Recruitment posting
University of Calgary Board of Governors
Competition #: 306
Ministry : Advanced Education
Opening Date : 2016/09/27
closing Date : 2016/10/18
Role : Public Members
It is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal. Diversity and inclusion are valued and supported on the boards of Alberta's public agencies.
The Minister of Advanced Education is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving as a public member of The Governors of The University of Calgary.
The University of Calgary operates as a public Comprehensive Academic and Research Institution. Education and research at the university serve the needs of the local, provincial, national and international communities. Through its inquiry-based teaching and research programs and strategic and entrepreneurial partnerships, the university’s faculty, staff and students pursue knowledge, contribute to the development and critique of societal goals and engage in creativity and innovation in many fields. The university’s goal is to be recognized internationally for the success of its students and for excellence in research, scholarly and creative activity. The university offers a broad selection of programs of study including baccalaureate, graduate professional and research-based masters and doctoral degrees. It also offers a wide assortment of credit and non-credit diplomas and certificates, as well as non-credit programs of professional development, executive development, and artistic and scholarly activities aligned with the academic expertise of the university.
Board and Committee Structure
The Board consists of nine public members and a Chair appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, as well as nine members nominated or elected to represent various associations of the institution. The President and the Chancellor are also members of the Board by virtue of their positions. Committees established for the Board include: Audit Committee, Budget Subcommittee, Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Committee, Executive Committee, Finance and Property Committee, Human Resources and Governance Committee and Investment Committee.
Role of the Board
The Board is a policy-governance body with responsibility for strategic oversight and ensuring the activities of the university are consistent with its mandate and governing legislation. Key functions include establishing policy under which the institution is expected to operate. While day-to-day operations are overseen by the President, the Board is responsible for hiring and evaluating the President and for providing the appropriate level of guidance and oversight. The Board is accountable for ensuring that public funds are used effectively and appropriately, and in this regard approves annual operating and capital budgets and regularly reviews expenditures, investments and borrowing. The Board acts as an intermediary between the institution and the public it serves and is responsible for ensuring that the institution is responsive to changing education and societal needs. The Board is accountable, through the Chair, to the Minister.
Role of the Public Member
The public member shares with other members of the Board the responsibilities of governing the university; formulating policies enabling the Board to make responsible decisions on fiscal and academic matters; establishing the purpose and vision of the university; and has a commitment to the academic, financial and social well-being of the university and to adult learning generally.
Benefits of Serving as a Public Member
The public member is in a position to influence Alberta’s post-secondary learning system, contributing to the advancement of post-secondary education in the province to the benefit of the community, the population and the economy of Alberta. As a public member of The Governors of The University of Calgary you will have an opportunity to use your diverse set of competencies and experiences to enhance the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its mandate, including influencing the strategic direction of the university and cultivating partnerships within the Campus Alberta system.
The Minister and the Board are looking for Public Members who:
• demonstrate a passion and appreciation for the vision, mission and values of the University of Calgary;
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the current and emerging issues affecting post-secondary education;
• have strong ambassador skills and a good reputation with the region and communities served;
• have the ability to cultivate respectful and productive relationships based on integrity, impartiality, collaboration and inclusiveness;
• are committed to innovation, creativity, and continuous learning and improvement, and what is best for the institution, the system it operates within and the community it serves;
• have an understanding of how a board operates and the time commitment required; and
• have an understanding of stakeholder and community demographics, perspectives and needs, including the diversity of the population and stakeholder interests being served by the University of Calgary.
The successful applicants will demonstrate the following competencies and skills:
• System thinking - experience dealing with multiple stakeholders within related industries, sectors or systems such as Campus Alberta, and therefore having an understanding of the interrelationship of impacts and opportunities as well as having a focus on end results.
• Leadership - experience inspiring and influencing others, as well as experience in key areas such as strategic planning and risk management.
• Relationship building and community partnerships - experience making strong community connections with diverse stakeholder groups and experience building consensus and partnerships.
• Governance - experience on or with board structures and policy governance models, and/or current or previous board or committee experience.
Preferred candidates may also demonstrate:
• Experience in post-secondary education, and/or the education of adults, and
• Financial management experience, such as budgeting, financial reporting and/or financial operations for our Audit Committee and Budget Committee, or
• Experience with managing investments or experience with a program of investments for a large organization for our Investment Committee, or
• Experience in human resources and or employee relations at a large organization for our Human Resources and Governance Committee (HRGC), or
• Experience with real estate planning, construction, development and/or management for our Finance and Property Committee (FPC).
Credential and experience verification may be conducted.
The Government of Alberta is committed to offering qualified Albertans the opportunity to be considered as public members on Alberta’s public agencies, boards and commissions. To help ensure that Albertans are well-represented on boards, we invite applicants from all backgrounds who embody a range of knowledge, skills and expertise to apply.
The public member is appointed for a term of up to three years and may be eligible for reappointment for a second term of up to three years. The Board meets at least five times per year, in addition to committee meetings. The public member can expect a significant time commitment to meet the demands of this role. There is no honorarium available with these opportunities. Members are reimbursed for allowable expenses as per University policies.
Meetings of the board are primarily held in Calgary, Alberta.
Required Documents: In addition to your cover letter and resume, we require a completed application form. Click HERE to download the application form and insert your resume and cover letter where indicated.
Upload your cover letter, application form and resume in the Applicant Information section and click 'apply'.
**Please ensure you read the 'Additional Documentation' section above for full application instructions**
If you are unable to apply on-line, please submit a completed application form including your cover letter and resume, quoting the recruitment posting competition number, to AE.BoardAppointments@gov.ab.ca.
If you have any questions, please contact Governance Services, Alberta Advanced Education, 8th Floor Commerce Place, 10155 - 102 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 4L5, Phone: 780-415-0983, e-mail: AE.BoardAppointments@gov.ab.ca.
This posting may be used to fill both existing and future board vacancies
Carefully read the Recruitment Posting and the Position Profile to ensure this is an appropriate opportunity for you. Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements.
Online applications are preferred, to apply, click on the 'apply' button, create or sign into your account in the ePAAS system; upload your resume, view the listing under Current Opportunities and click on 'submit application'. The uploaded resume will be automatically attached, a cover letter and other documents can be uploaded and attached at this time before clicking the 'apply' button.
If you are unable to apply online, please submit a cover letter and resume, quoting the recruitment posting competition number, to the HR contact provided.
We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to assess which candidates' qualifications most closely match the agency's requirements. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted to advance to the next step in the appointment process. You can check the status of each competition on-line at http://alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm.
All potential candidates will be screened for potential conflicts of interest.
Please Note: Successful applicants will have the following information about them made publicly available on the Public Agency Secretariat Website: name, public agency and position appointed to, appointment term and remuneration received.