Director, Stakeholder Relations

RegulatoryJobs Executive Recruitment; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO) seeks a Director, Stakeholder Engagement to lead a small team and advance communications, outreach, and volunteer coordination in a growing regulatory body. You will supervise a Communications Specialist and an Operations & Special Projects Coordinator, shaping priorities, processes, and deliverables with a focus on public protection and professional standards.

Based in downtown Toronto, this full-time hybrid role involves coordinating meetings, Council

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience supervising or coordinating others.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, outreach, governance support or public affairs.
• Experience in regulatory, association, public sector, not-for-profit, or professional services environments.
• Familiarity with volunteers, committees, and Council/Board structures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing presentations and stakeholder updates.
• Ability to build productive relationships with key stakeholders and staff to meet organizational goals.
• Discretion, sound judgment, and ability to handle sensitive matters.
• Experience in self-regulatory organizations or governance settings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and support a small team responsible for communications, outreach, operational coordination, volunteer management, and stakeholder support.
• Provide clear direction, set priorities, support follow-through, and foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
• Support Council and committee policies and processes through coordination of meetings, briefing materials, documentation, and follow-up.
• Oversee volunteer engagement and coordination, including committee chair liaison, volunteer communications, onboarding, orientation, and related compliance processes.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and outreach activities with registrants, volunteers, government, academic partners, the public, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent the organization professionally in external meetings, outreach activities, industry events, and stakeholder conversations.
• Oversee the coordination and delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, professional practice guidelines, and registrant education about their professional obligations and responsibilities under the Professional Geoscientists Act, in collaboration with internal colleagues.
• Oversee organizational communications and editorial planning, including newsletters, website content, stakeholder messaging, regulatory awareness, CPD promotion, and related materials.
• Coordinate surveys and feedback initiatives to inform continuous improvement of programs, policies, services, and stakeholder experience.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of an evaluation framework for programs and initiatives.
• Monitor stakeholder feedback and emerging issues in geoscience practice and regulation, escalating matters as appropriate.
• Oversee continuous improvement to streamline operations.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communications strategy

Volunteer coordination

Governance support

Public affairs

Education

University degree in public relations, communications, regulatory affairs, or related field

Job description

Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO) is a professional regulatory organization with a public‑protection mandate. PGO regulates registered practitioners, supports professional standards, works with volunteers and committees, and serves registrants, applicants, stakeholders, and the public.

Reporting to the CEO, the Director, Stakeholder Engagement provides leadership for stakeholder engagement, communications, outreach, volunteer coordination, and related organizational initiatives. The role supervises a Communications Specialist and an Operations & Special Projects Coordinator, ensuring priorities are clear, work is well coordinated, and deliverables are completed to a high standard.

This is a strong opportunity for a seasoned, steady people leader who enjoys building relationships, supporting staff, representing an organization professionally, and contributing to a small regulatory organization during a period of continued growth and change.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and support a small team responsible for communications, outreach, operational coordination, volunteer management, and stakeholder support.
• Provide clear direction, set priorities, support follow‑through, and foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
• Support Council and committee policies and processes through coordination of meetings, briefing materials, documentation, and follow‑up.
• Oversee volunteer engagement and coordination, including committee chair liaison, volunteer communications, onboarding, orientation, and related compliance processes.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and outreach activities with registrants, volunteers, government, academic partners, the public, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent the organization professionally in external meetings, outreach activities, industry events, and stakeholder conversations.
• Oversee the coordination and delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, professional practice guidelines, and registrant education about their professional obligations and responsibilities under the Professional Geoscientists Act, in collaboration with internal colleagues.
• Oversee organizational communications and editorial planning, including newsletters, website content, stakeholder messaging, regulatory awareness, CPD promotion, and related materials.
• Coordinate surveys and feedback initiatives to inform continuous improvement of programs, policies, services, and stakeholder experience.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of an evaluation framework for programs and initiatives.
• Monitor stakeholder feedback and emerging issues in geoscience practice and regulation, escalating matters as appropriate.
• Oversee continuous improvement to streamline operations.

What You Bring

• A university degree in public relations, communications, public administration, regulatory affairs, or a related field.
• 5+ years experience supervising or coordinating the work of others.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, outreach, governance support, public affairs, or a related area.
• Experience working in a regulatory, association, public sector, not‑for‑profit, or professional services environment.
• Familiarity with volunteers, committees, Council or Board structures, and external stakeholder relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing presentations, stakeholder communications, briefing materials, or organizational updates.
• Ability to establish productive relationships with key stakeholders and with staff in support of organizational goals.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive matters appropriately.
• A thoughtful, organized, and practical working style, with strong follow‑through and comfort using information, feedback, and data to guide decisions.
• Preference may be given to candidates with experience in a self‑regulatory organization, professional standards environment, stakeholder consultation, volunteer coordination, or committee‑based governance setting.
• The successful candidate will bring, or be prepared to develop, an understanding of geoscience practice and the organization’s public‑protection mandate.

Work Arrangement

This is a full‑time hybrid role based in downtown Toronto. The successful candidate will work in office two days per week, with flexibility to attend meetings, events, or stakeholder activities as required.

PGO values the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its staff and is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and accessible environment. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our organization and support our public‑protection mandate.

PGO is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.