Recruitment posting
Workers' Compensation Board
Competition #: 677
Ministry : Jobs, Economy and Trade
Opening Date : 2019/10/15
closing Date : 2019/11/12
Role : Chair, WCB Board of Directors, and one (1) Board Member each, representing the interest of employers, workers, and the general public.
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 Honourable Jason Copping, Minister of Labour and Immigration, is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on WCB’s Board of Directors.
We are inviting applications or nominations, as appropriate, to fill four roles:
(1) Chair of the Board of Directors for WCB;
(1) Director representative of the interests of the general public;
(1) Director representative of the interests of employers *nomination; and
(1) Director representative of the interests of workers *nomination.
*Note: Employer or worker representative candidates must be nominated by one or more organizations that represent employers or workers, or classes of employers or workers.
Through an Act of the Legislature, the Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA), WCB has overall responsibility for the administration of the Workers’ Compensation System in Alberta, and the delivery of workers’ compensation services to workers and employers of the province, subject only to statutory rights of review and appeal contained in the WCA. WCB was founded based upon the “Meredith Principles” including no-fault compensation, security of benefits, collective liability, independent administration, and exclusive jurisdiction.
The mandate of WCB is to operate Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation System, providing compensation to workers who suffer workplace injuries or illnesses, and help them recover and return to work. The health and well-being of injured workers is at the centre of the Workers’ Compensation System, and the system must be sustainable, affordable, and fair, in order to benefit workers now, and in the future.
WCB strives for fairness and transparency when making decisions that affect the nearly two million workers that are covered under Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation System, and the nearly 170,000 employers whose contributions fund worker benefits, return-to-work programs, and health care services.
WCB has a stakeholder Board of Directors that oversees the implementation of the Workers’ Compensation Act, including ensuring the sustainability of an $11 billion Accident Fund to cover long-term worker benefits.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of WCB and the oversight of WCB’s management of its business and affairs. The Board of Directors guides WCB’s strategic direction, evaluates the performance of WCB’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and approves and monitors WCB’s corporate objectives, including administrative budget and financial results.
The Board of Directors is composed of seven members, each appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It consists of the Chair, two members that are representative of the interests of workers, two that are representative of the interests of employers, and two that are representative of the interests of the public. The success of the Workers’ Compensation System requires a commitment by all parties to work collaboratively with each other.
WCB has strong governance and accountability processes to ensure Albertans are well served by the Workers’ Compensation System. The Board of Directors plays an important role in ensuring WCB’s accountability. The Board of Directors is accountable to the Minister of Labour and Immigration. Related legislation includes the Workers’ Compensation Act, Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act, the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act, the Government Organization Act and the Revised Statutes of Alberta.
CHAIR
The Chair provides strategic leadership and direction to WCB’s Board of Directors. The Chair is the key leadership position for the Board of Directors and requires the right individual who possesses expertise in board governance, has a respected public profile, and has a strong sense of the strategic direction needed for the complex system of workers’ compensation.
The Chair is accountable for the effective governance, efficient management, and enhanced performance of WCB. Extensive senior management experience is key in fulfilling the responsibilities of guiding the strategic, operational, and financial direction of WCB to meet the needs of workers, employers, and the public.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Chair is responsible for:
• providing positive and proactive strategic, operational, and financial leadership and direction;
• effectively facilitating the work of, and allocating responsibility within, the Board;
• appointing Board Members to the committees;
• acting as the official spokesperson for the Board of Directors, including communications with the Minister, the Legislature, legislative committees, stakeholders, and other workers’ compensation agencies;
• on the advice of a committee of the Board of Directors, and, as approved by the Board of Directors, has the authority to develop and enter into an employment agreement with the President, setting out the terms and conditions of employment, salary, and benefits, within the parameters set out by the regulation framework under the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions Compensation Act (RABCCA);
• supervising the administrative affairs of the President and reporting to the Board of Directors;
• bringing to the attention of individual Board Members or the Board of Directors as a whole, any situation that contravenes WCB’s Corporate Governance Policy, and ensuring that matters are dealt with;
• with direction from the Board of Directors, the Chair represents the Board of Directors and its interests, as well as the interests of WCB, in dealing with the Minister, the Chief Executive Officer, stakeholder groups, and the community;
• may constitute and dissolve both standing and ad hoc committees by resolution-standing committees are established to support the Board of Directors in fulfilling key fiduciary responsibilities;
• working with the Board of Directors and Policy Committee to determine the need for, and nature of, consultation; and
• developing and maintaining working relationships with stakeholders in the Workers’ Compensation System, other agencies, boards, and commissions across Canada, and ensuring WCB and its processes are open and transparent.
BOARD MEMBERS
The Board of Directors plays an important role in ensuring WCB-Alberta’s accountability. The Board is accountable to the Minister of Labour and Immigration, as defined in the Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) and Corporate Governance Policy. In their governance role, members regularly review the strategic direction for the organization. Using their diverse areas of expertise, the Board of Directors ensures WCB-Alberta remains true to its mandate, and that the health of the system is protected for the long term. The Board of Directors shall operate in a manner consistent with the WCA and corporate governance principles.
Although Board Members are representative of the interests of workers, employers, and the general public, it is expected that, consistent with their fiduciary role, they set aside any allegiances to a particular group and strive to maintain the welfare, credibility and integrity of the Workers’ Compensation System at all times.
• General - Overall understanding of the Workers’ Compensation System, including perspectives of the general public, workers and employers.
• Worker health and wellness – an overall understanding of the health care industry, including an understanding of services, trends, challenges and opportunities within the health care system; experience or knowledge relating to serving vulnerable individuals (i.e., in the areas of physical, mental or financial health), either directly or indirectly.
• Benefit and assessment policy – a general awareness of the process to initiate, develop and change board policies with respect to Benefits and Employer Services, including high level knowledge of the Workers’ Compensation Act and the policy consultation process.
• Benefit costing and underwriting – an overall understanding of the insurance business model including the ability to analyze and interpret key concepts related to underwriting, liability valuations and accident fund management.
• Communication and stakeholder engagement – an overall understanding of the communities WCB serves, including the stakeholder landscape affecting the workers’ compensation system; experience communicating and fostering trusting relationships with stakeholders.
• Finance and risk management – an overall understanding of general accounting and financial principles, with the ability to read and analyze a financial statement, including income statement, balance sheet and accompanying notes.
• Investment governance and portfolio management – an overall understanding of institutional investment management principles with the ability to read and understand investment management reports; experience in overseeing and evaluating investment policy, strategy and performance.
• Governance – advanced comprehension of WCB-Alberta’s governance policies, including roles and responsibilities, operations and communication.
• Human resources – working knowledge of human resource practices, including compensation, recruiting, retention, succession planning and training.
• Information technology – an overall understanding of how technology strategy aligns with business strategy; experience in overseeing technology investments and project performance.
CHAIR
As Chair, you have extensive senior management experience and are recognized as an influential and highly credible leader.
Your working knowledge of the application and interpretation of legislation and related policies and procedures is essential for this role. With a track record of exercising sound and consistent judgement, you have demonstrated expertise in managing complex issues with integrity and fairness.
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
• Previous experience in senior leadership roles in complex environments with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in building consensus between employers and labour stakeholders.
• Significant experience overseeing human, fiscal, information, and program resources with the ability to integrate strategies with resources available.
• Ability to manage change, anticipate implications of strategic direction on a wide variety of stakeholders, and develop contingency plans or interventions as required.
• Superior interpersonal skills, listens effectively, respects diversity of opinion, and employs an open communication style.
• Track record of positively influencing others through facilitation, collaboration, consensus building and modeling, to achieve desired outcomes.
• Proven ability to build teams, with a commitment to create, support, and sustain an environment that enables staff to achieve results. Able to develop and build organizational capacity for the future.
• Presence and contacts essential to establishing credibility and gaining support from stakeholders.
• Experience with vulnerable or injured workers, including advocacy work (preferred).
• Related post-secondary education is an asset.
BOARD MEMBERS
The Board of Directors is representative of the overall diversity of Alberta. Ideal candidates will bring a broad range of relevant experience, reflect the diversity of Albertans, and possess a demonstrated ability to make a significant contribution at the Board of Directors’ level across a wide variety of business, labour, financial and public policy issues. We are seeking Board Members who understand and demonstrate commitment to WCB’s Governance model. Previous board experience is an asset.
The Chair and Board Member appointments are made by Order in Council, and are for a fixed term of up to three years, with the potential for reappointment for additional terms. The time commitment is anticipated to be approximately three to five days per month.
Members of the Board of Directors, including the Chair, are compensated only for time spent on the business of the Board, at double the rate specified in Schedule 1, Part A of the Committee Remuneration Order (OC466/2007), effective April 1, 2009.
Honoraria is subject to review. Travelling expenses will be paid in accordance with WCB’s Travel, Accommodation, and Subsistence Guidelines.
Meetings are held at the head office in Edmonton, Alberta.
CHAIR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC
In your cover letter, please indicate the role (Chair or Director/Public Member) you are applying for. In addition to your cover letter and resume, we require a biography. Click HERE to download the biography form.
Once the forms are completed, save them to your PC. When you click on submit application, you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop or upload your completed biography form and others requested into the ‘Drop files below or click to upload’ section.
EMPLOYER AND WORKER MEMBERS
For worker or employer representative candidates, organizations representing workers or employers, or classes of workers or employers are required to submit nominations for these candidates. Nominations should include a brief biography, resume, synopsis of why they are being nominated, and uploaded into e-PAAS.
Executive Search, Alberta Public Service Commission
Phone: 780-408-8460
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.
Provide a short 4 line biography using the Biography template found under additional documents section. Your biography should include your name, current work experience, board/committee experience and relevant education. Please note that biographies may be edited for length and clarity.
Once your biography and other required form(s) are completed, save it to your PC. When you hit 'submit application', you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop (or upload) your completed cover letter, biography and other form(s) into the 'Drop files below or click to upload' section 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 contact provided on the posting. 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 https://www.alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm.
The personal information in ePAAS is collected pursuant to section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information will be used to administer and manage recruitment for current and future public agency appointment opportunities. Questions regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of this information, may be directed to the Public Agency Secretariat, Public Service Commission, 12th Floor 44 Capital Boulevard, 10044 - 108 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S7 or by calling 780-644-3060. Applicants will be required to identify any real or perceived conflicts of interest and may be required to undergo additional screening.
Please Note: Successful applicants will have the following information about them made publicly available on the Public Agency Secretariat Website: name, biography, public agency, and position title.