Permanent Full-Time: 37.5 hours per week

Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Overview

The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is established under the province’s Post-Secondary Learning Act (PSLA) as a corporate entity separate from the University of Alberta. The GSA is a student-led and professionally managed non-profit organization that represents and advocates for all graduate students at the University of Alberta. The GSA develops and nurtures effective relationships with stakeholders and constituent groups internal and external to the academy, including Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), Student Success and Experience (SSE), the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU), and University Administration. Under the PSLA, the GSA has exclusive authority to negotiate a graduate assistantship collective agreement on behalf of graduate students and to negotiate a collective agreement covering its staff. It provides engagement and educational activities to its members, while negotiating and administering a broad range of services on their behalf. The GSA office is a collaborative, professional, respectful, and positive work environment, with cross-trained, team-oriented staff and management who assist the Executive Director (ED) in delivering the GSA’s programs and services.

Job Summary

The Executive Director is the senior administrative and operational leader of the GSA, reporting to the GSA Board. The ED manages the GSA’s day-to-day operations, staff, finances, and strategic implementation, and plays a critical role in helping the GSA represent graduate students’ interests effectively, provide valuable services, and operate professionally and sustainably. Elected officials establish the GSA’s political and advocacy priorities.



The ED provides nonpartisan strategic, policy, governance, and operational advice and leads the implementation of approved priorities. In a context where elected leadership changes annually, the ED provides guidance, institutional memory, and operational support to the Directly Elected Officials (DEOs), building and leading an office team that delivers consistent and efficient support to the GSA.

Key Responsibilities

1. Support for the GSA’s Governance-Related Mandate

- Exercise administrative authority within powers delegated by the GSA Board and in accordance with GSA bylaws, policies, collective agreements, approved budgets, and applicable legislation.
- Act as a point of contact between the GSA Board and GSA staff, and maintain a positive flow of information so the Board and Council receive information relevant to their roles and responsibilities.
- Cooperate and collaborate with the GSA President, Vice-Presidents, and Council, advise the Board on strategic planning and lead the administrative implementation of approved strategic priorities and organizational goals.
- Stay up to date on trends and issues facing graduate students at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, and assess how changing internal and external environments affect the GSA’s operations, reputation, and functionality.




- Maintain professional neutrality in relation to GSA elections and internal political matters while providing impartial advice and operational support to elected leadership.
- Support incoming and outgoing executives with onboarding, fiduciary responsibilities, institutional memory, and organizational transition.
- Help protect the GSA’s organizational integrity and reputation by providing timely and appropriate managerial expertise.

2. Execution of the GSA’s Overall Operations

- Oversee the effective and effective functioning of all GSA departments and services.
- Maintain documentation related to operational and governance requirements, policies and procedures, contractual agreements, governance records, stakeholder relations, recruiting processes, decision-making precedents, and DEO transition materials.
- Assist in developing the GSA’s annual budget with the Finance Team and provide periodic reporting to the Budget and Finance Committee (BFC), GSA Board, and Council.
- Oversee staff recruitment, professional development, training, supervision, employment obligations, and administration of the collective agreement, where applicable.
- Maintain a positive workplace culture for all staff.
- Identify and mitigate potential financial, operational, and reputational risks and liabilities.

3. Management of Relationships with Members and Stakeholders

- Develop and maintain organizational relationships and professional networks with graduate students, University Administration, and other student unions, associations, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Provide training sessions and programs to educate members and stakeholders about the GSA, particularly graduate st

📌 Executive Director (Edmonton)
🏢 Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Alberta
📍 Edmonton