Governance Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking a Governance Specialist to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership team (SLT) and the Board of Directors for both Diabetes Canada (DC) and its sister organization, National Diabetes Trust (NDT).

Diabetes Canada is a national health charity focused on creating a world free of the effects of diabetes, and NDT is its affiliated social enterprise. This role reports to the President & CEO of Diabetes Canada and will support the President & CEO of National Diabetes Trust.

The Governance Specialist will support both organizations; this role will assist with the following duties:

• Ensures the seamless operation of the Boards and their Committees
• Acts as the custodian of the corporate bylaws and maintains corporate records
• Develops and manages a governance policy framework and inventory
• Facilitates the development of Board and Committee materials
• Oversees legal and regulatory compliance
• Supports an effective enterprise risk management approach

Our National Office is located at 1000–170 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. We offer a flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to work remote with the expectation of being in office as required by their manager or the organization. We are open to applicants from across Canada.

The hiring salary range for this role is $76,000–$90,000 annually, commensurate with experience and alignment with the requirements of the position.

• Organize, schedule, and prepare agendas and briefing materials for Board of Directors and committee meetings, liaising with the Committee senior staff partner and Committee Chair, and the CEO and the Board Chair as appropriate
• Develop and maintain an effective and up-to-date Board portal, and ensure DC Directors’ information is up to date on DC’s public website
• Support any time-limited Board committees that may be established by preparing resources, minutes, and draft reports
• Draft and maintain accurate corporate records, resolutions, and meeting minutes
• Coordinate Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
• Assist in the recruitment, orientation, and ongoing training of Directors
• Support the execution of the annual Board Education & Development Plan for Directors
• Coordinate in-person Board and Committee meetings
  • 5 Committees for DC
  • 2 Committees for NDT
• Stay current on governance best practices and incorporate them, as appropriate

• Review, update, and implement organizational bylaws and governance policies
• Ensure policies (e.g., Conflict of Interest, Code of Conduct, Confidentiality) meet current legislative and other requirements
• Administer Board self-evaluation tools and develop the annual board work plans
• Coordinate regular reviews of policies and governance tools, and ensure they are accessible on the Board portal

• Monitor and ensure adherence to statutory requirements for DC, NDT, and Diabetes Ontario, such as those dictated by the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines for registered charities
• Track filing deadlines, regulatory reporting, and funding agreement obligations
• Support the Board and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in identifying and mitigating organizational risks (e.g., legal, reputational, governance)
• Track whistle blower complaints for DC and NDT, and prepare a quarterly committee report
  
  Retain and organize significant documents and records for both organizations
• Manage document execution and seals

• Act as the primary point of contact for Directors, handling frequent communications and inquiries
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to advance each organization's mission and ensure transparent accountability, as appropriate and required

• Work with the President & CEOs to develop and monitor annual budget related to Board & Committee activities

Note:

This role is not limited to the responsibilities listed above and may include other duties as required to support effective governance at DC and NDT.

• 3–5 years of progressive experience in corporate governance, board administration, or non-profit management
• University or College degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, or a related field.
• A designation such as the…