Director, External Affairs

FinDev Canada•Ottawa, ON

12h•CA$129,928 - CA$173,235•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Director, External Affairs to build and lead a high-performing, integrated external affairs function. FinDev Canada is entering a pivotal moment in its evolution. Following the Government of Canada’s renewed international climate finance commitment, the organization is being entrusted with a significantly expanded mandate, and the capital to deliver on it. As the institution grows its balance sheet and visibility, it seeks closer and coordinated engagement with government, private sector investors, and a broader set of external stakeholders and thought leaders. External Affairs is an integrated external engagement function at FinDev Canada responsible end-to-end for how we understand, engage, and influence our stakeholders with one set of priorities, one narrative, and one coordinated approach. It plays a central role in this growth phase for the organization, supporting leadership through a steady flow of high-impact government and media engagement, executive positioning, policy briefings, and major announcements on high-stakes stages. The Director, External Affairs is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced professional, who brings structure, clarity, and momentum to a function evolving in both scope and impact. You will move seamlessly between strategy and execution: shaping clear, credible narratives; advising senior leadership; understanding the complexity of a diverse and growing investment portfolio; and ensuring the team consistently delivers thoughtful, high-quality work in a dynamic environment. You are a strong communicator, able to translate multi-faceted strategy into concise, compelling, and politically attuned communications across mediums and audiences. You bring sound judgment, strong prioritization skills and a collaborative approach to working across teams. You are motivated by building strong teams, continuously improving how work gets done, and contributing to a culture that values excellence, clarity, and impact.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in corporate communications, public affairs, or government relations, ideally in fast-paced, high-stakes environments
Experience working in or advising private or public financial institutions, with an understanding of the reputational, regulatory, and public accountability considerations associated with deploying capital
Demonstrated success leading integrated communications, government relations, and public affairs efforts in complex environments, with accountability for external positioning and stakeholder outcomes
Proven ability to operate in complex, fast-moving environments, bringing structure, prioritization, and disciplined execution to ambiguous and high-pressure situations
Exceptional writing and editorial judgment, with the ability to translate complex investment themes and sensitive issues into clear, compelling narratives for senior stakeholders and external audiences
Experience leading and developing teams, with a track record of raising performance standards and improving quality of output
Strong judgment and political acuity, with the ability to advise senior leaders in high-stakes situations involving reputational risk, stakeholder sensitivity, and competing priorities
Experience engaging with or advising on government, policy, or regulatory environments, with an understanding of how decisions are shaped within central agencies and political offices
Demonstrated ability to operate as a trusted advisor to senior financial services executives, influencing decisions at the intersection of business strategy, public policy, and external reputation
Bilingual in French and English

Nice To Haves

Established network within the Government of Canada, including central agencies and key departments, as well as strong relationships across Canadian media
Familiarity with development finance, international affairs, or ESG/investment narratives, including the ability to translate complex investment activity into compelling external positioning
Direct experience working in or alongside development finance institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks (MDBs), or similarly complex global financial institutions
Experience spanning both public sector (or government-facing roles) and private or financial institutions

Responsibilities

Build and lead an integrated external engagement function that stewards FinDev Canada’s reputation, credibility, and influence across government, financial markets, and civil society, aligning communications, government relations, and stakeholder engagement into a single, high-performing capability.
Shape and lead the organization’s approach to government engagement, managing the core relationships with Global Affairs Canada and driving proactive, strategic engagement across central agencies and Parliament, anticipating priorities, navigating sensitivities, and strengthening FinDev Canada’s position as a trusted, high-performing institution.
Own and evolve FinDev Canada’s external communications platform as a strategic instrument of reputation and influence, spanning media, digital, publications, executive visibility, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring every output reinforces the institution’s credibility, mandate, and leadership position.
Ensure communications and public positioning reflect the realities and expectations of a sophisticated financial institution, including alignment with investment activities, risk considerations, and heightened scrutiny associated with deploying public capital in global markets.
Design and deliver integrated external engagement strategies that shape narratives, support investment priorities, and position FinDev Canada as a leader in development finance, aligning messaging, stakeholder engagement, media, and executive voice into coherent, outcome-driven efforts.
Ensure internal communications are clear, consistent, and aligned with corporate priorities, supporting employee engagement and key initiatives while reinforcing the organization’s external narrative.
Navigate complex and often competing expectations across government, partners, and public stakeholders, providing clear advice on reputational risk, positioning, and trade-offs in high-stakes situations.
Bring pace and execution discipline to the function, including clear prioritization, streamlined workflows, and consistent delivery against tight timelines.
Build and lead a high-performing external affairs team, setting clear expectations and raising standards for strategic thinking, judgment, and execution.
Serve as a senior advisor to the Chief Strategy Officer and Executive team on reputation, stakeholder dynamics, and external positioning, anticipating issues, shaping decisions, and ensuring alignment between business strategy and external narrative.