Vice President, Governance and Corporate Secretary

About Vancity

Vancity is a member-owned credit union built on the principles of inclusion and social justice. A relentless commitment to their values has helped them challenge the status quo and break down barriers since day one in 1946. They have bold commitments to make Vancity net-zero by 2040 across all mortgages and loans and are pursuing strategies on Indigenous banking and to improve the financial resilience of their members.

Vancity is the largest private sector Living Wage Employer in Canada and has been consistently recognized as one of the Top Employers in Canada. If youre interested in joining their team of 2700 diverse individuals and accessing competitive rewards and benefits all while knowing you are part of a greater movement then apply today!

About the workplace

As the Vice President Governance and Corporate Secretary you play a critical role in ensuring the effective governance of Vancity working closely with the Board of Directors executive leadership & regulatory bodies. You ensure compliance with applicable financial regulations supports the boards fiduciary responsibilities and upholds Vancitys mission to serve its members. You act as a key advisor on governance legal compliance & policy matters fostering transparency accountability & alignment with Vancity strategic goals.

This is a permanent full-time role that will enjoy hybrid working arrangements which can be fulfilled primarily from the Vancity head office location and your Lower Mainland based home office.

Advance equity lens in the boardroom:

• A central responsibility of this role is to strengthen governance practices with an equity lens promoting inclusive and representative decision-making across the organization.
• Embed equity transparency and accountability into all aspects of the governance framework to support equitable outcomes and long-term organizational resilience.

Leadership & Strategic Alignment

• Collaborate with senior leaders to align governance practices with organizational strategy and member-first principles.
• Lead initiatives that embed corporate social responsibility diversity equity and inclusion into governance structures.
• Foster a culture of ethical leadership accountability and continuous improvement.
• Streamline governance processes to enhance clarity accessibility and operational efficiency.

Corporate Governance & Board Support

• Advise the Board of Directors on governance best practices fiduciary duties and regulatory responsibilities.
• Prepare and manage board and committee agendas meeting materials and minutes ensuring accuracy and timely distribution.
• Oversee governance processes including board elections member voting proxy management and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in alignment with Vancitys bylaws.
• Lead the onboarding and continuous education of directors to maintain strong governance capabilities and awareness of emerging issues and trends.

Regulatory & Legal Compliance

• Ensure Vancity remains fully compliant with relevant federal and provincial legislation financial services regulations and cooperative governance standards.
• Manage all statutory and regulatory filings and disclosures and liaise with legal and compliance teams to support ongoing obligations.
• Monitor and assess regulatory changes making recommendations to adapt governance practices as needed to maintain compliance and best practices.

Risk & Policy Management

• Partner with legal compliance and risk teams to mitigate governance-related risks.
• Maintain oversight of governance documents including charters bylaws and policies ensuring accuracy and alignment with Vancity values.
• Support internal audits and reviews related to governance processes.

Member & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong partnerships with the Board to support informed decision-making and effective governance.
• Champion excellence in governance both internally and externally enhancing Vancitys reputation as a leader in the field.
• Support transparent communication between the Board and Vancity members including at AGMs through proxy voting and during resolution processes.
• Serve as the primary governance liaison with regulators community organizations and industry associations.

You have:

• Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor from an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution
• Member in good standing of Law Society of British Columbia
• Extensive experience in governance compliance or policy ideally within a Canadian regulated environment or substantial experience in a related field with a proven ability to embed equitable practices in governance and policy-making.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance norms standards and innovations with a demonstrated commitment to enhancing equity diversity and inclusion within governance structures. This includes an awareness of systemic barriers in traditional governance models and a commitment to addressing them.
• Commitment to advancing transparent equitable and effective governance practices with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges related to confusion inefficiencies and inconsistencies. This includes a focus on applying inclusive solutions to create clear and consistent outcomes for all groups involved.
• Strong work ethic and interpersonal skills with the capacity to lead and influence in a multi-cultural and inclusive environment. Demonstrated ability to engage diverse perspectives and foster an environment where all voices are valued and respected.
• Board experience particularly with organizations prioritizing equitable governance is an asset. Experience as a Board Director in contexts that emphasize inclusive governance approaches and prioritize equity-centered decision-making is highly desirable.

You are:

• A technical expert: You have deep subject matter expertise in corporate governance frameworks bylaws and compliance within a regulated or financial institution context. You can anticipate regulatory shifts and proactively advise on emerging governance trends ensuring Vancity stays at the forefront of governance best practices.
• An excellent communicator:You use your interpersonal written and verbal communication skills to convey complex legal and policy information with clarity across diverse functions teams and departments both internally and externally. You excel in collaborative and consultative practices creating inclusive spaces for all voices to be heard and valued.
• A people leader:You possess people leadership skills that enable you to support and inspire a team of direct reports balancing technical/transactional activities with equitable and inclusive people practices. You lead with empathy and adaptability managing change with a focus on creating an inclusive environment where each team member feels valued supported and empowered.
• Analytical:You bring a legal lens to complex organizational challenges including interpreting legislation assessing regulatory implications and anticipating risk. You apply your legal expertise to develop practical equity-informed solutions that uphold Vancitys values.
• Organized:You have the planning and coordination skills necessary to develop inclusive operating plans processes and standards that reflect the diverse needs of your team and unit. You ensure the delivery of services and results with a commitment to fairness accessibility and continuous improvement.

We value lived experience so if you are interested in this role we encourage you to apply even if you feel your skills dont perfectly align with those listed.

The salary range for this role is $177200 to $266000 annually. Base pay offered may vary depending on factors such as relevant qualifications skills previous experience and internal equity. As part of our total rewards package employees may also be eligible for our annual incentive program subject to program eligibility requirements.

Posting Deadline: Posted until filled

A career at Vancity is more than just a job youre joining a tradition of change-makers who are creating lasting change for our communities. Beyond base pay we offer a comprehensive total rewards package to ensure our employees are empowered to thrive:

We offer:

• We are the largest private-sectorLiving Wage Employerin Canada and have been consistently recognized as one of theTop Employers in Canada.
• Our permanent employees qualify for attractive benefit packages that can be customized and changed each year to meet their evolving needs.
• New employees receive between three to four weeks of vacation allowance per calendar year and the number of vacation days grows
• In addition to the 10 statutory holidays in British Columbia Vancity provides an additional three statutory holidays. We offer care days for periods of short-term personal illness or emergency family illness.
• We have flex credits for our health care & dental benefits offer three levels of coverage for you to select from. These benefits will also be effective immediately based on your hire date.
• We understand that retirement means different things to different people and at Vancity we will offer you a Defined benefits pension plan that pays you a retirement income for life.

At Vancity were committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace to help our people and communities thrive and prosper. Diversity in our workforce is integral so that we can truly represent understand and respond to our community needs and deliver on our member experience.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. If you require any accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process please reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at for confidential support. In-person assistance is also available. We will collaborate with you to ensure your needs are met promptly and effectively.