Company Ref: 2011-183
Department: Corporate Social Responsibility Services
Location: Head Office 200 Main Street
Job Type: Full Time Salaried
Close Date: 01/06/2012
Professional Areas: Corporate Social Responsibility

[Click here to apply]

Department Overview:

The CSR Services Department: Supports ACU to be a positive agent of change and grow the business by developing, implementing and coordinating strategic initiatives to embed social and environmental leadership and the cooperative principles into all areas of the business, achieve strategic CSR objectives, and advance ACU’s leadership as a socially responsible financial institution.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Vice-President Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Community Investment (CI), the Director Corporate Social Responsibility Services plays a key role in supporting the credit union to embed social and environmental leadership and the cooperative principles into all areas of the business, achieve strategic CSR objectives, and advance ACU’s leadership as a socially responsible financial institution. This position supports the development and implementation of corporate CSR policies, strategies, and plans; and leads a team of experts to develop, implement, and coordinate CSR products, services, programs, partnerships, including those related to socially responsible investing (SRI). This includes: assisting ACU to measure, report, and continuously improve CSR performance; delivering value-added CSR/SRI services to ACU business units, members, and the community; and supporting ACU to leverage CSR and the cooperative difference for brand, relationship development and business.

Key Accountabilities

CSR Policies

• Informs the development and update of governing and management CSR policies to embed social and environmental leadership and the cooperative principles into core functions of the business; and identifies the need to update or develop new CSR policies.
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves systems, procedures, tools to implement approved CSR policies; and ensures employees are well-informed, trained and supported.
• Provides VP with regular and customized management reports as required.

CSR Strategies

• Informs and supports development of the credit union’s long-term CSR strategies, key performance indicators, targets; and the long-term CSR strategic functional plan, including identification of priority CSR initiatives.
• Monitors emerging CSR trends, leading practices, issues, regulations that might impact the role, reputation or strategic positioning of ACU with particular attention to the financial services sector and key competitors; and provides regular and customized CSR Intelligence Reports to VP on CSR and CI activities of competitors and emerging CSR/CI opportunities, challenges or potential risks.

CSR Stakeholder Engagement

• Supports VP to engage with key stakeholders to understand and strategically respond to CSR expectations and perceptions of ACU and the financial services sector.
• Monitors changing CSR expectations and perceptions of key stakeholders and recommends action plans to address performance gaps and respond to emerging opportunities and risks.

Annual CSR Plans

• Develops opportunity assessments to advance priority CSR initiatives on the CSR strategic functional plan; and leads approved CSR/SRI projects on the corporate operational plan.
• Informs the development of CSR targets on the annual balanced scorecard; and facilitates development of corporate CSR objectives and their inclusion in annual performance plans.
• Works closely with VP and Director Community Investment to complete the annual divisional plan and budget to advance divisional priorities and overall corporate direction.
• Completes the annual CSR Services department plan and budget to support and integrate with divisional and organizational plans and goals; and manages within approved budget.

CSR Performance Measurement and Reporting

• Informs and supports the development and implementation of the credit union’s accountability framework to guide, measure, report, and continuously improve CSR performance.
• Conducts internal social and environmental audits as required to identify performance gaps; and recommends action plans for improvement.
• Delivers ACU’s annual accountability report on overall CSR performance.

Strategic CSR and SRI Initiatives

• Recommends, develops, pilots, and rolls out new and enhanced CSR/SRI products, services, programs and partnerships to achieve strategic CSR objectives; delivering directly or strategically coordinating and facilitating delivery through other business units.
• Oversees and continuously improves established CSR/SRI products, services, programs and partnerships; and delivers regular, accurate and timely reports and recommendations to VP.

Value-Added CSR and SRI Services

• Provides training, coaching, support to help ACU business units embed social and environmental leadership and the cooperative principles into core functions and decisions.
• Contributes CSR/SRI expertise to ACU managers to support development and implementation of partnership and business opportunities.
• Identifies, develops and implements opportunities to leverage internal CSR/SRI expertise for the delivery of value-added services to members and the community.

CSR Profile

• Supports the credit union to leverage CSR and the cooperative difference for profile, brand and market differentiation, providing content, key messages and guidance.
• Guides the marketing and communication of CSR-specific initiatives.

CSR Leadership

• Supports VP to advance ACU’s leadership as a socially responsible financial institution locally, nationally and internationally; participating in initiatives and partnerships as required.
• Supports VP to build strong trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders; to champion CSR and the credit union’s distinctiveness to employees, members and the community; and to strategically represent ACU externally to achieve CSR objectives.

Team Leadership

• Works with VP and Director Community Investment to build a high performing division.
• Works collaboratively with other senior managers to achieve organizational goals.
• Recruits, develops, and motivates a high performing team of CSR/SRI professionals, coaching and mentoring employees to achieve results.

Risk Management

• Assists VP to develop effective responses to identified CSR risks
• Manages assigned CSR risks in accordance with risk policies, procedures, risk responses
• Implements effective risk management practices to ensure departmental alignment with all applicable policies and the credit union’s enterprise risk management framework.

Credit Union Values

• Models respect and support for ACU’s mission, values, and governing policies, including the credit union’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and the cooperative principles.
• Actively supports workplace-diversity and respectful workplace initiatives.
• Keeps strictly confidential the affairs of anyone whose private information becomes available in the course of their duties

Qualifications

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree plus at least ten years of job-related experience, with a minimum 5 years at a senior management level, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Practical, operational business experience and knowledge; and direct experience in the field of corporate social responsibility, socially responsible investing, accountability reporting, or environmental management are required. A graduate degree in a related discipline (e.g. business, environmental studies, sustainable development, community planning), is preferred. Experience in the financial services sector would be considered an asset.

Key Occupational Skills

• Excellent understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) including:
  • “Blended value” or “triple bottom line” business models
  • International CSR and sustainability guidelines and standards
  • Trends and best practice in CSR measurement and reporting
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Values-based banking and socially responsible investing
  • CSR issues, trends, opportunities, risks within the financial services sector
• Solid knowledge of ACU’s business including:
  • Values, business strategy, culture, products/services, systems and operations
  • Fundamental business functions (e.g. business development, human resources)
  • The financial services sector and the credit union system
  • Cooperative principles, values, and structure; and the cooperative difference
• Knowledge of stakeholder groups focused on CSR and SRI themes including:
  • Local community groups and business organizations
  • Local, national, and international CSR and SRI advocates
  • Relevant local, provincial and national government bodies
  • Latest trends among consumers and employees
• High level of professional managerial skills including:
  • Research, data gathering and analysis
  • Business case development
  • Policy development and implementation
  • Measurement and reporting
  • Project and program planning and management
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Team leadership
  • People management, coaching and mentoring skills
  • Change management
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution
  • Problem-solving and consensus building

CSR Competencies – Advanced Level

• Change driver
• Strategic influencer
• Visionary thinking
• Systems perspective
• Collaborative networker
• Peripheral vision
• Personal maturity
• Optimistic commitment

[Click here to apply]

We are committed to workforce diversity and actively recruit people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives reflecting the community in which we live and work.