The University of Waterloo Board of Governors invites nominations and recommendations of individuals who might be considered for community-at-large appointments. There is particular interest in recruiting individuals who possess the skills and experience outlined below.
About the University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo (Waterloo) is the number one University in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections, with more than 42,000 students attending each year. With a global network spanning more than 220,000 alumni in 151 countries, Waterloo attracts world-class scholars including a Nobel Laureate.
With campuses, education centres, and academic partnerships spanning the globe, Waterloo is shaping the future of the planet and has developed a reputation for the excellence and relevance of its undergraduate and graduate education, delivered through six faculties: arts, engineering, environment, health, mathematics, and science. Waterloo continues to spur innovation to solve problems on a global scale and has consistently been ranked highest as Canada’s most innovative university by Maclean’s magazine. To learn more, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca/about.
Commitment to Indigenization and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and anti-Racism
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its community. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Board Composition and Competencies Sought
The University of Waterloo Act outlines the composition of the Board of Governors. Ten of thirty-six members are appointed by the Board from the community-at-large. These appointments are volunteer positions. Members are appointed on recommendation of the Governance Committee.
When recommending members for appointment, the Governance Committee considers a range of factors, including institutional vision, values and priorities, and succession planning considerations based on the Board’s skills, experience and diversity matrix alongside the Board’s Renewal and Succession Policy.
Community-at-large members are selected from a wide range of professional fields and industries to provide a balanced and nuanced approach to governance decisions. Below are the specific skill sets of interest:
Accounting/Auditing
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Technical expertise in financial reporting, auditing requirements, implementation of compliance-based audit recommendations, and internal controls for private, public, or not-for-profit organizations. (Accounting designation/CFO experience required to demonstrate the financial expertise)
Change Management
- Successful experience either leading the implementation of innovation and/or disruption and/or responding to industry disruption; experience implementing significant organizational/culture change in complex and/or decentralized business environments
Education (Post-Secondary)
- Experience in one or more of the following:
- comprehensive knowledge of provincial, national, and international post-secondary education systems and/or university operations.
- leading professional or academic research.
- integrating knowledge and approaches from multiple disciplines in an academic context.
- experience in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to the digital economy, including virtual education and collaboration.
- experience in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to student experience
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Lived experience and/or expertise in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to equity, diversity, and inclusion approaches, practices, and initiatives.
Governance
- Broad knowledge and understanding of best practices for non-profit and/or corporate governance. Board experience; understanding of board duties/responsibilities and leading governance practices through experience as an executive and/or director of a complex organization.
Indigenization
- Lived experience and/or expertise in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation approaches, practices, and initiatives.
Information Technology/Cybersecurity
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Experience in a leadership role or providing professional advice across large private, public, or not-for-profit organizations with respect to emerging digital technologies, information technology systems, cybersecurity policies and processes, and IT operations.
All members of the Board must have financial literacy, regardless of professional field.
Investment
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Technical expertise in investment principles and strategies, and direct experience with managing multi-million dollar investment portfolios, including investment management policies and pension plan design and management.
Land, Real Estate Development, Planning
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Experience in experience managing a large real estate portfolio, highly complex land development planning and/or approvals, major ($5M+) capital projects, and/or space and facilities planning and design. (Engineering or architecture designation an asset)
Leadership and Human Capital
- Experience in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to human resources, including culture, talent management, compensation, collective bargaining and succession planning.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance
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Broad legal experience (private practice or in-house) with sound understanding of compliance and/or regulatory law
Pensions
- Experience leading pension plan initiatives such as plan design, administration, and governance.
Philanthropy
- Experience with the creation and execution of strategy in fundraising, development, and/or stewardship for large and complex public and/or not-for-profit organizations and/or indigenous philanthropic organizations or projects.
Risk Management
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Experience in a leadership role or providing professional advice with respect to enterprise risk management, including risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Strategy
- Experience developing and implementing a successful strategy, including appropriately probing and challenging management on the delivery of agreed strategic objectives.
Additional Considerations
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Desire to serve, willingness and ability to commit the time and effort required as a member of the Board of Governors (the Board meets 5 times annually and members are also assigned at least one standing committee based on skills and experience)
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Personal values alignment with the University of Waterloo vision and values
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Additional assets include: graduate of the University of Waterloo, or other affiliation; past experience as a board committee chair and willingness to serve in this capacity; formal governance training or other sophisticated governance experience; access to a network that includes potential new major University donors, and willingness to assist the University’s fundraising efforts by engaging that network.
Submission of Nominations
Nominations for appointment in response to this profile are accepted on an ongoing basis and can be submitted in confidence to the Secretariat at board@uwaterloo.ca. A brief candidate profile and/or CV is preferred in order to aid in assessing candidates.
Nominations of those who may be suitable for future appointment to the Board are welcome at any time and are normally kept on file for at least three years from the date of submission.
For more information please visit uwaterloo.ca/secretariat.