Faculty of Law
Date posted: June 19, 2026
Advertised until: July 19, 2026
Work schedule:
[1006] Academic - Derived Schedule
Appointment Dates
August 31, 2026 to August 30, 2029
For more information please contact: Jodi Petch - [email protected]
Executive Director – Asper Initiative for International Business and Trade Law
The Faculty of Law invites applications for a full-time term (3-years) Executive Director – Asper Initiative for International Business and Trade Law, commencing August 31, 2026, for a term of three (3) years, or on a date mutually agreed upon. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The Executive Director leads the Asper Initiative for International Business and Trade Law, operationalizing the Initiative’s experiential vision and preparing for bringing the vision into applied and clinical programming. This includes managing Asper International Business Law & Innovation initiatives, developing extra-curricular student experiential opportunities (internships, moots, exchanges), organizing conferences and visitor series, and engaging with governments, industry, and NGOs. The position ensures Manitoba becomes a hub for leadership in trade law, digital commerce, and innovation. The position will be the main position in fulfilling the operational side of the Asper Initiative
Robson Hall offers several legal clinics and related experiences that assist in delivering access to justice and innovation in Manitoba and in preparing students for successful transition to practice through extracurricular clinical work. The Asper Initiative will be one of these clinical opportunities. These clinics collectively provide legal advice, business planning, planning for innovative business and community outreach, and engaging in representation and public legal education. These clinics also prepare those who wish to work in the access to justice and innovation sector to foster best practices including development in students of critical processes and clinical practices. Clinical Counsel has supervisory responsibility over the casework, public legal education, community development, and law reform activities in the clinics division for which they are responsible. Clinical Counsel must abide by the clinics’ Governance policies. This role will also act as Clinical Counsel and shall be responsible for all decisions taken in relation to the handling of client files and shall make all such decisions after consulting with any students and/or agencies involved in the carriage of the matter.
Further information about the Faculty of Law can be obtained from https://umanitoba.ca/law/.
The following duties and responsibilities are included:
- Leads and implement extracurricular student and business community programming (non-degree/non-credit courses, workshops, conferences, micro-credentials)
- Leads in identifying funding opportunities and preparing applications utilizing existing partners at the Faculty to support curricular development.
- Leads to foster collaboration with Asper School of Business and external partners.
- Develops extracurricular student internships, global exchanges, and placements opportunities outside of the curriculum.
- Mentors and supervises students in trade law clinics, and applied research providing technical and clinical support.
- Builds the initiative into a clinical experience, partnering with the Desautels Centre, AI Lab and others, to create robust clinical opportunities for students including field placements and collaborating with the Associate Dean Graduate Program and Director of Clinics.
- Builds networks with firms, corporations, governments, and NGOs.
- Delivers and plans distinguished visitor events and high-profile conferences.
- Manage and oversee the initiative’s operations and budget.
- Oversee donor reporting and stewardship in collaboration with Dean.
- Deliver guest lectures, seminars, and support curriculum development on consultation basis as a subject matter expert.
- Collaborate with the incoming Asper Chair to translate research into applied practices.
- Assists the Desautels Centre and Asper Chair to support with its Manitoba Law Journal Products including publications, podcasts and knowledge mobilization deliverables.
The successful candidate will hold at minimum, a LL.B. (or JD) with 5 years’ practice at a bar, internationally or domestically. Proven experience in leadership, administration, student mentorship, and budget management is required. Consideration will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. or equivalent in law, business, governance, dispute resolution or equivalent in lieu of practical experience. For Ph.D. holders without a JD/LL.B., significant academic program development and stakeholder engagement experience in business law interdisciplinary programming at institutes or centers in the academic environment including past work in clinical environments is required. The successful candidate will also possess strong leadership and administration skills; excellent communication and advocacy skills (written, verbal, digital); skills in collaborating across disciplines/sectors, particularly law and business with the aptitude to delve into international trade and business law issues; and capacity for strategic planning and innovation. The successful candidate must have a commitment to advancing Manitoba’s role in global trade governance, and the ability to represent the UM nationally and internationally.
The University of Manitoba is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.
Discover outstanding employee benefits, experience world-class facilities and join a dynamic community that values reconciliation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. We are one of Manitoba’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. At the University of Manitoba, what inspires you can change everything.
The University of Manitoba is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.
Discover outstanding employee benefits, experience world-class facilities and join a dynamic community that values reconciliation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. We are one of Manitoba’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. At the University of Manitoba, what inspires you can change everything.
The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.
