Government Relations Advisor

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 68,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible remote work program

Earned time off program

Paid vacation and personal care leave

Learning, development, and advancement

Onsite gym with towel service

Job summary

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is seeking a seasoned government relations professional to lead outreach and engagement with federal, provincial and local stakeholders. Your role focuses on strategic advocacy, issue tracking and policy advice to support the port's initiatives.

You will develop relationships with government officials, prepare briefings, represent VFPA in meetings and coordinate cross‑functional communications to advance Canada’s largest port with national significance.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of demonstrable experience in federal or provincial government relations in Canada.
• Established relationships with provincial or federal government officials are required.
• Strong networking, writing and analytical skills are essential.
• Self-motivated with excellent communication, tact and diplomacy.
• Strategic thinker capable of linking initiatives to the bigger picture.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement government relations and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Build strategic relationships with government representatives at all levels.
• Identify issues and provide recommendations impacting corporate initiatives.
• Coordinate outreach, advocacy and communications strategies.
• Prepare briefing notes, submissions and reports.
• Maintain government contacts in CRM and track engagement activities.
• Organize meetings and events as required.

Skills

Networking

Interpersonal skills

Writing

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Communication

Team player

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in political science

Tools

CRM

Job description

At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the work we domatters. Every day, our people help connect Canada to global markets,strengthen supply chains, support sustainable growth, and shape the future ofCanada’s largest port.

If you're looking for purposeful work where yourcontributions make a difference, you'll find it here - supported by a team thatis collaborative, innovative, and committed to excellence.

At the port authority, we’re committed to delivering anemployee experience that is as rewarding as the work itself. We offer:

• Meaningfulwork that contributes to Canada’s trade and economic prosperity
• Opportunitiesfor learning, development, and career growth
• Acollaborative and inclusive workplace culture
• Competitivecompensation and comprehensive benefits
• Flexibleprograms that support employee wellbeing and work-life integration

Join a team that embraces innovation and continuouslearning while delivering technology solutions that support one of Canada’smost important trade hubs.

Build relationships with decision-makers, provide strategicadvice, help advance initiatives that have regional and national significance,and promote Canada’s largest port. Your work will help ensure that criticalinfrastructure, trade, environmental, and community priorities are understoodand advanced through meaningful engagement and collaboration.

Build a career with purpose

If you’re looking for work that is meaningful, challenging,and connected to something bigger, we’d love to hear from you. Join us anddiscover how your career can help shape Canada’s future.

What success looks like

• Workingclosely with the manager, develop and implementgovernment, regulatory agency and stakeholder communications andengagement activities, including participating/facilitating in meetings,planning and executing outreach programs, and tracking and managing issues
• Buildand maintain strategic relationships with government representatives at alllevels, ensuring communication goals are met
  Asrequired, provide VFPA representation in BC and across Canada with members ofthe provincial and federal government, industry, regulatory agencies, First Nations groups and other stakeholders, wheretact and diplomacy will be required to reconcile issues in a manner thatadvances VFPA interests
• Monitor,identify, report and provide recommendations on current and emerging issuesthat may impact corporate initiatives
• Underdirection, develop and implement outreach, advocacy and other communicationsstrategies, plans and tactics
• Ensurecommunications activities are aligned with other departmental andorganizational objectives and initiatives
• Incorporategovernment and key stakeholder engagement initiatives into projectcommunications as required
• Coordinatethe graphic design of communications and outreach materials, working closelywith Corporate Communications as required
• Participateon cross-functional teams, providing subject matter expertise across theorganization on government issues.
• Providegeneral communications support on an as needed basis, which may includeplanning and/or support of special events, government and media relations,business communications, tours and presentations, photography, reports, generalresearch, budgets and information requests.
• Tracks engagement activities, action items and outcomes.
• Workswith staff and external consultants to monitor regulatory, government andstakeholder issues nationally, provincially and internationally as appropriate
• Tracksgovernment policy and regulatory changes, providing advice on theirimplications
• Researchesand prepares briefing notes, submissions, binders, letters and other materials
• Writes regular and annual reports on work activities andoutcomes
• Maintaingovernment and stakeholder contacts in CRM and ensure records of engagementactivities are kept up to date.
• Identifyopportunities for continuous improvement and create procedures and templates toassist with processes. Maintain a bring-forward system and follow-up on routineresponsibilities. Prioritize and multi-task assignments to meet deliverables.
• Compose,proofread and format correspondence, presentations and spreadsheets.
• Asrequired, organize meetings and events.
• Performsother assigned duties as required.

What you bring:

• Abachelor’s degree in political science or other appropriate universitydegree, along with a minimum of five (5) years of demonstrable experiencein federal or provincial government relations in Canada and in developingand implementing government relations strategies around complex projects.
• Musthave demonstrated, recent established relationships with provincial orfederal government elected and public service officials.
• Strongnetworking and interpersonal skills, and strong knowledge of existingfederal and provincial government structures, processes and priorities isconsidered an asset.
• Exceptionalresearch, writing and analytical skills required.
• Mustbe a self-motivated individual with excellent communication andinterpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy and the ability to liaiseeffectively and positively with both staff and outside contacts.
• Mustbe a strategic thinker with the ability to analyze individual initiativesin the context of the bigger picture, identify issues, provide advice andescalate situations when necessary.
• Excellentwritten and verbal communication skills are required. Must be a teamplayer with a customer service focus.
• Exceptionalorganizational skills, attention to detail, and flexibility to performmultiple tasks are required.

What we offer:

• Market-competitivebase salaries and variable incentive plan
• Generousand inclusive benefits offering including retirement benefits plan
• Flexibleremote work program
• Earnedtime off program
• Paidvacation and personal care leave
• Learning,development, and advancement opportunities
• Onsitegym with towel service in a national landmark in the heart of Vancouver’swaterfront
• Friendly,unique, and respectful workplace

Salary:

The starting rate forthis position is $60.13 per hour, with scheduled wage progression in accordancewith the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 517collective agreement. Based on a 40-hour work week.

Job type:

BargainingUnit, Full-Time, Permanent, Hybrid

Working environment:

Normaloffice conditions with occasional evening, weekend and off-site work, which willinclude travel within BC and other locations in Canada. Flexibility tooccasionally respond to issues during non-working hours.

At theVancouver Fraser Port Authority, we arededicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity ofour port community. We believe our strength comes from the diverseperspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our people. We welcome applicationsfrom all qualified candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, women, personswith disabilities, racialized individuals, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,and other equity-deserving groups.

Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selectionprocess and while working with the port authority. If you require assistancewith applying to our openings or are seeking accommodations to apply in analternative format, please contact us through a confidential, secure inbox [e-mail]. We are committed to supporting your needs andwill do our best to provide the necessary assistance.

We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on thetraditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam),Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn moreabout our First Nation relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visitourwebsite .

About Us

• Contributes to the competitiveness, growth, and prosperity of the Canadian economy.
• Organizes marine transportation services that meet port users’ needs at a reasonable cost.
• Provides a high level of safety and environmental protection.
• Responds to local needs and priorities.
• Encourages and considers input from port users and local communities.
• Re-invests around 90% of our revenues back into trade enabling infrastructure.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority:

• Contributes to the competitiveness, growth, and prosperity of the Canadian economy.
• Organizes marine transportation services that meet port users’ needs at a reasonable cost.
• Provides a high level of safety and environmental protection.
• Responds to local needs and priorities.
• Encourages and considers input from port users and local communities.
• Re-invests around 90% of our revenues back into trade enabling infrastructure.

Our purpose statement

Enabling Canada's trade by being reliable and innovative, while protecting the environment.

Our values

• We drive efficiency to optimize performance.
• We build strong relationships to succeed together.
• We are customer-focused to deliver on our commitments.
• We are accountable to find solutions and take the right action.
• We are one team to achieve our purpose.