The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization in Canada. Located in Ottawa, SCC has a Governing Council comprised of up to 13 members and a staff of approximately 90. The organization reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry and oversees Canada’s national standardization network.
The Canadian Chair of a committee is responsible for the overall management of that committee, including any subcommittees, working groups, ad-hoc groups.
Key Responsibilities and activities
Reporting to SCC management, Standards Solutions Branch, the Canadian Chair is responsible for the following:
- act in a neutral capacity, divesting him or herself of a national position;
- guide the Vice-Chair or designated alternate of that committee in carrying out his or her duty;
- conduct meetings with a view to reaching agreement on committee drafts
- provide consensus recommendations and vote recommendations of the committee to SCC for approval
- ensure at meetings that all points of view expressed are adequately summed up so that they are understood by all present;
- ensure at meetings that all decisions are clearly formulated and made available for confirmation during the meeting;
- act as or appoint a Head of Delegation for committee meetings, provide a list of delegates for the meeting and, submit an international meeting report to SCC;
- prepare and submit to SCC proposals on new work items, hosting of an international meeting in Canada, or acceptance of secretariats or working groups convenorships;
- Comply with SCC’s Code of Conduct.
Essential Qualifications
- Be a Canadian citizen, resident of Canada, or working for a Canadian organization.
- Relevant professional experience with standardization
- Understanding of international and national standards development processes
- Understanding and ability to speak the standards business terminology
- Operation of national and international standards organizations, including the written rules, procedures and directives
- Relevant professional experience or experience as a chair/leader
- Ability to travel and attend meetings in accordance with the approved meeting schedule;
- Working knowledge and the ability to apply the rules, procedures and processes.
Knowledge
- Standards Council of Canada’s Act, mandate, structure, plans and priorities
- Understand the nature of international standards organizations’ work and its resulting benefits
- Be fully knowledgeable of the subject and market needs
- Project management principles, practices and techniques
Skills
- High proficiency to communicate, verbally and in writing in the English language
- Active listening skills
- Develop solutions through innovative and creative thinking in a consensus environment
- Advanced time management, prioritization and planning skills,
- Advanced computer skills and ability to use the ISO/IEC/SCC web-based IT tools and applications
Abilities
- Ability to think strategically to promote and to position ISO/IEC/JTC initiatives and work activities
- Ability to lead and inspire delegates and experts from the sector towards consensus
- Ability to commit time and resources to the role
- Ability to act proactively and communicate diplomatically
- Ability to foster and value cooperation with other ISO and IEC Committees and partners including those from regulatory bodies
- Ability to lead meetings effectively with a view to reaching agreement and to ensure that positions and decisions are clearly understood
- Ability to ensure that all positions and views (at meetings and by correspondence) are given equal treatment
- Ability to manage projects according to agreed target dates in accordance with the project plan from preparation to completion
- Ability to propose decisions to progress or to stop work on the basis of its market or global relevance