About Us
BCDA is the trusted voice of BC dentists, championing the promotion and delivery of world-class oral health care to patients throughout the province. Our mission is to champion, safeguard, and advance BC dentists to succeed and excel as oral health caregivers by providing insightful guidance, trusted support and strong advocacy. We represent over 4000 general dentists and certified dental specialists across BC and collaborate with health and community stakeholder groups to link the clinical work of our members with better health outcomes.
BCDA is a regional and national leader in proactive professional association management and a proud member of the Canadian Dental Association. The Association provides a range of member programs and services, including online education for dentists and their clinic staff, one-to-one member support, and mentorship programs. It is a proven leader in professional association management, with a dynamic and inclusive culture of collaboration, cooperation and innovation.
Position Summary:
The Manager, Governance and Corporate Secretary plays a central role in supporting and strengthening BCDA’s governance framework and Board effectiveness. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Board Committees, and Senior Leadership Team, this role provides governance coordination, proactive process leadership, and strategic administrative support to the Board and its Committees.
The role is responsible for ensuring governance processes are effective, consistent, well-organized, and aligned with BCDA’s evolving governance model. This includes maintaining governance frameworks, supporting Board and Committee effectiveness, improving the quality and consistency of Board materials, coordinating annual governance processes, and supporting Director onboarding and governance education.
This position acts as a key bridge between the Board leadership, Committees, the CEO and staff, helping to translate governance expectations into clear processes, decision-ready materials, and effective follow-up for implementation across the organization.
BCDA is undertaking a significant evolution in its governance model, including more structured oversight, clearer delineation of responsibilities, and a more disciplined and intentional governance framework. This role is designed to support the organization in embedding and sustaining those governance improvements over time.
Key Responsibilities:
Governance Coordination & Support
- Coordinate all Board and Committee meeting logistics, agendas, materials, minutes, and records
- Maintain the annual governance calendar and key governance cycles, including Board and Committee workplans, reoccurring decisions, policy reviews, evaluations, Director education and reporting cycles
- Support the effective functioning of Board Committees and alignment across governance processes, including meeting cadence, workplan sequencing, decision flow, and coordination between Committees and the Board
- Maintain governance documentation, including bylaws, Board Operating Guidelines, Committee Terms of Reference, governance policies, and the Governance Authority Matrix
- Administer and maintain the Board portal and governance document repository
- Ensure governance records are accurate, current, and properly retained
- Track governance commitments, Board and Committee follow-up items, and recurring governance obligations to support continuity and accountability
Board & Committee Effectiveness
- Support the development of clear, concise, and decision-oriented Board and Committee materials
- Work with senior staff to improve consistency and quality of reporting and governance documentation
- Assist the CEO, President, and Committee Chairs in planning meeting flow, agenda sequencing, and governance processes so that meetings focus on oversight, decision-making, and strategic discussion
- Support Board and Committee evaluations and governance improvement initiatives
- Help identify governance process gaps, overlaps, or areas requiring clarification or alignment
- Help identify when Board or Committee materials or processes may benefit from clearer governance-level framing and support appropriate follow-up with the CEO, President, Committee Chairs, or senior staff
- Where applicable, supervise, support, and provide direction to governance or administrative staff supporting Board and Committee operations
Governance Frameworks & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain and coordinate governance frameworks and annual governance processes
- Support implementation of governance review recommendations and governance modernization initiatives
- Monitor governance practices and recommend process improvements aligned with leading practices
- Support consistency and governance discipline across Board and Committee operations
- Assist in embedding governance improvements into organizational practice over time by monitoring application, identifying barriers, and recommending practical improvements
Director Support & Governance Education
- Coordinate and support Director onboarding and orientation processes
- Support ongoing governance education and development initiatives for Directors and Committee members, including coordination of materials, sessions, and follow-up identified through BCDA’s governance processes
- Prepare onboarding and governance reference materials and help Directors understand BCDA’s governance framework, Board and Committee roles, key policies, decision-making practices, and expectations of Director conduct and contribution
- Act as a key source of governance continuity and institutional knowledge, helping preserve governance discipline through changes in Board and Committee leadership
Relationship Management & Communication
- Act as a key coordination point between Board leadership, Committees, Senior Staff, and external governance advisors
- Support communication flow between Board and staff while maintaining appropriate governance boundaries and helping staff understand Board and Committee expectations
- Build strong working relationships with Directors, Committee Chairs, and internal leaders
- Exercise diplomacy, discretion, tact, and sound judgment in all governance interactions
- Maintain a governance-level view of issues moving through the Board and Committees, helping to identify intersections, sequencing issues, or matters requiring escalation
Board Event Management
- Coordinate logistics and planning for Board meetings, retreats, orientation sessions, governance workshops, strategic planning sessions, and Board social events
- Support development of event agendas, briefing materials, presentations, and meeting flow in collaboration with Board leadership and Senior Staff
- Liaise with venues, vendors, facilitators, and external partners to ensure successful execution of Board-related events
- Ensure Board events align with governance objectives, Director engagement, the Boards annual workplan, and organizational priorities
- Support post-event follow-up, evaluations, and continuous improvement of Board engagement activities
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Qualifications & Experience
- Post-secondary education in governance, business administration, public administration, law, communications, or a related field
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience supporting Boards, Committees, senior executives, or governance functions
- Experience working in a not-for-profit, association, regulatory, healthcare, or member-based environment preferred
- Strong understanding of governance principles, Board processes, and organizational policy frameworks
- Experience coordinating complex governance processes and working with senior leaders and volunteer Boards
- Governance-related credentials or training is considered an asset
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Excellent written communication and document preparation abilities
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Strong judgment, professionalism, and discretion
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
- Ability to think proactively and identify opportunities for governance improvement
- Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and evolving governance structures
- Strong facilitation and coordination skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise political acuity
Key Attributes
- Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset
- Sound judgment and diplomacy
- Strong systems thinking and process orientation
- Professional maturity and credibility
- Comfort working with senior leaders and governance bodies
- Collaborative approach with the ability to influence without formal authority
- Commitment to governance excellence and continuous improvement
We kindly ask for no phone calls please. Only local candidates who are selected for interview will be contacted. We thank all applicants for their interest in joining the BCDA.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $83,755.00-$111,673.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- The compensation for this role is set at $83,755–$111,673. As a not‑for‑profit, we apply fixed salary range. Please confirm that this range works for you before continuing.
- Do you have post‑secondary education in governance, business administration, public administration, law, communications, or a related field?
- Are you able to work in a hybrid model that includes regular 3 days in‑office in Vancouver, BC?
- Have you directly coordinated Board or Committee meetings, including agendas, materials, minutes, and follow‑up tracking?
Experience:
- supporting Boards, Committees, or senior executives: 5 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Vancouver, BC V6H 3V9