Director, Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada is dedicated to supporting Canadian entrepreneurs, in line with its aspiration to be a leader in making Canadian entrepreneurs the most competitive in the world. It helps create and develop strong Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises by providing investing, financing and advisory services. To address the challenges currently faced by Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises, the Business Development Bank of Canada structures its approach around three strategic objectives: increasing access to capital and advice for entrepreneurs; accelerating innovation, growth and productivity for entrepreneurs; and improving the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Business Development Bank of Canada strongly believes in diversity and promotes inclusiveness by offering products and services across Canada tailored to meet the needs of all entrepreneurs, including women, youth, immigrants, Indigenous Canadians, and Northern and rural entrepreneurs.

Since 1944 under various corporate forms, the Business Development Bank of Canada has been Canada’s development bank.

• The Business Development Bank of Canada supports Canadian entrepreneurship and does so in a financially sustainable manner. The Business Development Bank of Canada is a sophisticated financial institution that has $31 billion committed to small- and medium-sized businesses and has declared and paid nearly $550 million in dividends to the Government of Canada since 1997. It currently serves, directly and indirectly, approximately 56,000 entrepreneurs, at all stages of their development, through Business Development Bank of Canada Financing, Business Development Bank of Canada Capital and Business Development Bank of Canada Advisory Services at 123 business centers in all regions of Canada.
  


• Business Development Bank of Canada Financing supports entrepreneurs from start-up to expansion through all economic cycles with varied debt financing offerings, directly or by leveraging partnerships, including term lending, syndicated financing, subordinated financing and securitization;
  


• Business Development Bank of Canada Capital provides venture capital investment to nascent Canadian technology and innovative businesses to help them build into commercial, globally-focused, growth-oriented companies. It also provides more mature companies with private equity; and
  


• Business Development Bank of Canada Advisory offers entrepreneurs quality consulting, advisory, educational and networking services to support their growth and competitiveness.
  

The Board of Directors is responsible for the stewardship of the Business Development Bank of Canada, accountable to the shareholder and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion.

The Board ensures a tone of integrity and ethics and establishes the highest standards of corporate governance and:

• approves the Business Development Bank of Canada’s strategic direction and Corporate Plan;
  


• approves the risk management framework, stress-testing models, risk limits and action plans to ensure the Business Development Bank of Canada is identifying emerging risks, managing major risks and maintaining an appropriate culture of risk;
  


• ensures the integrity of the financial statements, projections, and audit results;
  


• reviews the Business Development Bank of Canada’s internal controls and management information systems; and
  


• oversees the President and CEO, his objectives and his performance.
  

Directors who serve as Chair of a Committee or who sit on a transactional Committee receive an additional annual retainer within the range $1,000 - $1,500.

Diversity and Official Languages

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing applicants. You are therefore encouraged to include in your online profile your ability to speak and understand your second official language. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of a visible minority group.

To be considered, please ensure that the information provided in your curriculum vitae and cover letter clearly demonstrate how you meet the following requirements:

Education and Experience

• A degree from a recognized university in a relevant field of study, or an acceptable combination of equivalent education, job-related training or experience;
  


• Experience serving as a member of a board of directors for a public or private sector organization or as a senior executive answerable to stakeholders in the public or private sector;
  


• Experience in implementing modern corporate governance principles and best practices in a culture of accountability and transparency;
  


• Experience in at least one of the following fields:
  
  
  
  • Risk. Risk management leadership at a Canadian financial institution or extensive risk expertise as a chairperson or member of a risk committee of a large financial organization, including risk management frameworks and stress testing;
    
  
  
  • Venture Capital. Senior level responsibilities as an investment professional in private equity, venture capital and/or mezzanine debt in the Technology, Life Sciences and/or Energy/Cleantech sectors;
    
  
  
  • Human Resources. Chief Officer in a large organization responsible for implementing human resources strategies and best practices relating to enterprise culture, hiring, training and retaining appropriate resources, succession planning, compensation and pension fund;
    
  
  
  • Entrepreneurship. Owner or operator of a small/medium business with exposure to exporting; and
    
  
  
  • Technology. Oversight of large IT projects, internal controls, data governance and cyber security processes and an understanding of innovation, digital economy and fintech.
    
  
  
  
  


• Experience in economic empowerment of under-represented groups such as women, new Canadians and Indigenous peoples would be considered an asset; and
  


• Experience in helping Canadian companies to scale-up, in particular as it relates to seizing opportunities within Europe and the Asia-Pacific markets would be considered an asset.
  

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, the following criteria will be assessed:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the mandate and activities of the Business Development Bank of Canada, as well as the legislative framework within which it operates;
  


• Knowledge of sound corporate governance and management principles and practices;
  


• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the chairperson, the board of directors and the president/chief executive officer of a corporation;
  


• Sound knowledge of the Canadian business sector – the key leaders, emerging trends and competitive forces, and challenges and opportunities for small and medium enterprises;
  


• Knowledge of companies in Canada and abroad in their efforts to start-up and scale-up would be considered an asset;
  


• Knowledge of raising capital either in Canada or abroad would be considered an asset;
  


• Demonstrated ability to anticipate, assess and address operational and business risks, particularly as they relate to complex financial transactions, adoption of technology, innovation, and corporate social responsibility;
  


• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other Board members and the Business Development Bank of Canada’s partners and stakeholders;
  


• Ability to exercise sound judgment and significant decision-making skills in analyzing and resolving complex contract and business matters;
  


• Ability to demonstrate strong ethics and integrity in meeting the Business Development Bank of Canada’s mandate and in promoting the organization’s values; and
  


• Financial expertise.
  

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

If you move on the the next stage of the selection process, we will contact your references to confirm that you meet the above selection criteria and that you possess the following Personal Attributes:

• Sound judgment, tact and diplomacy
  


• High ethical standards
  


• Superior analytical skills
  


• Integrity and Accountability
  


• Strategic and innovative leader
  


• Emotional Intelligence
  


• Dependability and collegiality
  

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

• Appointees must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders throughout their appointment as a term and condition of employment. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments website under Forms and reference material.

• All appointees are subject to the Conflicts of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must also submit to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics within 60 days of appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities and outside activities. For more information, please visit the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's website.

• Appointees must uphold the highest standards of probity and are expected to demonstrate behaviours in the workplace that afford respect, equality and dignity, to everyone they interact with at work at all times. The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector outlines the values and expected behaviours for public servants, including valuing diversity and creating workplaces free from harassment and discrimination. Governor in Council appointees are expected to uphold and respect these values and principles in a positive and active manner.
  


• No individual is eligible to be appointed or to continue as a director if the individual is (a) neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (b) a Canadian citizen who is not ordinarily resident in Canada; (c) a permanent resident, within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, who has been ordinarily resident in Canada for more than one year after first becoming eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship; (d) a member of the Senate or House of Commons or a member of the legislature of a province; or (e) employed in the public service of a province (statutory).
  


• You are willing to travel across Canada, as required.
  


• You are willing to commit up to 24 days per year to Board business.
  

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this positions. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment. A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.

How to Apply

Candidates must apply online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 31, 2019 via the Governor in Council Appointments website. Your cover letter should be addressed to the Deputy Director of Selection Processes, Senior Personnel Secretariat, Privy Council Office, and should be sent only through the online application.

Instructions on how to apply for an appointment opportunity can be found on the Governor in Council Appointments website.