External Affairs Specialist

Oxfam Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 76,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35-hour work week

4 weeks paid vacation per year

Extensive health, dental and wellness 

Pension plan contributions

Paid sick days

Flexible hours

Job summary

Oxfam Canada in Ottawa is seeking an External Affairs Specialist to lead government relations and media outreach in support of our advocacy priorities. Reporting to the Director, Policy, Campaigns & Communications, you will build relationships with MPs, government officials and journalists, develop influencing strategies, and produce briefing notes and media materials to secure coverage.

Strong English skills are required, French is a strong asset, and a deep commitment to feminism, anti-racism

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in political science, international relations, journalism, or equivalent.
• At least seven years in an external relations/public affairs position.
• Experience in government relations and advocacy in the not-for-profit sector.
• Experience in social justice, women’s rights and/or international issues.
• Strong English language skills; French a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute outreach plans to ensure influencing priorities are presented to government officials.
• Monitor parliamentary processes to grow support for influencing priorities.
• Build relationships with MPs, government officials and political staff.
• Support policy and advocacy teams in analyzing political trends and identifying risks and opportunities.
• Support the Executive Director and senior leadership in media exposure and key relationships.
• Collaborate with the communications team to identify media moments and prepare materials.
• Develop strong relationships with journalists to ensure issues are covered.
• Organize news conferences and policy events.
• Produce advocacy and communications products (briefing notes, press releases, op-eds) for policy-makers and media coverage.
• Act as Oxfam Canada spokesperson in media and with government.

Skills

Government relations

Media outreach

Policy analysis

Public advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Networking

Campaign coordination

Education

Master’s degree in Political Science / International Relations / Journalism or equivalent

Tools

Meltwater

Job description

External Posting Notice

Title: External Affairs Specialist

Department: Policy, Campaigns & Communications

Status: Full-time, indeterminate, unionized

Immediate Supervisor: Director, Policy, Campaigns & Communications

Salary: $75,948.37 - $98,618.24

Level: Band 3

Vacancy Type: Current Opening

Application Deadline: October 4, 2026 or until a suitable candidate is found

Oxfam Canada is an affiliate of the international Oxfam Confederation networked in over 85 countries as part of a global movement for change. Our mission is to build lasting solutions to poverty and injustice with a focus on improving the lives and promoting the rights of women and girls. We work directly with communities, partners and women's rights organizations to challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality and keep people poor. Together we seek to influence those in power to ensure that women trapped in poverty have a say in the critical decisions that affect them, their families and entire communities. That’s why we believe that ending global poverty begins with women’s rights.

Oxfam Canada offers a generous compensation and benefits program, but more than that, we offer the opportunity to be a part of our global movement for change. If you advocate for gender equality, are passionate about women’s rights, and share our values of Equality, Empowerment, Solidarity, Inclusiveness, Accountability, and Courage – we want you on our team!

SCOPE OF POSITION:

Reporting to the Director, Policy, Campaigns and Communications, and working closely with the Policy and Advocacy team and the Communications team, the External Affairs Specialist is responsible for leading the development and execution of Oxfam Canada’s government relations and media outreach. The External Affairs Specialist will work with teams across the organization, including members of the Senior Leadership Team, to develop government and media relations initiatives to advance Oxfam Canada’s organizational priorities. Well versed in government processes and having a strong existing network of contacts, the Specialist will ensure that Oxfam Canada’s influencing priorities are brought in front of decision-makers and to the public through media.

The External Affairs Specialist is a people person who enjoys making connections and building working relationships to increase Oxfam’s visibility and profile, and help advance Oxfam’s vision for a just and sustainable world. They thrive in developing outreach strategies and identifying opportunities to engage government and media in our work, and act as a spokesperson for Oxfam.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and execute outreach plans to ensure Oxfam Canada’s influencing priorities are brought in front of government officials.
• Monitor and identify relevant parliamentary processes and mechanisms to grow support for Oxfam Canada’s influencing priorities.
• Build strong relationships with relevant Members of Parliament, government officials and political staff.
• Support policy and advocacy and senior leadership teams in analyzing political trends and identifying risks and opportunities.
• Support policy and advocacy team in developing influencing strategies and executing key activities.
• Support the Executive Director and senior leadership team members to build up their media profile and relationships with key decision makers.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the communications team to identify media moments
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with journalists and producers to ensure Oxfam Canada issues are covered in media.
• Organize news conferences and policy events.
• Produce high quality advocacy and communications products (briefing notes, press releases, media pitches, op-eds, etc.) to engage policy-makers and secure media coverage.
• Act as Oxfam Canada spokesperson in the media and with government, and support other OCA spokespeople in preparation for interviews.
• Monitor media and provide regular media roundups, summaries and analytics using Meltwater.

Other duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES:

• Master’s degree in relevant field of study (such as Political Science, International Relations, Journalism) or equivalent education and experience;
• Minimum of seven years in a comparable external relations/public affairs position;
• Experience working on government relations and advocacy in the not-for-profit sector;
• Experience working on social justice, women’s rights and/or international issues;
• Commitment to Oxfam’s mission and strategic focus on global justice, women’s rights and gender justice and to Oxfam Canada’s feminist principles.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing government and media engagement strategies and plans;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Canadian policy landscape and experience with parliamentary processes and mechanisms;
• Proven experience in influencing, lobbying and/or advocacy of Members of Parliament, government officials and political staff.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills;
• Proven track record of working with media and journalists;
• Knowledge of new media trends;
• Ability to convey complex ideas in plain language to varied audiences;
• Ability to troubleshoot and anticipate challenges, and effectively and efficiently handle multiple, simultaneous, and complex tasks and projects;
• Capacity to develop expertise in new issue areas;
• Strong English language skills required; French language skills a strong asset;
• Demonstrated commitment to feminism, anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
• Willingness to sign and abide by the Oxfam Code of Conduct.

In addition to competitive pay, Oxfam Canada Offers:

• 35-hour work week and the ability to work flexible hours.
• 4 weeks of paid vacation per year, prorated based on FTE equivalence, plus paid office closure from December 27 to 31.
• Extensive health, dental and wellness coverage for staff and their dependents.
• Paid sick days, and additional time off for personal and care responsibilities.
• Pension plan contributions.
• Caring, compassionate and supportive work environment that recognizes that work is one of the many responsibilities we have to prioritize in our lives.
• Regular opportunities for all staff across Canada to meet – in person and virtually – to learn, connect and grow as a team!

** MUST be eligible to work in Canada **

We recognize that structural barriers shape experiences and job qualifications. If you don’t see yourself reflected in every job requirement listed in the posting above, we still encourage you to apply!

As an organization and as individuals, we stand against all systems of oppression, violence, and hate. We stand for justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI) and decolonization within our organization and society at large, guided by our Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Principles (ARAO), our Feminist Principles, and our six core values: Equality, Empowerment, Solidarity, Inclusiveness, Accountability, and Courage. Our Strategic Framework 2021-2025 has a commitment to grow as a feminist, diverse and inclusive organization. To that end, we have created an Anti-Racism, JEDI and Decolonization Strategy 2023-2025 with a vision to become a more just, inclusive and equitable organization, unbound by the oppressive systems of racism, white supremacy, patriarchy and the legacy of colonialism that have fueled global poverty and inequality.

We prioritize creating a compassionate, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and connected. We are especially eager to hear fromwomen and gender non-conforming individuals, Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, immigrants to Canada, and others from underrepresented groups.

If you require adaptive measures during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us at [e-mail] or [phone]. We are committed to providing accommodations to meet your needs. Oxfam Canada has an accommodation policy for persons with disabilities. The job posting is available in alternate formats.

Commitments in Recruitment and Selection Approach

At Oxfam Canada, we are committed to fair, transparent, and human-centered recruitment and selection practices. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) in any stage of our recruitment or selection processes currently. All decisions are made by trained human personnel.

Important Note

Offers of employment are conditional upon signing our code of conduct, satisfactory references, and any required screening checks. At Oxfam Canada, we place a high priority on ensuring that only individuals who share and demonstrate our values join our team.

For additional career opportunities, visit https://www.oxfam.ca/who-we-are/our-people/careers/. Please note that we do not offer internships or overseas volunteer placements.

We welcome you to join our movement – sign up for news and updates today.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.