Corporate Relations Manager

mercyforanimals; Canada; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy For Animals in Canada is seeking a Corporate Relations Manager to lead strategic engagement with food-industry partners and drive animal-welfare procurement commitments.

The role requires 5+ years in corporate engagement or related fields, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and proven ability to negotiate changes in corporate policy while advancing MFA’s mission and values. Travel up to 2–3 times per year may be required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in corporate engagement, corporate advocacy, or related fields.
• Experience negotiating corporate commitments or influencing business decisions.
• Understanding of food industry procurement and supply chains preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate engagement strategies tailored to target-company priorities and objectives.
• Manage and develop Corporate Relations Specialists; set goals and review work.
• Coordinate with other teams to sequence outreach, negotiation, and escalation.
• Build strategic relationships with corporate executives and procurement leaders to influence policies.
• Lead research into ownership, business models, incentives, and sustainability commitments of target companies.
• Negotiate policy commitments with corporate decision-makers and define implementation timelines.
• Monitor commitments, address barriers, and coordinate with campaigns on noncompliance.

Skills

Corporate engagement

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Job description

Mercy For Animals aims to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system. We envision a world where animals are respected, protected, and free.

As a leading farmed animal advocacy organization, we know that achieving this goal requires a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment-one that welcomes and sparks new perspectives and innovative ideas. If you are passionate about our mission, driven to make a big impact for animals, and eager to be part of a dedicated team, join us!

We currently seek a Corporate Relations Manager to join our Corporate Impact team. In this role, you will lead strategic corporate engagement efforts that persuade businesses in the food industry to adopt, implement, and uphold meaningful animal welfare and plant-based procurement policies. Manage a team that builds influential corporate relationships, develops evidence-based engagement strategies, and negotiates meaningful commitments in pursuit of ending factory farming.

You will do invaluable work :

• Lead corporate engagement strategies tailored to target-company priorities, commercial incentives, stakeholder interests, and opportunities to secure meaning policy changes with clear objectives and measures of success.
• Manage and develop Corporate Relations Specialists; set goals, delegate execution, review work, and foster strong strategic judgment and professional growth.
• Coordinate closely with the Corporate Campaigns Manager to sequence outreach, negotiation, and escalation as part of an integrated target strategy.
• Build strategic relationships with corporate executives, procurement leaders, sustainability professionals, and other decision-makers to influence corporate policies.
• Lead research into target companies' ownership, business models, financial incentives, supply chains, procurement practices, sustainability commitments, and decision-making structures.
• Lead negotiations with corporate decision-makers to secure measurable commitments, including clear implementation timelines and accountability mechanisms.
• Apply insights from sales, conflict resolution, and behavioral science to build relationships, overcome objections, and negotiate policy commitments.
• Continuously develop expertise by learning from other industries, social movements and emerging engagement strategies.
• Monitor corporate commitments, identify barriers to implementation, and coordinate with Corporate Campaigns to address noncompliance through engagement or escalation.
• Collaborate with departments across MFA to advance shared objectives and strengthen long-term organizational power.
• Oversee corporate communications, materials, records, budgets, timelines, and evaluations, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Coordinate with the Legal and Communications departments to ensure corporate agreements, communications, and engagement activities comply with relevant laws and align with Mercy For Animals' messaging.
• Build partnerships with aligned advocacy organizations to advance corporate engagement objectives.
• Represent Mercy For Animals in corporate meetings and events, as needed.
• Follow organizational policies and procedures and ensure compliance from direct reports.
• Keep up-to-date on industry developments to identify strategic opportunities to further Mercy For Animals' corporate engagement work.
• Continuously explore and adopt emerging technologies, tools, and practices to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the team lead.

Your qualifications will take our Corporate Impact team to the next level:

• 5+ years' experience in corporate engagement, corporate advocacy, corporate affairs, sales, or related fields.
• Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, public relations, political science, public policy, communications, or related fields preferred.
• Demonstrated success negotiating corporate commitments, influencing business decisions, or securing meaningful changes in corporate policies or practices.
• Working understanding of the food industry, corporate procurement and supply chains, and the impacts of factory farming on animals preferred.
• Strong understanding of corporate decision-making, business incentives, stakeholder interests, and negotiation strategies.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with corporate decision-makers while maintaining a firm commitment to organizational objectives and accountability.
• Strong, emotionally intelligent, interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally, persuasively, and diplomatically in both writing and verbally.
• Exceptionally strong work ethic and drive to succeed.
• Exceptional research, organizational, time-management, and project-management skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel 2-3 times per year.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and objectives of the organization.
• A commitment and openness to continued personal and organizational growth in diversity, equity, inclusion, and