Government Relations Manager
The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) invites applications for the position of Government Relations Manager.
Representing the collective interests of Ontario’s publicly-assisted universities, COU (www.cou.on.ca) promotes higher education in Ontario through research and policy development, advocacy and communications.
Reporting to the Senior Director, Government and Stakeholder Relations (Senior Director), the Government Relations Manager works closely with the Senior Director and COU members to advance the interests of Ontario’s universities with government, political parties and key external stakeholders through relationship building, direct advocacy, and informing COU’s broader communications and policy agenda.
Responsibilities:
Government Relations
- Cultivates effective relationships with government officials, both political and civil service, and stakeholders, identifying emerging issues and opportunities, and working with Senior Director and other colleagues to address these collectively
- Maintains a robust network of contacts in government (all political parties and bureaucrats), student and faculty groups, business, sectoral and industry associations, and other broader public sector organizations to inform, share, and build alliances for mutual benefit. Connect stakeholders with COU colleagues as appropriate to maximize organizational reach and influence.
- Project manages COU’s pre-election government relations strategies
- Executes COU’s government relations advocacy strategy
- Develops advocacy and outreach plans for individual issues or policy priorities to support organizational objectives
- Provides advice on political context and advocacy strategy to Senior Director and other colleagues and help ensure organizational priorities, work plans, and strategies reflect the context of government priorities and political realities
Stakeholder Relations
- Maintains ongoing contact and dialogue with colleagues in member institutions to learn about priorities, seek advice, and share information and intelligence
- Working closely with the Senior Director, provides leadership and strategic support to the Government and Community Relations Committee and GR Ontario network of university government relations professionals to seek input, bring issues to their attention, keep them informed of key COU initiatives and advocacy priorities, support their requests for information and advice, and plan and collaborate on advocacy strategies for major issues
- Works closely with COU staff to ensure affiliate and committee agendas and materials are coordinated with Council and Executive Heads, and proper governance flow is maintained
- Works closely with committee chairs, Senior Director, and the President to align affiliate and committee work to identified strategic priorities Communications
- Drafts communications material including presentations to government, policy recommendations and key messaging
- Regularly monitors traditional and social media, influencers, government channels, and stakeholder communications for political developments, commentary, threats, and opportunities and share critical information with Senior Director and other colleagues in a timely manner
- Leads the development of written and oral submissions to government, including pre-budget submissions, responses to consultations, and presentations
Education and Experience:
- University degree in political science, public administration, communications, or another relevant field. Graduate degree is an asset.
Skills:
- At least five to seven years of professional experience, with several years in a government relations or political role. Political campaigns experience an asset.
- Solid experience as a public affairs strategist with background in successful advocacy and issues management
- Strong political acumen and issues sensitivity
- Strong writing and editing ability, and the ability to speak persuasively in meetings and to larger groups
- Superior interpersonal skills to work internally as an advisor on public affairs as well externally building a broad network of relationships
- Knowledge of or experience in the Ontario university sector is an asset
- A strong network of government and stakeholder contacts is an asset
Other:
- Demonstrated leadership capacity as well as team building; capacity to work collaboratively across the organization, with members and other stakeholders
- Self-motivated and entrepreneurial in building new alliances, while being an ambassador for COU to other organizations
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- Adaptability to work in a high pressure environment and manage constantly changing demands
Those qualified are asked to submit a cover letter with resume, outlining your experience and suitability for the position as well as salary expectations, to COURecruit@cou.on.ca by 5 p.m. on July 3rd, 2017.
Information regarding COU is available at www.cou.on.ca.
COU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
COU is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process to applicants with accessibility needs in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require an accommodation during this process, please inform COU of your requirements.
MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR – Temporary Full Time (12 Months)
The City of Markham is a dynamic and change-oriented leader among Canadian municipalities. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as much as for our fiscal accountability. More than 320,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life. Join us and make a difference!
The Media Relations Coordinator will be responsible for developing a media relations program for the City. In this role, you will be the primary contact for all media relations for the City of Markham. You will develop standard operating procedures for triaging and managing requests from the media ensuring requests are answered accurately and in a timely manner. You will also be developing a corporate-wide plan for the City of Markham to increase our share of voice for corporate priorities. In this role, you will have a lot of flexibility to develop and design the media relations portfolio. Your role will have direct contact with senior management in the City and you will be relied upon to give recommendations for media strategy. You will be building primary relationships with traditional and non-traditional media.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Media Relations
- Specific responsibility for Markham’s media relations program.
- Requirement to deal with confidential information and material.
- Act as the primary contact for all traditional and online media contacting the City of Markham.
- Triage media requests and prioritize responses to media.
- Act as first-line media spokesperson for background and media liaison.
- Work directly with executive-level and senior staff to provide media briefings and strategies.
- Media liaison to the Mayor and Councillors office to coordinate City and Political responses.
- Provide media briefings to Council and the Mayor upon request.
- Develop, execute and maintain a key messages database for city programs.
- Ability to communicate with diverse audiences.
Strategic Communications
- Design, development and execution of a media relations strategy.
- Development of a spokesperson bureau and key message database.
- Develop and implement media training for all members of the speaker’s bureau.
- Responsible for the development and implementation of an issues management strategy including a process to regularly scan for emerging issues.
- Regularly liaise with all City departments and committees to ensure timely development of media key messages.
- Create, advocate and evaluate professional media relations strategies to meet Corporate and Departmental goals and objectives.
Monitor, Measure, Mitigate
- Monitoring of and reporting on Markham’s media monitoring service.
- Manage and report on Markham’s media monitoring service including metrics on impressions, and news coverage personality.
Corporate Communications & Special Events Teamwork
- Contribute to broad communications plans where media relations support is required.
- Assist with the promotion of Corporate Special Events
- Contribute to Markham’s Corporate Emergency Communications Plan and Emergency Operations Centre for staff communications.
- Liaise with outside suppliers and service providers as required.
- Use of social media.
- Supervise coop and summer students
- Ability to work on assignments and programs as required after regular hours and weekends.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- University degree in social sciences, humanities, public relations, communications or public affairs.
- An experienced Communications Professional with at least 5 years working in a disciplined communications environment such as a public affairs agency or corporate communications function within the private sector, of which 2 years has been in a media relations position specifically.
- Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written.
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build and manage relations.
- Proven project management and multi-task skills.
- Tact, diplomacy and political acuity are a necessity.
- Superior writing and editing skills.
- Strong familiarity and experience with social media, digital media production, photography, printing services.
- Experience and working knowledge of a variety of software programs such as MS Word, Excel and Publisher and Adobe In Design, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat.
- Municipal government experience would be an asset but not required.
- Fluency in Mandarin and/or Cantonese is considered an asset.
For more information and to apply online by June 29, 2017, please visit our website at markham.ca/jobs.
We are committed to inclusive employment practices.
| 500-116 Lisgar Street Ottawa, Canada | Contact: T: +1 613 742 3202 jcaminiti@boyden.com www.boyden.com |
Director, External Relations
Nutrition International
Ottawa (and around the world) – Nutrition is the difference between attending school and learning. It is the difference between giving birth and giving life. It is the difference between fighting a disease and surviving it. Everyday, Nutrition International works hard to create this difference, striving for better and faster ways to bring improved nutrition to the people of the world who need it most.
Nutrition International (formerly known as Micronutrient Initiative) was created in 1992 as an act of solidarity with malnourished people. Since then, it has grown from a small Canadian initiative into a global nutrition organization reaching millions of vulnerable people in some of the most impoverished parts of the world. Today, Nutrition International brings over 25 years of on-the-ground experience in social and international development to one of humanity’s most challenging problems. Since its inception, Nutrition International has focused on forging powerful partnerships with countries, donors, and implementers around the globe to ensure the world’s most vulnerable populations get the vitamins and minerals they need to survive and thrive.
Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, the Director, External Relations will lead the development and execution of Nutrition International’s government relations strategy, strengthening engagement with advocacy allies and increasing capacity for policy advocacy in Nutrition International’s key programmatic regions in Africa and Asia. Working closely with the technical and programming teams, you will identify overarching policy challenges and opportunities, and will develop evidence-based advocacy strategies to advance womens and girls’ nutrition. You will oversee all external, internal, and corporate communications, media relations, public relations, and marketing and branding activities, with the ultimate goal of amplifying the organization’s voice and influence at the global, national, and regional levels.
As the ideal candidate, you have broad base of advocacy, marketing, and communications expertise, and are described by your peers as a strategic thinker who delivers impact and evidence-based results. Your interpersonal and relationship building skills have served you well in inspiring the trust and confidence of staff, colleagues and stakeholders. Your knowledge and understanding of the international agency environment and organizational strategies will serve you well, as will your ability to communicate in both official languages.
Nutrition International is a recipient of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers, 2017 award. If you are interested in being part of a mission-focused organization that is improving the lives of millions around the world, please submit your application and related materials to jcaminiti@boyden.com and state “Director, External Relations, Nutrition International” in the subject line of your e-mail.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those under consideration for the role will be contacted.
To include your company’s job posting on this page please contact
Lois Marsh at 416-214-7837
or lois@publicaffairs.ca.
