Manager Government Relations and Community Engagement

University of Guelph • Guelph, ON

4d

About The Position

The Government Relations and Community Engagement team, which is part of the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor, is a dedicated team of professionals who work across the University to advance its strategic priorities. As Manager, Government Relations & Community Engagement, you will play a pivotal role in supporting U of G’s interest with government and community stakeholders. Reporting to the Director, and leveraging your knowledge of federal, provincial, and municipal governments, you will be responsible for fostering positive relationships with policymakers, staying informed of current and emerging issues and pursuing funding opportunities.

Requirements

• A university degree in political science, public policy, business/public administration, or a related field
• 3 to 6 years of experience working in a government, advocacy, community, stakeholder, or community engagement role; experience in the post-secondary sector is an asset
• Strong knowledge of the inner workings of government, including the decision-making processes, relevant programming and reporting requirements, and the political process and environment
• Proven strategic thinking with the ability to translate to effective operational execution
• Demonstrable experience researching, monitoring, and impacting public policy, legislative and regulatory requirements through the development and implementation of strategic advocacy campaigns
• Experience preparing communications materials, including briefing notes, presentations, and other documents for post-secondary leaders and/or government audiences
• Significant experience working in a complex, decentralized environment, serving a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders while thinking creatively about opportunities for collaboration
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail, and organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues
• Capacity to successfully and professionally manage competing priorities with minimal supervision and direction
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information, provide advice, exercise sound judgement and diplomacy, and communicate effectively with government and senior leaders
• Availability to attend events and conferences on occasional evenings and weekends

Nice To Haves

• experience in the post-secondary sector is an asset

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement government relations strategies and advocacy plans in support of U of G priorities
• Proactively monitor public policy and legislation to identify trends, potential threats and opportunities to the University’s operations
• Develop materials for internal and external use, including, but not limited to, position statements, talking points, white papers, presentations, and submissions
• Identify opportunities for government officials to participate in University activities and act as a point of contact for on-campus events and visits
• Work with campus partners to manage all aspects of government announcements, events and visits to campus
• Represent the University with government and community stakeholders, including meetings, delegations and consultations
• Monitor and coordinate lobbyist requirements for the federal and provincial lobbyist registries, including educating, and liaising with, internal stakeholders on requirements and reporting
• Create and maintain a government and community engagement contact management system
• Participate with, contribute to, and support the Office of Government Relations and Community Engagement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager