Manager, Corporate Affairs, Policy & Government Relations

Ontario Cannabis Store; Toronto; On-site; CAD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency for cannabis regulation in Toronto seeks a Manager, Corporate Affairs, Policy & Government Relations. This role involves providing strategic policy advice to the Ontario Government and managing relationships with key public sector partners. Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of experience in a regulatory environment, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to lead a team effectively. The position offers a salary range of $105,000 to $115,000 with an employment type of full-time and permanent.

Qualifications

• Completion of post-secondary education in a relevant field.
• 5+ years in policy or agency oversight in the public sector.
• Strong understanding of legislative processes and government procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic policy advice to the Ontario Government.
• Manage relationships with key public sector partners.
• Lead a high-performing team to deliver on key initiatives.

Skills

Political acuity

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Post-secondary education in public policy or related field

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

About Us

The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.

Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start‑up in a groundbreaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Manager, Corporate Affairs, Policy & Government Relations to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy & Government Relations, this role leads the development of strategic policy advice for the Board and Ontario Government, supports operational teams in navigating complex regulations, and manages relationships with key public sector partners, including Health Canada, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and Canadian Cannabis Jurisdictional Leadership.

The Manager also collaborates across the OCS to maintain strong ties with the Ontario Ministry of Finance, oversee the Annual Report and Business Plan, and work with Strategic Planning to create tools that track progress against the agency’s strategic plan.

We’re seeking a detail‑oriented, politically savvy leader who can manage multiple priorities, provide expert advice, and inspire a high‑performing team to deliver on key initiatives.

About Your Day

• Provide policy development, market analysis and strategic advice to the Ontario Government and OCS Senior Leadership to guide informed decision‑making and make recommendations (e.g., strategic, regulatory, legislative) to support mandate / government objectives for sector.
• Provide advice to operational teams and senior management to support ongoing business initiatives and priorities consistent with the mandate of the OCS, broader provincial priorities, and applicable law.
• Monitor and track the impact of federal and provincial legislation, regulations and policies on the OCS and the cannabis marketplace (i.e., assess risk and impact to agency operations)
• Manage team to develop factual, data‑driven policy analysis and strategic advice (e.g., policies, briefing materials, issue notes, summaries, presentation decks, jurisdictional assessments, etc.) to address emerging industry issues / support organizational decision‑making.
• Oversee the development and review of core agency accountability documents and processes, including the Annual Report, Business Plan, and other requirements under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Finance.
• Engage with internal partners, including Enterprise Risk Management and Finance, to oversee financial and risk reporting to government.
• Work with team and other business areas to monitor and execute government information requests and ensure corporate compliance with applicable government directives.
• Work with Director and VP to manage the organization’s day‑to‑day relationship with other public‑sector partners including the Ministry of Finance, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and Health Canada.
• Engage and build relationships with key government and agency partners at municipal, provincial and federal levels to help advance organizational and provincial priorities for cannabis legalization.
• Lead and administrate engagement with other provinces and territories through the Canadian Cannabis Jurisdictional Leadership (CCJL).
• Work with Strategic Engagement and CX Market Intelligence to lead consultations, as appropriate.
• Work with Director to support business areas in engaging with external stakeholders to advance organizational initiatives, policies, and priorities aligned with the OCS mandate.
• Support department leadership in addressing and responding to acute issues management/ stakeholder challenges, in partnership with Communications & Stakeholder Engagement.
• Build, direct, develop, performance manage, and inspire a small, high performing team of professionals. Ensure team consistently meets or exceeds expectations by assuring process compliance, facilitating appropriate training and feedback, and working with Director to ensure team engagement.
• Build productive working relationships with manager counterparts across the organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, transparency and accountability within the department and throughout the OCS.
• Ensure that the team has the competence and skills to execute business‑critical projects by partnering with Human Resources to create learning and development plans.

About You

• Completion of post‑secondary education in public policy, public administration, political science, business administration, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience. (A Master’s degree in a similar field is preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in a policy or agency oversight area within a public sector organization or within a regulated sector.
• 2+ years of experience with managing a team is strongly preferred.
• Ontario Public Service / Federal Public Service experience is an asset
• Ability to deliver results in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills to manage teams to execute time‑sensitive deliverables, adapt to changing priorities and effectively manage several projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of legislative processes, government procedures, and issues management, with comfort navigating a complex legal framework.
• Experience liaising with senior management, with proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with internal business partners and external stakeholders.
• Strong political acuity, interpersonal, diplomatic and negotiating skills, and ability to exercise discretion and judgment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to communicate and provide advice to all levels within an organization.
• Highly developed critical thinking, research, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor and coach employee performance, provide feedback, establish goals, and complete performance reviews.
• Intermediate skill in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook.

About the Job

• Location: Toronto, ON near York Mills and Yonge Street
• Hours of Work: 36.25 a week
• Employment Type: Full‑Time, Permanent
• Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $105,000- $115,000. This is a pay grade 7 role, with a salary range of $82,623.96 - $ 123,507.59. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.