Director, Government Relations

Alberta Innovates; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is on the lookout for a Director of Government Relations to drive strategic engagement with government entities. This full-time role involves advising senior leadership, developing advocacy strategies, and fostering collaborative relationships to advance organizational goals. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in monitoring legislative changes and aligning government relations activities with broader communications strategies. With a competitive pay package and a focus on employee wellness, this opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact within a dynamic team environment.

Benefits

Generous employment benefits

Attractive pension plan

Work-life balance programs

Opportunities for skill development

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in government relations or public affairs.
• Proven track record of building relationships with policymakers.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior leadership on government engagement strategies.
• Monitor legislative developments relevant to the organization.
• Collaborate with executives to align advocacy efforts.

Skills

Government Relations

Public Affairs

Strategic Communication

Policy Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Project Management

Bilingual (English/French)

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Political Science

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

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Alberta Innovates is seeking a Director, Government Relations who be advising the Vice President of Stakeholder Relations & Communication on the organization’s engagement with all levels of government to advance strategic priorities and build collaborative relationships. The incumbent for this role will monitor legislative and regulatory developments, develop advocacy strategies, advise Alberta Innovates’ senior leadership on emerging policy opportunities and risks, and align government relations activities with the organization’s broader communications and business goals.

This full-time permanent role will be based in our Edmonton Bell Tower or Calgary Research Park office. The successful candidate can look forward to a competitive pay package, generous employment benefits, attractive pension plan, and opportunity to work within a great team environment.

We are game changers

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st-century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre, and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance the well-being of Albertans through research and innovation.

Our subsidiary, InnoTech Alberta, offers a diversified range of scientific engineering and technological research and testing capabilities, and the facilities to support technology scale-up. Our multidisciplinary team has the depth of experience to work across all sectors, from energy to health to food and fibre. InnoTech Alberta offers you access to research talent, technical expertise, and unique facilities that can help accelerate technology development that serves both the private and public sector.

Here's some more information about the position:

The responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to the following:

Internal Collaboration and Executive Support

• Collaborate with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to align advocacy efforts with organizational priorities.
• Provide strategic counsel and support for executives in preparation for meetings with government officials.
• Develop and maintain a government relations calendar and tracking tools.
• Conduct environmental scanning and media monitoring to develop briefing notes and provide issues management support to Alberta Innovates leadership and key staff.

Stakeholder Relations

• Collaborate with the Vice President to determine representatives for government and industry roundtables, committees, and events.
• Work with partner organizations, associations, industry colleagues, consultants, and coalitions to support joint stakeholder relations efforts. Stay current on industry best practices and emerging trends to support a collaborative and integrated approach to achieving Alberta Innovates' goals and priorities.
• Oversee the development and delivery of communications strategies and campaigns that inform and support the development of innovation and research programs, projects, and funding guidelines.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for internal and external delivery to government committees and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with internal communications partners to ensure consistent messaging across public and government audiences.

Policy Analysis and Advocacy

• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments relevant to the organization’s mandate.
• Prepare briefing materials, position papers, submissions, and responses to government consultations.
• Identify and assess public policy trends, risks, and opportunities that impact the organization. Liaise with the Vice President to ensure all current affairs, issues, legislation, and other matters are brought to the awareness of the CEO and Board.

Strategic Government Engagement

• Collaborate with the Vice President to develop and execute proactive government relations goals and strategies at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders, including elected officials, political staff, and public servants.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for government inquiries and briefings.

Reporting and Evaluation

• Track and report on outcomes of government relations activities.
• Maintain accurate records of engagements and relationship maps.
• Regularly update leadership on progress, risks, and key developments.

Education and qualifications we are looking for:

• Undergraduate Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, Business Administration or related field ; preferably with master’s degree
• 7–10 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or a related field—preferably within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, preferably with more than 5 years in a leadership role – agency, project teams, or functional units.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining effective relationships with government and policymakers.
• Deep understanding of the legislative and regulatory process at multiple levels of government, including knowledge of parliamentary systems and current federal, provincial, and municipal legislation and players that may impact Alberta Innovates.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting briefing materials and advocacy documents.
• Ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, persuasive narratives.
• High degree of political acumen, judgment, and discretion.
• Strong organizational, change, and project management skills.
• Understanding of culture, values, and change management/communications
• Bilingual skills (English/French) will be an asset to this role.

Why Alberta Innovates?

We offer our employees opportunities to work on projects that will expand their skill sets while witnessing the visible impacts of their efforts. We value the development of our employees and create opportunities for working in capacities that allow new skills to be learned. We know that the wellness of our team is the most important part of our business, so we offer a strong benefits package and generous vacation and paid time off programs to promote work-life balance.

At Alberta Innovates, we respect diversity and embrace an inclusive culture. We value uniqueness and different perspectives as they play a critical role in our success. To achieve this, individuals are selected based on qualifications, merit, and abilities and we encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply.

The final candidate will be required to provide credible references and undergo a security clearance. Because we intend to fill this role as soon as possible, this competition closes as soon a suitable candidate is found. Qualified and interested candidates are therefore encouraged to apply immediately.

ALBERTA INNOVATES IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WE WISH TO THANK ALL APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTEREST. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.