Governance Officer, Council Operations

University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 73,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Saskatchewan is seeking a Governance Officer, Council Operations to coordinate the operational activities of the university council and its committees, maintaining records, and providing procedural guidance in a confidential capacity.

This role ensures smooth meeting cycles, prepares packages, tracks decisions, and supports policy reviews, with emphasis on integrity, respect, collaboration, and Indigenous engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level qualification in public administration, business, communications, management, or related field.
• Experience coordinating committees and governance processes in a complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate council committee calendars, annual work plans, and tracking mechanisms.
• Provide strategic and logistical support to committee chairs in all aspects of meeting planning and follow-up.
• Prepare and distribute meeting packages, minutes, and routine resolutions.
• Maintain governance records, workflows, and participation in policy reviews.

Job description

Governance Officer, Council Operations

The Governance Office is a key link between the executive leadership and governing bodies of the university. Our mission is to enact, to uphold, and to lead good governance in all its forms. As expert stewards of process, and through our values of integrity, respect, and collaboration, we champion the best interests of the University of Saskatchewan in achieving its academic, discovery, and outreach mission.

Summary

The governance officer coordinates the operational activities of the university council and its committees, supporting governance business through established processes and procedures, in a confidential capacity. This position coordinates committee meeting cycles, governance materials, records of decision, academic proposals, and related follow-up activities. This role provides routine procedural guidance to committee chairs, members, academic units, and administrative staff submitting or supporting council business. The officer maintains governance records, workflows, and tracking mechanisms and identifies emerging operational issues for further consideration. This position also supports the implementation of approved operational changes and the ongoing maintenance of governance resources, systems, and processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates council committee calendars, annual work plans, recurring business, submission deadlines, and maintains tracking mechanisms for governance activities, approaching deadlines, governance requirements, and items requiring follow-up.
• Provides strategic and logistical support to council committee chairs in all aspects of meeting planning, orientation, coordination, communication, stakeholder engagement, documentation, and follow-up.
• Coordinates records and follow-up for academic approvals and assigned university centre governance matters and refers questions about jurisdiction, exceptions, precedents, or competing approval requirements for further consideration.
• Reviews submissions for completeness, required documentation, recorded prior approvals, and consistency with approved templates, and maintains communication with submitting units to facilitate progress on governance matters.
• Receives and tracks academic program, curriculum, and other proposals assigned to council and its committees, checks procedural requirements, routes materials through established pathways, and maintains proposal status information.
• Prepares and distributes meeting packages, records proceedings, drafts minutes and routine resolutions for review, and coordinates the confirmation, publication, and archiving of approved records.
• Tracks decisions, referrals, action items, and reporting commitments, communicates approved decisions, and follows up with responsible individuals and units.
• Provides submitting units with routine guidance on deadlines, templates, documentation, and the sequence of review and identifies delays or missing requirements.
• Implements approved operational changes and maintains templates, checklists, guidance, and tracking tools, and supports consultation logistics and records for policy reviews.
• Maintains accurate and accessible agendas, minutes, decision histories, approval records, and procedural resources in accordance with confidentiality, access, and retention requirements.
• Administers council document systems and relevant web content, maintains access permissions within established arrangements, and maintains current approved materials for users.
• Compiles information, prepares routine summaries and status reports, identifies recurring operational problems, and recommends improvements.
• Communicates and acts in a respectful and professional manner, collaborates effectively, abides by policy, and contributes to a positive and productive work and learning environment.
• Engages in continuous learning by participating in activities, training, and events related to Indigenous engagement, reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrates respect and dignity for all members of the community, actively contributes to an environment of acceptance and inclusion of others, and responds to different perspectives from a place of curiosity, respect, and non-judgement.
• Undertakes related duties, as assigned, consistent with the nature of the position.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, communications, management, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience coordinating committees, governance processes, projects, or senior administrative activities in a complex organization.
• Experience preparing agendas, meeting packages, minutes, correspondence, and decision records, and maintaining reliable tracking and follow-up systems.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to summarize discussions and decisions clearly and provide practical procedural guidance.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and judgment in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team.
• Familiarity with academic approval processes, collegial governance, and the university’s structures and bylaws is an asset.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications and document, records, and committee support systems.

Department: Governance Office

Status: Permanent

Employment Group: Exempt

Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0

Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $72,511.00 - 119,943.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Salary Family (if applicable):

Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 3

Work Location: On Campus

The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel empowered to thrive, contribute, and grow. Applications from equity‑deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action.

We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation.

The University of Saskatchewan provides an accessible and inclusive workplace. Should you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us for assistance.