Director, Compliance and Governance Services (Canadian Museum for Human Rights)

Director, Compliance and Governance Services

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) believes that respect and understanding of human rights can be a powerful force for positive change. The Director, Compliance and Governance Services is a senior leader who ensures the organization's governance, compliance, and strategic planning functions align with CMHR's purpose, values, and commitment to an inclusive, equitable, and innovative culture.

Reporting to the Vice President, People and Organizational Development, the Director holds direct responsibility for the development and continuous improvement of governance and compliance strategies, policies, and programs. Key responsibilities include coordinating CMHR's Corporate Plan across all levels of the organization; providing Corporate Secretariat Services to the Board of Trustees; delivering compliance and legal services; and overseeing organizational policy, records management, and performance measurement and reporting.

The Director ensures the Board of Trustees is informed of its legal responsibilities, oversees compliance with the Access to Information Act, Privacy Act, and Official Languages Act, and serves as a liaison with senior government officials and external agencies.

The ideal candidate is a knowledgeable, strategic, and empathetic leader - a strong communicator, critical thinker, and relationship builder who leads with collaboration and courage.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Compliance and Governance function, providing strategic direction, coaching, mentorship, and performance leadership while fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, accessibility, reconciliation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Trustees, ensuring effective governance practices, Board operations, orientation, training, records management, and compliance with applicable legislation, by‑laws, and governance frameworks.
• Advise the Board, Executive Team, and senior leaders on governance, compliance, legal, ethical, and regulatory matters affecting the organization.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of governance, regulatory compliance, organizational policy, records management, and evaluation frameworks.
• Coordinate the development and execution of the Corporate Plan, strategic objectives, operational plans, performance measures, and organizational reporting to support CMHR's strategic priorities.
• Establish and oversee performance measurement, analytics, evaluation, and reporting processes, including legislatively required reporting and key performance indicators.
• Oversee legal and compliance functions, including legislative compliance, access to information and privacy programs, official languages obligations, legal agreements, external counsel management, and government reporting requirements.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with government stakeholders, external agencies, advisors, legal counsel, and sector partners, representing CMHR on relevant committees and initiatives.
• Lead organizational responses to parliamentary inquiries, access to information requests, public enquiries, and other compliance‑related matters.
• Manage budgets, resources, risk management activities, and operational priorities to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in governance, compliance, legal, policy, or public sector administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A law degree, while not mandatory, is a strong asset.
• Experience leading and developing teams within a unionized environment, including coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Strong knowledge of governance, compliance, risk management, organizational policy development, and regulatory frameworks, including the ability to interpret and apply complex legislation and legal documentation.
• Experience overseeing legal compliance, corporate reporting, performance measurement, evaluation, analytics, and strategic planning processes.
• Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation relevant to public sector organizations.
• Strong understanding of government policy, reporting, and accountability frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, navigate competing priorities, and provide sound advice to senior leaders, Boards of Directors, and external partners.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, conflict resolution, analytical, and project management skills, supported by strong political acuity and sound judgment.
• Commitment to human rights, equity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and creating respectful, culturally competent workplaces.
• Experience managing Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests, parliamentary inquiries, and related reporting obligations.
• Experience working within public sector or private sector with connection to government engagement and reporting.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both official languages is an asset.

The CMHR is committed to developing a work environment and recruitment processes that are inclusive and barrier‑free. Please advise the HR representative if accommodation measures must be taken to enable you to apply and be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.