Board of Directors opportunity (up to three positions)

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is seeking applications from diverse and talented people from across Canada interested in serving as a CCA Corporate Director.

The CCA is a not-for-profit organization that undertakes independent, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary expert panel assessments to inform public policy development in Canada. CCA reports present the best available evidence on particularly complex issues where the research findings and science may be challenging to understand, contradictory, or difficult to assemble. They provide decision-makers, as well as researchers and stakeholders, with high-quality evidence to develop informed and innovative public policy. The CCA disseminates its reports for the public good.

For more information about the CCA and its assessments, please visit our website.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD

The mission of the CCA is to convene independent experts and multidisciplinary knowledge to advance the public interest in Canada and internationally.

As the governing body for the organization, the Board is responsible for:

• Overseeing the CCA’s assessment activities, relying on a Scientific Advisory Committee to advise on assessment topic selection, terms of reference, expert panel selection, and peer review processes
• Selecting, supporting, and evaluating the performance of the President and CEO
• Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight
• Setting strategic direction and overseeing progress on a new strategic plan
• Resource and business development
• Evaluating its own performance
• Upholding the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance

RESPONSIBLITIES OF INIDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS

Each Director is responsible for:

• Understanding the CCA’s mission, policies, and processes
• Acting in the best interest of the CCA
• Advocating and being an ambassador for the CCA
• Following CCA bylaws, policies, and Board resolutions
• Upholding the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance
• Understanding the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings
• Leveraging connections, networks, and resources to support the CCA
• Disclosing potential conflicts annually, before meetings, and actual conflicts during meetings

REQUIRED SKILLS

To ensure a broad range of relevant experience and expertise on the Board, the CCA has adopted a skills-based approach to recruiting Directors, ensuring the Board has the necessary diversity in expertise, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to address complex opportunities and challenges. For the current recruitment, CCA seeks directors with skills or competencies that align with CCA’s priority needs:

• Financial Management: CCA seeks to add a Director with financial expertise who can help assure effective resource allocation and strategic financial planning. This includes understanding budgeting, financial statements, and fiscal responsibilities.
• Research ecosystem networking: CCA seeks to add a Director with extensive knowledge of Canadian and international research and academic networks. This includes experience developing partnerships and collaborations that achieve shared goals.
• Fundraising and Development: CCA seeks to add a Director who can help identify funding opportunities, cultivate relationships with sponsors, and develop sustainable revenue streams. This includes experience in business development and sponsor relations relevant to the work of the CCA.
• Governance Leadership: CCA seeks to add a Director with proven governance experience who can provide ongoing leadership in setting governance policies, overseeing board operations, and ensuring that action is taken regarding the Director evaluation.

The CCA is a participating organization in the voluntary ISED 50/30 Challenge which aims to advance gender parity and increase representation from equity-deserving groups on Boards of organizations of all sizes in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. We welcome and encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

*Other valuable skills include marketing and communications, program evaluation, and government relations. Please note that an ICD.D and/or C.Dir. designation would be an asset.

TERMS

• No remuneration is provided; however, the CCA will reimburse each Director for reasonable travel expenses incurred while performing Board duties
• The approximate expected annual time commitment is up to 10 days
• Most meetings are online but Directors must be willing to travel across Canada as required for one annual in-person meeting

APPLICATION PROCESS

SUBMISSION: Candidates should provide a copy of their CV and a cover letter of no more than three pages, briefly outlining how they meet skills or competencies that align with CCA’s needs and goals to board@cca-reports.ca by Sunday, May 12, 2024.

INTERVIEWS: A selection of candidates will be invited to interviews in May 2024

NOMINATION: Preferred candidates will be notified in June 2024

APPOINTMENT: Nominated candidates will be appointed and begin their terms at the September 2024 meeting of the CCA Board of Directors

*Note that we may request and contact references to verify how you have demonstrated the experience requirements in your current and recently held Board positions.

We thank all those who apply. Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted.