ABOUT THE UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (UGDSB)

The UGDSB employs a team of approximately 6,500 dedicated staff who serve more than 35,000 students attending a variety of programs across 66 elementary and 12 secondary schools as well as continuing education and adult learning centres in the counties of Dufferin, Wellington, and the City of Guelph. We are committed to supporting student achievement and well-being through our team of dedicated staff and strong learning communities, always striving to meet the diverse needs of our students

The UGDSB is situated on the ancestral, treaty and title lands of two Anishinaabek Ojibwe Nations: the Michi Saagig of the Credit and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

This land also includes a specified tract of land granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River. These Nations hold legal and specific rights in their respective territories. This area has been and continues to be home for Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples.

We are proud to offer our employees a comprehensive range of total rewards designed to recognize their contributions to our shared success, including competitive compensation, a defined benefit pension plan, professional development opportunities, and vibrant wellness programs.

Join a community that values innovation, fosters growth, and empowers you to make an impact. Learn more about us and Find Your Path.

The Opportunity

The UGDSB is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Procurement team for a permanent full-time opportunity in the capacity of Lead Risk and Insurance Advisor.

Location: Guelph Board Office (500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, ON)

FTE and Hours: 1.0 FTE; 40 hours per week

Salary Range: $112,754 - $135,228 per year (wage rate effective September 1,



2025)

College/Association Fees: Reimbursement of full cost of professional fees as required by the Board.

Start Date: To commence as soon as possible

Board Information: 12-month position; permanent; full time; Administrative Employees; Non-Union

Vacancy Status: This posting is for a new position

Responsibilities

Commercial Contract Risk Arbitration & Deviation Authority

- Holds independent, binding authority to evaluate, negotiate, and arbitrate complex indemnification clauses, limitation of liability thresholds, and insurance exceptions within major Board contracts and vendor agreements.
- Serves as the final operational sign-off to accept, modify, or reject commercial risk exposures that deviate from standard board rules, operating independently of routine purchasing workflows.
- Acts as the primary technical risk authority between the procurement team, external suppliers, brokers, and legal counsel to resolve high-stakes liability deadlocks during the sourcing process.

Sourcing Risk Governance & Framework Architecture

- Designs, authors, and governs the Board's master Vendor Risk Management framework, setting the regulatory insurance benchmarks that all external suppliers and service providers must satisfy.




- Formulates systemic risk-mitigation policies and standard methodologies to protect the Board's physical infrastructure, information technology (cyber), and operational capital.
- Monitors risk treatment plans and provides recommendations to support effective risk mitigation across the Board.
- Conducts high-level commercial asset valuations and continuous market capacity reviews (e.g., changes in the insurance sector) to proactively adjust internal procurement sourcing criteria.

Confidential Exposure Mapping & Legal Risk Coordination

- Serves as the procurement department's confidential liaison with Executive Administration, Legal Counsel, and the Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) regarding active contract disputes, supplier defaults, and catastrophic asset losses.
- Examines and interprets highly sensitive corporate financial metrics, restricted vendor data, and non-public claim histories to identify institutional vulnerabilities.
- Conducts detailed risk assessments and analysis and recommends mitigation strategies to address identified exposures and emerging risks.
- Authors confidential risk dashboards, board metrics, and legal defense briefings intended exclusively for Senior Administration and Board Steering Committees.

Systemic Program Oversight & Technical Counsel

- Provides executive technical counsel to school principals, regional department heads, and senior leaders regarding the legal and practical application of the Education Act, Insurance Act, and Occupiers' Liability Act within public sourcing.
- Establishes the governance guidelines and institutional guardrails for board-wide asset protection programs, including school council parameters and student-related safety metrics.

📌 26Lead Risk and Insurance Advisor - Guelph Board Office
🏢 Upper Grand District School Board
📍 Guelph