Public Affairs Lead, North America

MDPI Canada • Toronto, ON

1d • CA$85,000 - CA$90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

To strengthen our External Affairs function and support MDPI’s growing presence across North America, we are looking for an experienced Public Affairs Lead, North America to develop and execute public affairs strategies across key North American markets. The position of Public Affairs Lead, North America is a full-time, in-office position based in Toronto and is part of MDPI’s Communications and Marketing department.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree.
• 2–5 years of experience in Public Affairs.
• 2–5 years of experience in team management.
• Less than 2 years of experience with public affairs agency work is required.
• 2–5 years of experience in publishing is required.
• Excellent English language proficiency.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Confidence in meetings.
• A proactive approach and willingness to contribute.
• Resilience and the ability to work effectively in a changing environment.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• You must have the right to work and live in Canada.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of MDPI’s public affairs strategy across North America in line with broader External Affairs objectives.
• Act as a lead point of contact for North American public affairs matters, advising the executive team and senior stakeholders on political, policy, and reputational risks and opportunities.
• Provide advisory-level support to other regions, including Europe and APAC, where required.
• Hold accountability for the delivery of materials including policy briefings, internal intelligence, supporting presentations, open access policy tracking and positioning, and MDPI’s contribution to open access policy advocacy.
• Plan and execute public affairs campaigns around priority issues for MDPI, namely government- or institutional-level obstacles, and engage the broader scholarly community in liaison.
• Adjust public affairs strategies to suit evolving requirements and demands.
• Manage North American public affairs team members and their portfolios of work and countries, while mentoring and supporting the development of the public affairs team.
• Support the coordination of public affairs agencies, including appointments, budget, and performance management.
• Evaluate and adjust public affairs strategy based on impact, feedback, and the evolving policy landscape.
• Streamline processes to improve responsiveness and alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on local public affairs developments to improve future strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve team proficiency in strategic communications.
• Ensure that all External Affairs activities are consistent with MDPI’s brand and communication standards.

Benefits

• Competitive Health Insurance Packages: Comprehensive health insurance that covers aspects of dental work, vision care, and prescription costs, as well as extras such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, massage and wellness services, and more.
• Convenient Transportation Links: Office based in North York with convenient access to the Yonge-Sheppard TTC station. Ten minutes by subway from the Finch Go Bus terminal and thirty minutes by subway from Union Station.
• Opportunities for Growth: Joining MDPI offers the opportunity to be part of a growing, international team with prospects for professional growth and the possibility to travel to other MDPI offices.

What This Job Offers

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