City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

Department, Unit or Project Description:  

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at McMaster University provides strategic oversight of institutional risk by coordinating the university’s comprehensive risk architecture. In response to evolving stakeholder expectations—driven by global trends in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), trust and transparency, funding accountability, and third-party risk—ERM plays a critical role in safeguarding the university’s mission and operations. Operating within a complex and decentralized environment, ERM proactively identifies, assesses, and prioritizes emerging and existing risks that may impact institutional objectives. A core function of ERM includes the management of sophisticated insurance programs that protect university assets and personnel, thereby reinforcing financial resilience. The ERM office also leads the university’s Crisis Management Group (CMG), facilitating committee operations and executing preparedness plans to ensure institutional readiness and continuity in the face of emergencies.  

Job Summary:  

A business and risk analyst, advances McMaster University’s strategic priorities by developing, managing, and implementing a forward-looking emerging risk program. This role systematically gathers and analyzes risk intelligence from domestic and international higher education and related sectors to identify trends and vulnerabilities that may impact institutional resilience. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and external partners, the business and risk analyst supports risk assessment processes, facilitates risk workshops, and supports managing the risk register to strengthen the university’s oversight of all institutional risks.  

Accountability(s)  

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  Identify and assess institutional risk across strategic, operational, financial, compliance and reputational domains, using structured frameworks such as ISO 31000 or COSO ERM.  

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  Conduct and facilitate enterprise risk assessments, including consultations, workshops, and surveys with academic and administrative units to surface emerging and evolving risks.  

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  Develop and monitor key risk indicators (KRI’s) and risk dashboards to support data-driven decision making and enhance visibility of risk exposure across the university.  

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  Maintain and update the institutional risk register, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with strategic priorities and governance reporting requirements.  

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  Support the design and implementation of risk mitigation strategies, collaborating with risk owners to evaluate controls, recommend improvements, and track remediation progress.  

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  Analyze risk trends and external intelligence from higher education, regulatory bodies, and global risk sources to inform institutional planning and resilience.  

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  Prepare and deliver risk reports and presentations for senior leadership, governance committees, and external stakeholders, translating complex data into actionable insights. 

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  Promote a culture of risk awareness by developing training materials, facilitating workshops, and supporting communication strategies that embed ERM principles across the institution.  

Qualifications:  

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in client engagement, business process analysis, and enterprise systems, with a demonstrated ability to enhance organizational models and operations through efficiency-driven solutions. Leveraging best practices in higher education, they excel at eliciting and translating business requirements through structured methods such as stakeholder interviews, document analysis, process mapping, use cases, and workflow analysis.  

With a strong technical foundation and cross-functional agility, the candidate is adept at navigating diverse operational areas and translating complex challenges into actionable insights. They possess a balanced blend of analytical acumen, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership, enabling them to drive innovation and continuous improvement across the institution.  

Education:  

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  Master’s-Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study  

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  Canadian Risk Management (CRM) or Financial Risk Manager (FRM)  

Experience:  

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  Minimum of 4 years of progress experience in higher education or public sector environments, with demonstrated expertise in business process analysis and operational improvement.  

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  Proven ability to assess and enhance organizational processes, systems and structures to drive efficiency and mitigate risks.  

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  Applied knowledge of project management methodologies and schedule techniques to support cross-functional initiatives and risk mitigation strategies.  

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  Skills in conducting current state, future state and gap analyses to inform strategic planning and enterprise risk assessments.  

Knowledge/Skills:  

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  Strategic Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. With the ability to convey complex issues clearly and effectively to diverse audiences across the university.  

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  Service Excellence: Demonstrated commitment to delivering innovative, client-focused solutions that enhance stakeholder experience and institutional value.  

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  Accountability & Initiative: Self-directed and results-oriented with a proven ability to manage and evaluate complex, high-impact projects in dynamic and evolving environments.  

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  Results-Driven Execution: Skilled in setting priorities, managing competing deadlines, and optimizing resources to achieve strategic objectives.  

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  Innovation & Insight: Applies critical thinking and foresight to anticipate trends, solve problems, and align teams and resources in complex scenarios.  

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  Adaptability: Thrives in ambiguity and change, demonstrating resilience and flexibility in a rapidly evolving organizational context.  

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  Analytical Acumen: Strong conceptual and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize data, identify patterns, and generate actionable insights.  

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  Collaborative Leadership: Works effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement.  

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  Technical Proficiency: Skilled in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau) with the ability to translate data into strategic recommendations.