VP Communications & Government Relations
About The Position
This is a senior executive role for a Vice President, Communications and Government Relations at Vancity, a member-owned credit union. The role involves leading and integrating internal and external communications and government relations strategies to protect and enhance Vancity's reputation, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and position Vancity as a trusted thought leader. The ideal candidate is a strategic, values-driven leader with expertise in enterprise communications, media relations, public affairs, and government relations, providing counsel to the CEO, Board, and Executive Leadership. This is a full-time, permanent position based at Vancity's head office, reporting to the Chief Member Experience Officer. The role is primarily on-site with some flexibility for hybrid work, requiring regular presence for key meetings and events.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, political science, journalism, public policy, or a related field.
- A minimum of 12–15 years of progressive senior leadership experience in enterprise communications, public affairs, and/or government relations.
- Significant experience advising CEOs, Boards, and Executive Leadership teams on reputation, risk, and complex issues.
- Demonstrated expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and executive-level stakeholder engagement.
- Proven experience leading government relations, advocacy, and public policy initiatives in complex, regulated environments.
- Strong people leadership experience, including building and leading high-performing, diverse teams.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, judgment, and influence skills aligned with cooperative values.
Nice To Haves
- A master’s degree is an asset.
- Experience within financial services, cooperatives, or highly regulated sectors.
- Existing relationships with federal, provincial, or municipal government stakeholders.
- Experience integrating communications, marketing, and brand strategies at an enterprise level.
Responsibilities
- Leading the development and execution of integrated internal and external communications strategies aligned to enterprise priorities.
- Providing strategic communications counsel to the CEO, Board, and Executive Leadership on reputational risk, emerging issues, and executive profiling.
- Overseeing enterprise media relations, acting as a senior spokesperson, and guiding crisis and issues management.
- Building and stewarding Vancity’s government relations and public policy agenda across federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
- Engaging Ministers, political staff, senior public servants, regulators, and sector partners to advance advocacy priorities.
- Integrating public policy intelligence and environmental scanning into enterprise strategy to identify risks and opportunities.
- Managing escalated member concerns in partnership with internal and external oversight bodies.
- Building, mentoring, and leading a high-performing and diverse communications team.
- Overseeing measurement and reporting to demonstrate communications and government relations impact beyond activity tracking.
Benefits
- Competitive rewards and benefits
- Flexible benefit packages that can be tailored annually
- 3-4 weeks of vacation per year, with additional days earned over time
- 2 extra stat holidays in addition to BC’s 11 statutory holidays
- Care days for personal or family illness
- Immediate health coverage (health and dental benefits begin on hire date)
- Three levels of health coverage to choose from
- Defined Benefit Pension plan
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
