Executive Director, ISTAR

Description

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

Location- This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

About ISTAR

The Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research, known as ISTAR, provides specialized treatment for children, teens, and adults who stutter. With offices in Edmonton and Calgary, ISTAR also advances research in stuttering, provides professional training for speech-language pathology students and clinicians, and promotes public awareness of stuttering and its treatment.

About the Role

Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Executive Director provides strategic, operational, clinical, and community-facing leadership for ISTAR. This role is responsible for advancing ISTAR’s mission through strategic planning, clinical service excellence, staff leadership, financial and operational management, donor and community engagement, student training, and alignment with the Faculty’s broader strategic direction.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced speech-language pathology leader who is energized by combining clinical expertise with organizational leadership. The Executive Director will guide a specialized clinical team, support high-quality services across Edmonton and Calgary, strengthen partnerships and donor relationships, contribute to research and training, and help shape the future of a nationally recognized institute.

The Executive Director will also maintain clinical relevance by providing speech therapy services to clients alongside their administrative and leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Lead ISTAR’s day-to-day operations across Edmonton and Calgary, ensuring effective service delivery, responsible use of resources, and a safe, inclusive, and client-centred environment.
• Develop and implement plans, metrics, and initiatives that advance ISTAR’s service, education, research, and community impact.
• Oversee financial, operational, space, equipment, technology, and administrative activities in collaboration with Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine partners.
• Prepare reports and provide updates to the ISTAR Executive Council, ISTAR Foundation Board, CSD Council, major donors, and Faculty leadership.
• Lead policy, procedure, program, and service improvements that support ISTAR’s continued excellence.

People and Team Leadership

• Provide full-scope supervision for ISTAR staff, including recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance management, scheduling, leave management, and professional development.
• Build a collegial, transparent, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Work with HR and Faculty partners on employee relations, labour relations, collective agreement requirements, recruitment, retention, and other people-related matters.
• Develop mentorship and development plans for new and continuing staff.

Clinical Direction and Service

• Provide assessment and treatment services to clients with speech and language delays or disorders, with a primary focus on stuttering.
• Oversee client flow, referrals, assessments, treatment planning, clinical documentation, and service quality across ISTAR programs.
• Support intensive, refresher, individual, group, in-person, virtual, and school-based programming.
• Mentor clinical staff and support program development, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure clinical programs are effective, evidence-informed, and responsive to client, family, school, and community needs.

Education, Training, and Research

• Support student clinical placements, supervision, training, and learning experiences.
• Provide or oversee workshops, webinars, guest lectures, professional development sessions, and training for students, clinicians, educators, and allied professionals.
• Contribute to research activities through clinical implementation, data collection, knowledge translation, and dissemination where appropriate.
• Collaborate with research partners and Faculty colleagues to connect clinical practice, education, and research.

Community Engagement, Donor Relations, and Advocacy

• Represent ISTAR with community groups, professional organizations, donors, service clubs, educational partners, and regional, provincial, and national organizations.
• Work with Faculty development and communications partners to support fundraising, donor stewardship, public awareness, marketing, and outreach.
• Develop presentations, reports, newsletters, proposals, and other materials that promote ISTAR’s work and impact.
• Support clients and families in accessing treatment funding and resources where appropriate.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
• Registration with the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
• Specialized training and experience providing stuttering interventions, such as Palin PCI, the Lidcombe Program, the Comprehensive Stuttering Program, Camperdown, or related approaches.
• At least five years of supervisory experience, including experience leading, mentoring, and managing staff.
• At least five years of experience in organizational management, including financial, human resource, operational, and strategic responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading small teams and managing complex service, clinical, or program operations.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and meet deadlines in a complex environment.
• Experience with program planning, implementation, data collection, evaluation, assessment, and dissemination.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google applications, and related administrative systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a post-secondary environment.
• Experience working within a school system.
• Experience with University of Alberta administrative systems, such as PeopleSoft.
• Experience applying collective agreements, institutional policies, HR practices, or labour relations processes in a unionized environment.
• Prior University of Alberta supervisory experience.
• Prior experience with ISTAR.

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter.

This position has a comprehensivebenefits packageand an annual salary range of $89,729 to $149,540.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed bySchedule Fof the collective agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.