The Organisation
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) helps governments and institutions expand the scale, efficiency and quality of learning by using new approaches, appropriate technologies and open and distance learning (ODL) methodologies. COL promotes learning for sustainable development. It is financed by voluntary contributions from Commonwealth Member States.
COL was established in 1987 by Commonwealth Heads of Government to create and widen access to opportunities for learning, making use of the potential offered by distance education and by the application of communication technologies to education. (Memorandum of Understanding on the Commonwealth of Learning).
Hosted by the Government of Canada with headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, COL is the only intergovernmental organisation solely concerned with the promotion and development of distance education and open learning. It is governed by a distinguished Board of Governors whose membership is drawn from around the Commonwealth and brings leadership and expertise in a wide range of areas.
COLs greatest impact is in supporting efforts that lead to improved lives and livelihoods, especially of marginalised people, through increased, equitable and inclusive access to quality learning opportunities - believing, in effect, that learning must lead to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.
COL values and maintains an organisational culture that is respectful, ethical and fair.
Purpose of the Position
This role brings together key areas of strategy, strategic stakeholder engagement and communications into an integrated whole that supports the overall strategic aims of COL. Working towards a stakeholder-centric approach that embeds external engagement across the organisation, this role will understand and shape the relationship between stakeholder strategy and corporate strategy, playing a lead role in advancing both through building influential, positive and mutually beneficial relationships with external stakeholders.
Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Director, Strategic Engagement (DSE) has oversight of the organisations overall strategic planning, the strategic and tactical engagement of stakeholders that are key to COLs mission and vision and embodies the voice of COL through strategic communications both internal and external to the organisation.
In collaboration with the President and Chief Executive Officer, the DSE leads the development and implementation of the strategic framework that delivers COLs strategic plan and orchestrates the engagement of external stakeholders, partners and Member States.
The DSE plays a crucial role in in the development of opportunities for COL to demonstrate its global leadership in promoting learning for sustainable development, effectively collaborating with cross-functional team members to identify opportunities for connections and engagement of key partners.
To support the delivery of organisational strategy and messaging to key stakeholders, the DSE oversees the development and delivery of COLs communication strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
The DSE is a member of the Executive Team and collaborates with the President, Vice President (VP), and Director, Management Services (DMS) in the planning and implementation of core initiatives in support of the mission and strategic direction of COL.
Strategic Planning
Working with the Executive Team, engage in horizon scanning to identify emerging opportunities, risks, or changing needs/demands that impact COLs set objectives with the object of fostering COLs responsiveness and agility.
Contribute to the management of strategic reviews, planning processes, organisational progress reporting, and impact analysis.
In collaboration with the Director, Management Services, support effective business planning processes and resource allocation in the annual budget process.
Support the development of COLs Organisational Performance Measurement and Management framework, working closely with the DMS to ensure that the organisational performance framework integrates well with the staff Performance Management framework.
