Description
The Department of Risk Management within VP Finance is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Director, Risk Management & Insurance.
Reporting to the VP Finance and Services, the Director, Risk Management & Insurance provides strategic leadership in enterprise and operational risk, insurance, and claims management at the University of Calgary. This high-impact role supports institutional initiatives, manages complex and high-stakes risks, and collaborates with stakeholders across the university. It requires strategic thinking, sound judgment, discretion, and strong relationship-building skills. The incumbent must manage complex issues with significant organizational impacts, navigate sensitive stakeholder relationships, and demonstrate sound judgment under pressure. The position is highly visible and also demands flexibility, including availability for emergency response, and plays a key role in advancing the university's risk posture through proactive planning and problem-solving.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Program Leadership and Oversight:
- Provides strategic leadership across several critical institutional programs and may assume additional responsibilities aligned with the role's core purpose:
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM):
- Leads the university's ERM program, including stakeholder engagement, annual risk assessments, and reporting to senior governance bodies such as the Board Audit Committee and Executive Leadership Team.
International Travel Risk:
- Manages risk for over 3,000 annual travelers, including emergency response, repatriation, and final approval for travel to high- and extreme-risk destinations. Serves as the university's central resource and represents UCalgary on the Group Study Program Advisory Committee.
Institutional Events:
- Chairs the Strategic Events Committee, oversees the event registration system, and establishes institutional event risk guidelines. Also serves on the Free Expression Committee.
Volunteer Management:
- Oversees centralized management of 2,000+ volunteers, ensuring compliance with OH&S training and insurance requirements.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):
- Ensures UAV operations meet aviation regulations and addresses associated risks.
Drivers Program:
- Manages compliance and insurance for 900+ university drivers, including incident oversight.
Contract Reviews & Waivers:
- Partners with departments and legal teams to mitigate risk through contract terms, waivers, and informed consents.
Schoolboard/Scout Agreements:
- Holds signing authority for agreements involving schoolboards and youth organizations using university facilities.
Board Reporting:
- Provides bi-annual updates to key Board committees and adapts responsibilities as institutional needs evolve.
Insurance and Claims Oversight:
- Leads UCalgary's insurance and claims programs (excluding employee benefits managed by People & Culture).
Insurance Program:
- Manages 52+ domestic and international policies, including construction coverage. Oversees relationships with CURIE (covering five core policies), insurers, brokers, adjusters, and emergency response providers. Holds authority to bind all insurance coverage.
Claims Management:
- Oversees all insured claims and directly manages property losses under the $150,000 deductible. Handles complex claims, including those in international or remote locations, ensuring legal compliance and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
Litigation & Legal Coordination:
- Leads quarterly reviews with legal counsel to guide litigation strategy. Evaluates third- party claims for recovery and determines the university's response to claims made against it.
Cross-Department Collaboration:
- Works with Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, Research, IT, and Campus Security to ensure risks are insured, contractually transferred, or managed internally.
Reporting & Committee Involvement:
- Submits bi-annual insurance and claims reports to the Auditor General.
- Ensures compliance with the Insurance Act of Alberta and Workers' Compensation Act for student coverage.
- Serves on the Last Day of Classes Committee to mitigate end-of-term risks.
- Member of the Incident Management Taskforce, leading the International Travel and Events working group as needed.
Qualifications / Requirements:
Experience:
- 10+ years in risk management and/or insurance, with leadership and operational accountability.
- Proven success managing complex institutional initiatives, preferably in post-secondary or research environments.
Education & Credentials:
- University degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Professional designations such as FCIP (Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional) and/or CRM (Certified Risk Manager).
Technical Expertise:
- Deep knowledge of enterprise and operational risk management, insurance programs, and claims handling.
- Skilled in international insurance negotiation and compliance.
- Familiarity with legal, regulatory, and contractual risk mitigation strategies.
Leadership & Communication:
- Strong project management and organizational skills; able to juggle multiple priorities.
- Effective communicator with executive presence; able to engage with senior leadership, faculty, and stakeholders.
- Diplomatic, trustworthy, and skilled at building collaborative relationships.
Strategic Thinking:
- Applies broad industry and academic insight to drive risk strategies.
- Proactive, analytical, and solutions-oriented with sound judgment.
Interpersonal Skills:
- Active listener with a collaborative mindset.
- Maintains confidentiality and demonstrates tact in sensitive situations.
Application Deadline: July 29, 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 M3 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.
