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Associate Director, International and Outreach Programs

Department: Dean of Math WatRISQ Effective Date: February 26, 2010
Grade:

USG 10/11

35 hr/wk

Reports to: Director of WatRISQ

General Accountability

The Associate Director is accountable to the Director of WatRISQ to develop international programs and activities to increase the profile of the WatRISQ in quantitative finance, and to develop worldwide connections and awareness. The programs and activities will include workshops, seminars, short courses, and collaborative activities. Targeted countries include: China, UAE, India, Singapore, U.S., and Japan. Some of these activities will be revenue-generating.

Nature and Scope

a)     Organizational Relationships

Other staff positions that report directly to the Director of WatRISQ:

  • WatRISQ Financial Officer

Staff positions that report directly to the incumbent:

        b)     Description of general framework and environment: 

The Waterloo Research institute in Insurance, Securities and Quantitative finance (WatRISQ) is a unique centre for research and advanced training in quantitative finance and risk management at the University of Waterloo. The Institute coordinates the University's related research activities in finance, mathematics, scientific computing and actuarial science. 38 faculty members and forty graduate students from 7 Departments or Schools are associated with Institute. There are approximately 50 Corporate members associated with the institute. WatRISQ enhances teaching and research in these areas by funding projects involving researchers, facilitating short- and longer-term visits by prominent researchers and practitioners, and providing support for graduate students. 

WatRISQ promotes collaboration and co-operation among its researchers and private sector partners through conferences, seminars, and meetings. It also enhances the research environment at Waterloo through its sponsorship of seminars and by providing post-graduate scholarships to attract the best students to related academic programs. In this way the Institute helps to increase the supply of highly qualified graduates in the risk management and insurance disciplines. The University of Waterloo is Ontario's major supplier of highly skilled graduates in actuarial science and it houses Canada's premier masters degree program in quantitative finance.

There is a Board of Directors that is responsible for the overall operations and planning of the institute, in line with its stated objectives, and advises on the research agenda. The Board is chaired, in rotating fashion, by the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Mathematics.        

c)     Challenges

Each partnership is unique; the Director needs to be able to work within very broadly defined parameters, exercising judgment in determining each specific arrangement.

Many partnerships will be with international companies, requiring some understanding of different government regulations as well as cultural and organizational differences.

          Some international travel will be required

Political acumen is critical.  The incumbent must be sensitive to the needs and interests of other units, often with competing objectives

 

d)     Nature of controls

All staff act according to University and Faculty policies and procedures, and according to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Arts.

e)     Significant Internal Relationships

Dean of Mathematics
Dean of Arts
WatRISQ Financial officer
Alumni/development officers in Mathematics and Arts
Office of Research
Associate VP, International
Graduate Studies Office
Director of MQF program

 

e)     Significant External Relationships

Statistical Data

Specific Accountabilities

In coordination with the WatRISQ Associate Director, represent the WatRISQ research and development interests to external organizations in the international community and in the academic, governmental, and private sectors.

Promote WatRISQ to external organizations in the international community and in the academic, governmental, and private sectors. This promotion is done through presentations, discussions, and the web

Foster and strengthen relationships between WatRISQ and partners through communications and discussions

Plan and implement international WatRISQ related workshops/seminars

Occasionally travel to attend international workshops/seminars

Deliver presentations to corporations and industry.

Coordinate campus visits, seminars, and other events to provide industry opportunities to connect with Faculty researchers.

Establish this role as a key point of contact for WatRISQ international activities

Develop a calendar of international workshops/seminars for interested stakeholders

Write event-related communications including invitations, web copy and reports (Mandarin translation abilities is an asset).

Additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned

Working Conditions