaces

- Active Inclusion
- Creative Innovation
- Collaborative Practice
- Strategic Leadership

Qualifications:

The following qualifications have been determined to promote the likelihood of success in the role. In alignment with the principles of inclusion, individuals with an alternative equivalent qualification may be considered.

- Undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive executive support experience.
- Previous experience within a post-secondary institution is preferred.
- Advanced proficiency of Microsoft Office 365 applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams).
- Awareness of civic, provincial and federal government politics.
- Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to communicate clearly, accurately and professionally at all times.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with key client/stakeholder groups.
- Exceptional organizational abilities, including priority setting,



time management and project management skills, with experience maintaining several projects while meeting deadlines and expectations in a high-paced environment.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently, with a professional, customer-service approach.

How to Apply

Applications must include a Cover Letter and Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV). It is preferred that your application package be submitted as a single PDF document.

Please visit our Application FAQs page to ensure your application is complete prior to submission. Upload your single PDF to the “Resume” section of the application portal. If you are unable to combine your documents into one file, you may upload them separately under the “Additional Documents” section.

If you are an active AUArts employee, please submit your application through your Dayforce account. From the menu, select Careers > Search Jobs to view open positions.

The deadline to apply is November 6, 2026. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Further information about AUArts is available on our website at www.auarts.ca.

AUArts is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to fostering inclusion and belonging within our community.

We welcome applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

We recognize the legitimate and potential impact that career interruptions (maternity leaves, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to identify in their application the impact that career interruptions may have had on their record of practice and achievement; this will be taken into consideration during the assessment process.

We are committed to making our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected]. All requests for accommodation will be treated confidentially.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. All successful candidates must demonstrate that they are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The personal information collected through this website will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and suitability for employment, as well as immigration requirements and reporting. This collection is authorized by section 4 (c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and will be protected by section 10. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact [email protected], or the University Secretary at [email protected] or (phone hidden).

📌 Executive Assistant, President and CEO (Temp) (Calgary)
🏢 Alberta University of the Arts
📍 Calgary