Vice-President, Public Affairs - Universities Canada

Universities Canada is the voice of Canadian universities, at home and abroad. We are a membership organization serving university presidents and providing a unified voice for higher education, research and innovation.

Universities Canada advances the mission of our member institutions to transform lives, strengthen communities and find solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our world.

As one of Canada’s premier advocacy organizations, we are seeking an accomplished, bilingual, results-oriented leader to join our team as the Vice-President, Public Affairs.

Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, you will use your superior leadership and advocacy skills to oversee and lead the policy and government relations team in achieving their mandates.

As a member of the Senior Management Committee, you will contribute to setting the strategic direction of the organization, developing management policies and evaluating progress on organization-wide priorities.

Your responsibilities:

The Vice-President, Public Affairs is responsible for the strategic planning, oversight, coordination, and implementation of activities that support organization-wide communications and advocacy across a spectrum of national and international issues, including but not limited to higher education; research and innovation policy; skills and talent; infrastructure and housing; Indigenous education; and international student mobility. These activities include developing and executing government relations and communications strategies, conducting research and analyses on a wide range of issues relevant to the university sector, and building relationships with senior government officials, Members of Parliament, member institutions, media and opinion leaders, and other national stakeholder groups. As an inspiring leader you will:

develop a nimble and high-performance work culture open to change, building a strong and effective team among a group of diverse and talented individuals;
oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of policy, government relations, and communications strategies and ensure their alignment with the organization’s strategic priorities;
ensure that all strategies, campaigns and tactics used across departments support the organization’s advocacy, thought leadership, member relations and engagement, mission-oriented programming, and publications revenue targets;
participate, represent Universities Canada, play speaking roles and make public presentations as appropriate in Canada and abroad, in policy consultations, conferences, meetings;
advise the Board of Directors, member institutions and senior management on matters of national brand and thought leadership, reputation, risk and issues management, crisis management and media and public relations.

The ideal person for this role is:

a strategic, politically astute, bilingual (FR/EN) government relations professional with 10+ years of progressive experience and success, including managing teams;
tenacious and can easily translate ideas and strategies into concrete plans and action to achieve desired outcomes;
an excellent leader who creates an enabling environment for team members to excel;
an experienced manager of manage people, projects and budgets;
diplomatic in responding to internal and external clients and audiences;
a registered federal lobbyist (or can become one).

Your skills and abilities include:

a strong understanding of the Canadian federal government’s decision-making processes, coupled with an appreciation for the political dynamics of the Canadian government;
a capacity to work at the senior levels of government, the university sector and civil society;
an ability to analyze, understand and explain issues and events in complex policy fields, including an analysis of government projects/policies or any other initiatives that are likely to have an impact on Canada’s universities;
a sense of initiative and ability to work independently;
sound judgement;
excellent oral and written communication skills in both official languages;
thriving in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment;
holding a master’s degree, preferably in management, public administration or a related discipline;
ability to lead through influence and to mentor and develop staff;
knowledge of the Canadian and international higher education landscape and policy-making environment would be a great asset in this role.

The position is based in Ottawa. Universities Canada has adopted a hybrid work model where employees are expected to work in the office a minimum of two days per week.

The hiring salary range for this position starts at $141,555 depending on experience. Candidates who do not meet all position requirements may be considered in an underfill capacity, in which case the candidate would be hired at a lower level than the position level.

Universities Canada is a National Capital Region Top Employer. We offer a comprehensive benefit package which includes four weeks of vacation (five weeks after two years of service), an attractive pension plan, group insurance, free gym membership and scholarships for children of our employees.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their curriculum vitae and a cover letter to the human resources service, Universities Canada, 1610-350 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4. This opportunity will remain open until a successful candidate has been identified. Email address: careers@archives.univcan.ca.

To learn more about us, visit us at www.archives.univcan.ca or find us on social media.

Twitter: @univcan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/univcanada
Insta: univcanada
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/universities-canada-/

While all responses will be appreciated and handled in strictest confidence, only those being considered for interviews will be acknowledged.

Universities Canada promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples and persons of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. Universities Canada provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Universities Canada respectfully acknowledges that our offices are situated on the traditional lands of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people.