Description
The Department of Risk Management within VP Finance is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Director, Risk Management & Insurance.
The University of Calgary is a large and complex institution with diverse ventures and initiatives impacting numerous stakeholders. Reporting to the VP Finance and CFO, the Senior Director, Risk Management & Insurance will bring advanced Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), operational risk management and insurance expertise to lead or support risk management or other initiatives institution-wide.
The position is highly visible, requires strategic decision-making, problem-solving, and relationship- building at all levels of the University. The incumbent must manage complex issues with significant organizational impacts, navigate sensitive stakeholder relationships, and demonstrate sound judgment under pressure.
Under the overall direction of the VP Finance and CFO, the Senior Director, Risk Management & Insurance will apply well-honed Enterprise Risk Management, operational risk management and insurance skills to support strategic ventures and initiatives of UCalgary.
This position requires the incumbent to act decisively, exercise a high degree of initiative, to exercise complex risk management knowledge, direct the resolution of highly complex problems on a wide range of issues, and to build productive working relations internally and externally. Integrity, problem solving, conflict resolution, concise documentation, discretion, and attention to detail are all key attributes necessary for this position.
This is a Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) position, with regularly scheduled hours of work which will require adjustment at times to meet multiple demands and pressures in an environment that requires consistently high levels of service. Emergency response is part of this position and may require after-hours communications.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Leadership
This position fosters collaboration both within the RMI team and with UCalgary stakeholders in the development and delivery of risk management programs and initiatives. They are required to plan, execute, complete and sustain such initiatives, to ensure continuous improvement of risk management across the university.
This position has full managerial discretion for all direct reports, including the Senior Manager and encompasses:
- Hiring, onboarding, coaching, mentorship, career development, performance management, and discipline up to and including termination.
- Establishes departmental goals and objectives that are consistent with the university's strategic direction.
- Guides the strategic planning, organization, direction and on-going evaluation of the RMI department and its activities.
- This is a high activity, high accountability, intensely relational and strategic decision-making position. This role is pivotal for the success of several ventures and complex projects at the University of Calgary.
- This individual leads and implements change to support continuous improvement of the Risk Management & Insurance team as well as ensuring delivery of appropriate service levels and projects.
Budget
- Overall accountability for 3 operating budgets and responsibility for overseeing budget development.
- Ensure expert budget planning and management of financial activities, including expenditures on claims which are expected to be reimbursed by insurers and third parties.
- Develop short- and long-range plans to meet financial obligations, forecasting insurance premiums and claims trends and salary commitments.
- Plans and determines allocation of resources, authorizes and controls expenditures and is accountable for managing resources.
Communications
- Negotiates and influences the opinions of others within the University and with external universities; exercises sensitivity to the individuals and the audiences.
- Fosters relationships with senior leaders across the university.
- Through significant interaction and collaboration with internal and external partners and participants, influences the direction of strategies and initiatives related to risk management & insurance.
- Creates and build commitment to the vision of Risk Management & Insurance through effective communication strategies.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in risk management and/or insurance in managerial/leadership roles with operational accountability.
- A related University degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience with a strong understanding of risk management and insurance.
- Credentials as either a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) and/or Risk Management (CRM).
- Possesses a high-level of risk management and insurance acumen with extensive experience in supporting complex academic or research ventures, institutional initiatives and projects.
- Has comprehensive knowledge and experience in post-secondary institutions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex projects or priorities simultaneously with strong organization skills.
- Ability to both lead and follow as the situation requires.
- Great listener and seeks to understand first.
- Ability to apply broad industry and academic awareness to drive risk management initiatives and projects.
- Strong organizational, interpersonal and written communication skills are required to ensure risk management projects are effectively managed and communicated.
- The ability to communicate effectively with executive and senior management, faculty, administrators, staff and students and student organizations is essential.
- This role demands a high level of interaction which requires tact and diplomacy, confidentiality, ability to gain respect and trust, and a requirement to build strong working relationships across UCalgary.
- Expertise in the negotiation and understanding of international insurance is an asset.
Application Deadline: June 6, 2025
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level M4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
