McGill University is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.
McGill University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director, Max Bell School of Public Policy.
Established in 2017 with the generous support of the Max Bell Foundation and residing in McGill's Faculty of Arts, the Max Bell School of Public Policy brings together faculty, policy practitioners, and students from across Canada and around the world to create the next generation of national and global policy leaders with expertise across multiple domains and disciplines. The Max Bell School of Public Policy is committed to the research, teaching, public outreach, and practical advocacy of sound public policy. Central to its mission is the principle-based design of policy solutions to important domestic and global problems, the interaction of policy development with partisan politics, and knowledge of the workings of the machinery of government. Its 11-month Master of Public Policy (MPP) program prepares students for the many practical details of policy implementation with a foundation rooted in the theory of sound public policy. Home to two world-renowned research centres, the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies, the Max Bell School of Public Policy is centrally involved with vast research networks focused on a wide variety of timely and pressing issues, including peace and security, homelessness, trade policy, and intimate partner violence.
Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Director will be an established and credible scholar appointable as a tenured faculty member, and, holding all the normal responsibilities of the head of an academic unit, will advance world-leading research, promote scholarly and pedagogical excellence, enhance the student experience, effectively manage resources, lead strategic planning towards a vision for growth of the School, and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with internal stakeholders and partnerships with the wider community, including philanthropic initiatives. The Director will bring expertise in national and/or international public policy, as well as a proven track record of advancing Indigeneity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. The successful candidate will provide inspiring and empowering leadership to students, faculty, and staff, encourage collegiality and collaboration, and will serve as an example for the School and McGill by providing expert commentary on major public policy issues with diplomacy and persuasion. They will be an excellent communicator, with the proficiency to work in, or willingness to develop the skills to work in both English and French. A PhD or doctorate in a relevant field will be required.
The new Director will take office in the Fall of 2024 or as mutually agreed. Consideration of candidates will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries and/or applications, in confidence, should be directed to Michael Williams and Andrea Patrick at dirmaxbell [at] odgersberndtson.com.
Founded in 1821, McGill University has established a strong reputation for being a leader in higher education globally, distinguished by the excellence of its faculty, the dedication of its staff, the talent and quality of its students, the contributions of its 300,000 alumni, and its exceptional record in both teaching and research. McGill is the top medical-doctoral university and the most internationally diverse public research-intensive university in Canada, with over 30% of students from more than 150 countries. The University is home to 39,000 students and 6,700 employees spanning 11 faculties, 13 professional schools and over 400 programs of study. McGill’s exceptional faculty - which has historically included five Nobel Prize winners - are recognized for their scientific and technological breakthroughs and for examining the social, environmental, ethical and policy impacts of business practices, technology, science, and medicine; 184 are Canada Research Chairs and 228 are active Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. McGill offers faculty, staff, and students a cohesive university-wide environment of academic excellence that is second to none, where the community is stimulated to push the boundaries of knowledge creation in every field imaginable. For more information about McGill, please visit www.mcgill.ca.
McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.
At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.
McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.
McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. If you require accommodations to participate in the recruitment process, please inform Odgers Berndtson at dirmaxbell [at] odgersberndtson.com ().
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
