Director, Federal Public Affairs
Canada Infrastructure Bank/ Banque de l'infrastructure du Canada · Ottawa, ON
- On site
- Full-time
- CA$150,000 / year
- Ottawa, ON
Job highlights
- Manage federal public affairs and stakeholder relations.
- Develop strategies to engage government officials.
- Leverage senior-level relationships with key stakeholders.
- Support shareholder relations with government departments.
- Monitor parliamentary calendar and legislative agenda.
About the role
Director, Federal Public Affairs
The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), headquartered in Toronto, is responsible for investing in new infrastructure projects. The CIB’s mission is to work with provincial, territorial, municipal, federal, Indigenous and private sector investor partners to transform the way infrastructure is planned, financed and delivered in Canada.
Located in Ottawa and reporting to the Head, Public Affairs, the Director, Federal Public Affairs, will be responsible for managing stakeholder relations and public affairs activities with the Government of Canada, national stakeholder organizations and thought leaders. They will enhance the reputation of the organization by ensuring the CIB has a robust and comprehensive stakeholder engagement program with the CIB’s shareholder and other Government of Canada officials. The Director, Federal Public Affairs, will work closely with the Head and other public affairs colleagues to ensure the CIB is well positioned in Ottawa.
Responsibilities:
- Develop the CIB’s presence in Ottawa and lead the development of strategies to engage federal government officials (elected and non-elected), business and community stakeholders, including the development of a national database to track engagements.
- Leverage existing relationships to engage key federal Ministers, PMO, PCO, MPs, opposition, their staff and national thought leaders, in particular lead engagement with the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities office.
- Work across departments to understand the CIB’s priorities, ensure tactics and strategies support the CIB’s pipeline of projects and build champions, supportive coalitions and reputation.
- In coordination with the Head, lead the in-market execution of public affairs activities in Ottawa that include the development of tactical stakeholder engagement plans, coordinating meetings, meeting materials and leverage communications platforms.
- Support shareholder relations with Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada, including regular touchpoints and response to inquiries.
- Develop a positive and constructive interface between the CIB and its shareholder by coordinating the Investment and Research tables with Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada.
- Monitor the federal Parliamentary calendar, legislative agenda and lead strategic coordination of parliamentary hearings.
- Collaborate with CIB Legal on responses to Order Paper Questions and Access to Information Requests.
- Collaborate with the Communications and Public Affairs team to leverage investment announcements and speaking opportunities for public affairs engagements, inform the CEO’s (or other CIB representatives) travel, tour and participation in events to build positive profile and corporate brand.
- Be aware of the challenges, opportunities and perceptions of the CIB’s stakeholders across multiple business functions and develop an effective tactical engagement plan.
Ideal Profile:
- 10+ years of relevant experience in communications, public affairs, stakeholder and government relations.
- Existing senior-level relationships with federal government officials (elected and non-elected), national stakeholders and thought leaders.
- Proven track record managing relationships with stakeholders, government and media.
- Comfortable advising senior leaders and working across departments.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills, presentation design and development, organization and analytical skills.
- Skilled and creative at problem-solving and identification of concrete actions.
- Ability to build strong relationships, establish trust, influence decision-making and gain consensus on solutions across organizational levels.
- Effective ability to interact with others and deal with situations that respect diverse backgrounds, experience and styles.
- Comfortable working with PowerPoint, Excel and CRMs.
We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.
At the CIB, we are committed to diversity and equitable access to employment opportunities. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment/interview process (including alternate formats of materials, or accessible meeting rooms or other accommodation), please let us know at accessible@cib-bic.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Key skills/competency
- Federal Government Relations
- Public Affairs Strategy
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Communications Strategy
- Relationship Management
- Parliamentary Procedures
- Policy Analysis
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Executive Advising
- Problem Solving
Skills & topics
- Public Affairs Director
- Government Relations
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Federal Government
- Infrastructure Policy
- Communications
- Ottawa Jobs
- Canada Infrastructure Bank
- Public Policy
- Senior Manager
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 10+ years of public affairs experience and senior-level government relationships.
- Showcase your network: Emphasize existing relationships with federal Ministers, PMO, PCO, MPs, and thought leaders.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking: Provide examples of developing and executing successful stakeholder engagement plans.
- Quantify achievements: Use data to show your track record in managing relationships and influencing decisions.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your problem-solving skills and ability to build consensus.
Technical preparation
Master government databases and CRM systems.,Develop sophisticated presentation materials.,Analyze legislative agendas and parliamentary calendars.,Prepare data-driven engagement strategies.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex stakeholder challenge you resolved.,How do you build trust with senior officials?,Share an example of influencing decision-making.,How do you manage diverse stakeholder styles?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Director, Federal Public Affairs role at the Canada Infrastructure Bank?
- The primary focus of the Director, Federal Public Affairs role at the Canada Infrastructure Bank is to manage stakeholder relations and public affairs activities with the Government of Canada, national stakeholder organizations, and thought leaders, thereby enhancing the organization's reputation and ensuring robust engagement with its shareholder and other government officials.
- What level of experience is required for the Director, Federal Public Affairs position?
- The Canada Infrastructure Bank requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in communications, public affairs, stakeholder, and government relations for the Director, Federal Public Affairs position.
- Does the Director, Federal Public Affairs role involve direct engagement with federal ministers and their staff?
- Yes, the role explicitly involves leveraging existing relationships to engage key federal Ministers, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office (PCO), Members of Parliament (MPs), opposition parties, their staff, and national thought leaders.
- What kind of relationships are essential for success in this role?
- Success in this role hinges on existing senior-level relationships with federal government officials (both elected and non-elected), national stakeholders, and thought leaders. Proven track record in managing relationships with stakeholders, government, and media is also crucial.
- Where is the Director, Federal Public Affairs based?
- The Director, Federal Public Affairs position is based in Ottawa, reporting to the Head of Public Affairs.
- What specific government departments or entities will this role interact with?
- This role will involve significant interaction with the Government of Canada, including federal Ministers, PMO, PCO, MPs, and specifically with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, in relation to shareholder relations and coordinating investment and research tables.
- What technical skills are expected for this role?
- Candidates should be comfortable working with standard office software such as PowerPoint and Excel, as well as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
- How does the CIB support diversity and inclusion in its hiring process?
- The CIB is committed to diversity and equitable access to employment opportunities. Candidates requiring accommodation for the recruitment or interview process are encouraged to contact accessible@cib-bic.ca to discuss their needs.