Governance Manager

World Vision Canada; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

World Vision Canada seeks a Governance Manager to lead governance strategy and operations across the organization. You will advise the President and Board, manage bylaws, policies and compliance, and oversee board meetings, minutes and reporting.

Reporting to the Director, Office of the President, you will coordinate with Legal, Finance and HR teams, and drive governance improvements with integrity, accountability and stewardship. Hybrid GTA location preferred.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in business administration, governance or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in administration, executive or Board support, policy coordination, records management, or a related field.
• Experience working within a Canadian charitable, non-profit or international development organization is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meetings, records, projects and deadlines with accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Governance effectiveness: advise the Director and Office of the President on bylaws, mandates, policies and governance requirements.
• Compliance leadership: manage policy lifecycles, risk identification and coordination with Legal Services.
• Board & Committee planning: develop agendas, oversee meetings and ensure decision readiness.
• Records & reporting: attend meetings, take minutes, maintain filings and governance records.
• Directors lifecycle engagement: support board succession, orientation and development.
• Cross-functional coordination: collaborate with Finance, Risk, Internal Audit, People & Culture and Legal Services.

Skills

Governance expertise

Policy interpretation

Board liaison

Communication

Education

Post-secondary education in business administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

SharePoint

Board portals

Jira

Dashboards

Document-management systems

Job description

Are you looking for more than a job? At World Vision Canada we offer challenging careers that change the lives of children all over the world and it will change yours too. Come and be part of a team of 400 Canadians with a vision for the world: Life in all its fullness for every child.

You will experience Christian faith in action helping to make real and lasting change in the lives of the world's most vulnerable children. Join the World Vision Canada team and be part of a powerful and effective force for good:

For Children. For Change. For Life.

Position:

Governance Manager

Reports to:

Director, Office of the President

Position Term:

Full Time Permanent

Primary Location:

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Workplace Type:

Hybrid (GTA preferred)

Job Purpose

The Governance Manager provides strategic and operational support to ensure effective, consistent, and well-organized governance across World Vision Canada

Reporting to the Director, Office of the President, the role serves as a key governance partner to the President & CEO, Board of Directors, Committees, and organizational leaders, ensuring governance requirements, practices, and processes are consistently upheld.

The Manager oversees the administration and coordination of Board and Committee governance, including meetings, decisions, records, reporting, policy reviews, and governance systems. The role maintains expertise in bylaws, mandates, policies, and World Vision Partnership requirements, while supporting Board effectiveness through orientation, evaluations, Field Exposure Visits, regional forums, and governance communications.

Through sound judgement, integrity, service, and stewardship, the Governance Manager contributes to strong governance practices, informed decision-making, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Governance Effectiveness

• Serve as a trusted governance adviser to the Director and Office of the President
• Provide informed advice on bylaws, mandates, policies, delegated authorities, statutory obligations, governance requirements and recognized practices for Canadian charities and not-for-profit corporations.
• Support the Director and President & CEO in their work with the Board Chair and Committee Chairs, including Board and Committee evaluations, workplan reviews, meeting feedback and improvement priorities.
• Monitor governance developments and recommend practical changes that strengthen accountability to donors, children, communities and the World Vision Partnership.

Compliance Leadership

• Lead the governance policy lifecycle, including the authoritative inventory, review calendar, interpretation, drafting, reconciliation, approval, communication and evidence of compliance.
• Identify policy gaps, conflicts, outdated requirements and governance, compliance or reputational risks and recommend timely action.
• Partner with Legal Services, policy owners and subject-matter experts to ensure Board and Committee policies, mandates and authorities remain current and aligned.
• Coordinate governance-related inputs for external audit, internal audit, World Vision International requirements and periodic governance peer reviews, and track resulting recommendations to completion.
• Administer annual conflict-of-interest declarations and maintain related records and reporting.

Board & Committee Planning and Meetings

• Lead the annual governance calendar and forward workplans for the Board of Directors and its Audit, Executive and Governance Committees, aligned with bylaws, oversight responsibilities, policy cycles, strategic priorities and regulatory obligations.
• Partner with the Board Chair, Committee Chairs, Director, Office of the President and organizational leaders to develop purposeful agendas that distinguish decision, discussion and information items.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of virtual and in-person meetings, including formal notices, schedules, venues, technology, materials, hospitality, travel, accessibility, meeting protocols and follow-up.
• Set and uphold standards for Board and Committee papers, reviewing submissions for completeness, clarity, consistency and decision readiness.
• Support Board decision-making between meetings through written resolutions and other processes permitted by the bylaws and applicable policy.

Records & Reporting

• Attend Board and Committee meetings as governance lead and prepare concise, accurate minutes that capture decisions, material discussion, risks and actions.
• Ensure approved minutes, resolutions, policies and supporting records are signed, stored and retained in accordance with records-management requirements.
• Compile, revise and submit required corporate filings and governance reports to World Vision International, including the Board Chair’s report ensuring final records are submitted and stored appropriately.
• Own the Board and Committee decision and action tracker, follow up with accountable leaders and elevate overdue or at-risk commitments.
• Maintain the governance dashboard, providing clear visibility into meeting readiness, policy reviews, decisions, actions, compliance obligations and improvement commitments.
• Maintain the Board portal as a secure, reliable source for current materials and official governance records, with appropriate access and version control.

Directors Lifecycle Engagement

• Support Board succession planning, recruitment, appointment, orientation, education and ongoing development in partnership with the Director, Office of the President for the CEO & President, Governance Committee and Board Chair.
• Maintain accurate records for Board members, Corporation Members, Patrons and Committee membership, terms, skills, declarations and required documentation.
• Plan and coordinate Field Exposure Visits and other learning opportunities for Board members, including safeguarding, security, travel, briefing, program and host-office coordination.
• Coordinate World Vision Canada's participation in the North American Regional Forum and related regional or Partnership governance activities.
• Develop governance newsletters, updates and other communications that keep Board members informed of organizational, Partnership and governance developments.
• Work with Philanthropy and other teams to facilitate appropriate opportunities for Board members to engage with major donors, partners and stakeholders.

Cross-Functional & Partnership Coordination

• Coordinate with Finance, Risk and Internal Audit on Audit Committee materials, financial oversight, enterprise risk, internal audit plans and compliance reporting.
• Coordinate with People & Culture and Legal Services on CEO performance review, compensation, succession and other confidential governance matters.
• Maintain trusted working relationships with World Vision International governance colleagues, regional peers, external advisers and sector networks.
• Maintain the governance budget and related procurement, travel and expense processes within approved authorities.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in business administration, governance or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in administration, executive or Board support, policy coordination, records management, or a related field.
• Experience working within a Canadian charitable, non-profit or international development organization is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meetings, records, projects, contributors and deadlines with accuracy and consistent follow-through.
• Demonstrated initiative, accountability and resourcefulness, with the ability to anticipate needs, work independently, resolve issues and recommend practical improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, interpret and apply policies, bylaws, mandates, procedures or other organizational requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound judgement and demonstrated experience preparing formal documentation and handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint, together with experience using Board portals, Jira, dashboards and document-management systems.
• Experience coordinating complex virtual and in-person meetings, events and travel involving senior leaders or external stakeholders.

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel for business purposes and work occasional evenings and weekends is required.
• Occasional domestic and international travel may be required, including travel to World Vision program locations, based on business needs.

Why Consider Us?

Our competitive compensation & benefits include:

• Health Spending Account
• Up to 6% matched pension contributions
• Parental leave top-up
• Generous paid vacation, sick days, wellness and personal days
• Office closed extra days before long weekends (6x/year)
• World Vision Canada has consistently been awarded Canada and GTA top employer awards.
• We are Canada’s largest development, relief, and advocacy non-profit organization.

This is a current vacancy that we are actively recruiting for. The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role and is provided in accordance with Ontario’s pay transparency requirements under the Employment Standards Act.

Placement within the range will be determined based on relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The final offer will reflect the successful candidate’s background and demonstrated capabilities.

We bring life-saving support in times of disaster. We help poor communities to take charge of their futures. We provide small loans and training that boost family livelihoods. We work with policy makers to change the way the world is run. Our Christian faith teaches us that every child, regardless of gender, faith or race, is a precious gift to the entire world - and that their wellbeing concerns us all. We shall never rest while children suffer in situations that can be changed.

Canada's Top 100 Employers GTA Top 100 Employers

Our Core Values: We are committed to the Poor. We are Christian. We are Stewards. We value People. We are Partners. We are Responsive.

Qualified candidates must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the core values and mission of the World Vision partnership.

World Vision Canada takes our Safeguarding responsibilities seriously and we provide an environment that is safe for our child and adult beneficiaries. We have strong recruitment procedures to make sure the safest and most suitable people work with the children in our programs. We provide our staff and volunteers with ongoing supervision, support and training in their work with child and adult beneficiaries.

World Vision Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Thank you for your interest; however only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.