Beginning in 1992, Norris served in various positions at the University of Lethbridge, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Saskatchewan as a course instructor, teaching or assisting in subjects concerning Canadian politics and government, Canadian foreign policy, and American Indigenous history. From December 1997 to January 1999, Norris served in the Office of Bob Mills M.P. as a Legislative Assistant. After his career as a Legislative Assistant, Norris then transitioned into a role with the University of Saskatchewan in the International Office as a Research Officer & Project Coordinator, remaining in this position until 2004. Through this position, Norris established relations with the Inter-American Development Bank, collaborated with the to promote international & experiential opportunities for Indigenous youth, aided in the engineering of an agricultural partnership with Mongolian State University of Agriculture, as well as supporting food and water security initiatives in Ethiopia. From 2004 to 2007, Norris worked in the University of Saskatchewan's Office of the Secretary as a Coordinator in Global Relations. With this, Norris engaged in significant efforts to raise the profile and prestige of the University internationally, served as a lead campus coordinator of the royal visit to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh in Spring 2005, as well as coordinated the official re-opening of the University of Saskatchewan’s College Building.
Provincial Politics
In the 2003 Saskatchewan provincial election, Norris ran as a Saskatchewan Liberal Party candidate. During the campaign, Norris, as a representative of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, debated against the MLA for Swift Current, Brad Wall, as well as the MLA for Saskatoon Mount Royal, Eric Cline. Following his defeat, Wall invited Norris to join the Saskatchewan Party as both an Advisor on Innovation and the candidate for Saskatoon Greystone. After a successful campaign, from November 2007 to December 2015, Norris served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Saskatoon-Greystone. In November 2007, Norris was appointed as the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour in the Saskatchewan Party government. On June 29, 2010, Norris's responsibilities were adjusted, with the Labour portfolio passing to the Minister of Justice, Don Morgan. Norris was made the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration. He also carried responsibility for SaskPower and Innovation. Norris was dropped from the cabinet in a major shuffle on May 25, 2012 before resuming the Secretarial position in the First Nations & Metis Peoples portfolio, as well as in the International Trade & International Education portfolio. A year following, Norris was re-instated into Premier Brad Wall's Cabinet, serving as the Minister of Advanced Education. Through this, Norris launched numerous initiatives, as well as addressing three major post-secondary crises, namely the University of Regina/University of Saskatchewan Strike in 2007, the 2010 First Nations University Crisis, and the University of Saskatchewan Controversy in 2014. He did not stand in the 2016 provincial election. Norris' leaving caucus prompted the observation in the media that "there really is no "liberal" presence in the Sask. Party caucus anymore," which could be problematic given that the Liberal Party was in power in Ottawa.
Career
Following his exit from provincial politics, Norris accepted a position with the University of Saskatchewan, working in the Office of the Vice-President Research as a Senior Strategist. In this position, Rob worked with various organizations, including the Canadian Light Source, the , the , the , as well as with the university itself. In February of 2019, Norris accepted a position with the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon, serving as the Senior Government Relations Officer & Chief of Staff. In that position, Norris focused on delivering government engagement strategies and communication orientation, as well as enhancing international strategic collaboration. Outside of work, Norris has also been involved with a number of community-based positions, most notably, serving as the , working with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs as an International Election Observer in Tunisia and Lebanon, serving as the Chair of Canada World Youth, as a member of the Nutrien Community Advisory Panel, as well as sitting as a Member of the Dean's Advisory Board with the University of Saskatchewan's .
Controversies
In 2015, Rob Norris was named in a lawsuit against himself, Brad Wall, the Premier of Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan and its Board of Governors for the controversial firing of the President, Ilene Busch-Vishniac, after the Provost, Brett Fairbairn, fired a Dean at the university and unilaterally revoked his tenure for openly criticizing the university's leadership. Wall and Norris are accused of unlawfully inserting themselves into the Board's decision of firing Busch-Vishniac., the lawsuit is ongoing.
