Governance Officer

Job Summary

The Governance Officer works closely with the Director of Education and the staff in the Director's Office to provide expertise to ensure the efficient operation of the governance function of the Board.

The Governance Officer will act on behalf of the Director of Education to ensure all aspects of the Secretary of the Board function, as mandated by provincial legislation, are carried out. The Governance Officer provides leadership and supervision to the Governance team in the Legal and Governance Services Office to deliver excellent management regarding Board services including but not limited to support at Board and Committee meetings as appropriate, the coordination, communication and management of agendas, Board and Committee minutes, guidance, and advice on the Board By-laws to Trustees and staff. The Governance Officer will work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure good governance practices and engagement as mandated by applicable legislation and by-laws. Additionally, the Governance Officer will promote excellent working relationships and cooperation among the senior leadership team, the Board of Trustees, students, parents, and community members contributing to public confidence in the Board. The Governance Officer will consult with the Board’s Integrity Commissioner as needed to guide the Board of Trustees in upholding and enacting the principles of good governance which supports the Board of Trustees’ focus on strategic policy initiatives and the mission of the Board to “inspire success, confidence and hope in each child.”

Key Responsibilities

Ensuring the Board of Trustees is focused on their broad obligations and responsibilities in order to keep the best interests of the students and communities and the system as a whole in the forefront of their decision making.

Providing a significant focus on assisting Trustees in their work in building and maintaining invitational connections with the diverse communities in the Peel DSB as they serve their constituents and develop policy for system implementation that addresses the needs of diverse communities
Supervising the coordination of activities related to trustees and trustee/community relations
Developing and delivering the orientation and training program for Trustees by providing for a comprehensive orientation for newly elected trustees plus ongoing professional development and governance advice and support for the whole Board as part of their professional learning and development. This will require a focus on how the Code of Conduct responsibilities intersect with Human Rights obligations
Understanding the gaps in governance knowledge and being flexible enough to provide the appropriate instruction and coaching such as focused training to respond to group or individual needs. Monitoring to ensure ongoing and emerging needs are met
Assisting Trustees in understanding and carrying out their roles and the parameters surrounding Board debate and decision making
Demonstrating deep commitment to equity, inclusion and anti-oppression and actively dismantling racism and oppression by working with the Board of Trustees to recognize, name and disrupt racist, discriminatory policies and practices
Working with other senior staff, the Governance Officer ensures that the following expectations are met: (1) Diversity and inclusion highlighted, in writing, throughout the new Bylaws, in all of the Governance Directives, which include Trustee Committees, as well as in the new Delegation and Community Engagement Directive are followed. (2)The Board and its trustee committees will base all decisions on the principles of equity, inclusivity and anti-racism, using equity, human rights, anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism analysis and working from an analytic framework encompassing principles of intersectional equity, human rights and combatting anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate
Supervision of Governance team in the Legal and Governance Services Office including developing and implementing a succession plan for the department
Identifying and adopting technological solutions to execute the Director’s responsibilities as Secretary of the Board and facilitate effective provision of timely, relevant information for robust decision making
Providing governance advice to the Director of Education and senior team to facilitate their roles in support of good governance and assisting the Senior Team in understanding the role of trustees in partnership rather than seeing them as a barrier. Consistently working towards the understanding among Trustees and Senior Staff of the two roles and the significance of collaboration where possible
Helping to identify proactively political issues that are going to arise, and managing those issues by problem-solving, troubleshooting, and mitigating risk

Key Responsibilities (Cont'd)

Building capacity for partnership by assisting the Board of Trustees and Senior staff in establishing role clarity and ensuring good governance practice that focuses elected officials on policy and staff on policy implementation and operations
Strategically analyzing issues and developing recommendations, strategies, and options for senior management to effectively respond to governance issues
Ensuring timely and accurate information is prepared to provide to senior staff regarding Board decisions and requests for action following Board and Committee meetings
Supporting the policy approval process as the Governance Officer serving as not just a keeper of the records but also overseeing documentation of the records of the Board and committee meetings and establishing processes to facilitate retrieval of records and research regarding Board decisions and policy
Serving as a guide for reasonable compliance with Board governance protocols and a monitor of impact on students and staff and members of the community
Striving for constant fine-tuning, most up-to-date thinking and promising governance practice to support good decision making which connects effective policy to issues and issues to policy
Clarifying the differences between responsibilities for policy development and for implementation
Overseeing the Board policy development and supporting the work of the Governance and Policy Committee
Managing the board governance transitions and the continuity between successive Board and Committee Chairs
Managing the Trustee Determination and Distribution Process as defined by the Ministry of Education
Coordinating Student Trustee Elections and managing all aspects related to Municipal Elections
Ensuring the operation of access to information in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
Liaising between the Board’s Integrity Commissioner and General Counsel on matters that arise related to the Trustee Code of Conduct, the Governance Officer will, as needed, work to enhance the Peel DSB’s capacity to foster a culture of Human Rights and support the establishment and maintenance of respectful governance environments.
Working with the General Counsel in developing and managing the department’s budget
Attending all Board meetings in support of the governance and other Committee meetings as required

Qualifications

Qualifications and Expertise:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Law, or a related discipline. Law degree is desirable.
Seven years of administrative experience at least three of which must be in a governance setting (school board, college, university, provincial or municipal government, hospital or other public sector environment) supporting a Board of Governors/Directors/Trustees.
Working knowledge of the Education Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, Municipal Elections Act and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Working knowledge and understanding of Ministry Directives to the Peel District School Board, understanding of bylaws and Governance Directives, related legislation, policies, and procedures within publicly funded systems. Knowledge of a school board context is an asset.
Extensive knowledge/experience regarding policy development and analysis.
Good understanding of organizational records management.

Leadership Profile:

Strong political acumen.
Demonstrated ability to handle matters requiring high levels of diplomacy, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
Impeccable personal integrity.
Calm, rational leader with mediation skills.
Resourceful problem solver.
A bridge builder and connector.
Proven ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) with Trustees, community members, parents, students, staff and external organizations.
Previous supervisory experience with a proven record of effective leadership.
Ability to be a catalyst for the growth of others and to lead a team in capacity building.
Significant experience with multi-year strategic planning and project management.
Highly developed presentation and facilitation skills.
Knowledgeable about technological solutions.
Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to equity, defeating anti-Black racism and oppression in all its hateful forms.
Commitment to confidentiality.

Special Requirements:

Must be available to work evenings and weekends sometimes with minimal or no notice in order to meet service requirements.
Occasional travel across PDSB.

Careers with the Peel District School Board

Commitment to Equity, Anti-Oppression and Anti-Racism
The Peel District School Board is committed to equity in employment. We are committed to equitable hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the full diversity of the Region of Peel. We will provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. an accessible location, rescheduling of interviews that fall on Days of Significance etc.) based on any of the human rights protected grounds, during the hiring process if advised in advance. We are also committed to inclusion, anti-oppression and anti-racist practices while also supporting the continuous growth and development of an equitable and empowered education system at the PDSB.

Criminal Background Check
Successful candidates must provide a satisfactory Criminal Background Check prior to commencing employment. Please review the requirements for the Criminal Background Check.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants, but will only be contacting candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications best meet the requirements of the position. All communication to applicants regarding this job posting, including an invitation to complete skills assessments and/or a job interview if applicable, will be made through email. Candidates are encouraged to regularly check their email as listed on their TalentLink account.

Land Acknowledgement

The land upon which we work, live and sustain ourselves is the ancestral and treaty lands of the Miichizaagiig Anishinaabek also known today as the Mississaugas of the Credit, the rightful caretakers and title holders of this land. We also recognize the rich pre-contact history and relationships which include the Anishinaabek and the Onkwehonwe. Since European Contact, this land continues to be home to Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. As responsible community members, we value the diversity, dignity and worth of all people. Colonialism displaced and dispossessed Indigenous peoples of their ancestral lands and continues to deny their basic human rights, dignities and freedoms. We are committed to learning true history to reconcile, make reparations and fulfill our treaty obligations to the Original Peoples and our collective responsibilities to the land, water, animals, and each other for future generations.

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Job Reference: CBO00708

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