Government Relations Specialist

Engineers and Geoscientists BC; Burnaby; Hybrid; CAD 88,000 - 98,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Inclusive culture

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Engineers and Geoscientists BC is looking for a Government Relations Specialist in Burnaby, responsible for implementing the government relations programme and monitoring legislative issues. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and 5-7 years of experience in government relations.

This role offers a competitive compensation package with a salary between $88,000 and $98,500. Successful candidates will contribute to public safety and help advance climate action and equity initiatives.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in government relations or public affairs.
• Strong understanding of provincial government legislative processes.
• Experience drafting policy papers and briefing notes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the government relations programme and engagement plan.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory issues and provide analysis.
• Draft position papers, policy briefs, and written materials.

Skills

Government relations experience

Project management

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, law, or related field

Job description

Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia is currently searching for a Government Relations Specialist to join our team in Burnaby!

The Government Relations Specialist drives the organisation’s government relations program forward by planning and executing the day-to-day government affairs activities for the organisation. As a key member of the government relations team, this position plays a lead role in implementing the government relations programme to meet the evolving needs of the organisation.

Our organisation — one of BC’s Top Employers — offers a competitive salary, comprehensive and generous benefits, an inclusive culture, and a hybrid work environment. Full details on our compensation and benefits value offering can be found below.

What You Will Be Doing

• Leads the planning and implementation of the organisation’s government relations programme, including the development of a yearly engagement plan; develops and manages the tactical plan and schedule to achieve strategic goals. Collaborates with departmental leaders and external consultants to ensure strategic alignment.
• Responsible for internal communications related to Government Relations updates. Keeps intranet page up to date, drafts content for staff updates, and collaborates with the Communications team on the development, timing, and publication of relevant internal communications.
• Monitors and keeps current on legislative, regulatory and policy issues and developments; provides analysis, interpretation, and assessment of potential impacts to the organisation; thinks critically to determine best path forward; and coordinates the development of organisational responses to legislative, regulatory, and public policy changes. Proactively ensures that department leaders are kept informed and updated about relevant changes or issues, and provides recommendations on next steps.
• Coordinates the policy response/development process by providing project planning, tracking, and reporting, as well as research and liaison with internal and external partners to assess implications of government policy proposals and develop responses. Conducts research and in‑depth analysis, works with internal subject‑matter experts in identifying issues and implications, evaluating options, and developing recommendations on matters pertaining to government proposals, policy and legislation.
• Responsible for drafting position papers, policy briefs and other written materials to inform internal leadership and support decision‑making.
• Works with colleagues across the organisation and supports internal working groups – issue‑specific task forces and an advisory group – to identify, assess and monitor priority issues. Supports the working groups by planning agendas, scheduling meetings, coordinating meeting materials, tracking and documenting developments.
• Works with internal subject‑matter experts and the communications team to draft and support communications with government officials and other relevant organisational partners.
• Creates engaging presentation materials and key message documents for the Executive team, supporting their preparation for ministerial meetings and other regular government meetings through pre and post meeting preparation, preparing meeting materials and speaking notes, and managing tracking of action items. Responsible for maintaining and updating repository of key message documents.
• Leads the development of timely reports and communication to the Board to advise on key developments and progress. Responsible for managing and updating the organisation’s GR tracker and leads the development of Board update reporting material.
• Supports the planning and delivery of meetings and events with government officials and other relevant partners, including taking primary responsibility for event organisation, meeting coordination, on‑site support and preparation of meeting materials and speaking notes.
• Participates in regular meetings on government relations with staff and external consultants, tracking progress on strategic objectives and following up on action items as required.
• Responsible for tracking progress against the government relations plan, including tracking all engagement activities, action items, and outcomes.
• Tracks all government relations lobbying activities and ensures timely monthly reporting to the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, in compliance with the Lobbyists Transparency Act; keeps up to date on legislative requirements related to government relations activities.
• Coordinates specific meetings with the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance related to policy, legislation and government affairs, providing support to the Executive Team in their engagements with that Office.
• Other duties as assigned by direct leader and, as appropriate, members of the departmental leadership team.

What You Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, law, or related field.
• 5‑7 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or similar role.
• Experience working with, and strong understanding of, provincial government legislative, regulatory and policy processes.
• Experience analysing and interpreting legislative and regulatory documents, and preparing policy papers and briefing notes.
• Project management experience, including strong organisational skills and ability to follow project management methodologies.
• Experience managing relationships with government officials and bodies on behalf of an organisation, and experience using excellent interpersonal skills to maintain and develop those relationships.
• Demonstrated experience in proactively assessing the impacts of government updates/changes and providing recommendations to leadership on organisational responses.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What’s in it for You

Each member of our team contributes to public safety in BC and helps us deliver on our vision of modern regulation for a resilient world. We serve the public as an inclusive, progressive and future‑focused regulator. Our Strategic Plan also places priority on our role to advance climate action, foster equity, diversity and inclusion, and pursue reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. At Engineers and Geoscientists BC we are committed to demonstrating our values of collaboration, excellence, integrity and innovation.

This role offers a competitive compensation and benefits programme including a salary within our hiring range of $88,000 to $98,500. Placement within the hiring range will be based on candidate experience relative to the requirements of the role. Additional details on our generous benefit offerings can be found in the linked job posting.