Manager, Government Relations

Socket.dev; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan matching

Flexible/hybrid work

Generous paid time off

Job summary

MS Canada is seeking a Manager, Government Relations to drive policy change and advocate for the MS community across Canada. You will manage government relations and advocacy initiatives, monitor political landscapes, and coordinate digital campaigns to mobilize supporters.

The role requires strong analytical, political awareness, and project management skills, with ability to travel and collaborate across teams and partners to advance equity and better health policy for Canadians living with MS.

Qualifications

• Experience managing government relations and advocacy initiatives that advance policy change.
• Strong analytical and political awareness to scan environments and translate insights into action plans.
• Excellent project management skills coordinating timelines, teams, and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Drive MS Canada’s government relations and advocacy initiatives.
• Monitor political landscape and issues to inform strategy.
• Coordinate digital advocacy programs and mobilize supporters.

Skills

Government relations

Advocacy

Policy analysis

Project management

Digital advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

We're inspired by the vision of a world free of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. People affected by MS are at the heart of our work and our mission is to connect and empower the MS community to create positive change. We connect the MS community to programs, information, research and to each other while they are on their MS journey.We collaborate with researchers, donors, partners, volunteers, people living with MS, caregivers, and health professionals to drive progress forward and make meaningful impact. Whether improving the lives of Canadians today or supporting groundbreaking research to end MS tomorrow, we work together as a community—and you can be a part of that.

Our team is looking to fill a current vacant position of Manager, Government Relations. This is a full-time position working 35 hours per week in Ontario. This position will be based in your home office with access to an office or community hub for regular business purposes. Please apply by October 5, 2026.

Discover. Innovate. Act

We are guided on the journey to end MS through discoveries, innovation, and collective action. This strategy connects the MS community through our common goal of a world free of MS. Together, we work to advance treatment and care, enhance well‑being, understand, and halt disease progression and ultimately prevent MS.

The impact you will have:

In this role, you will help drive MS Canada’s mission to create a world free of MS by transforming the experiences and insights of the MS community into meaningful policy change. Working collaboratively with the mission team, you will manage government relations and advocacy initiatives that elevate MS community voices by monitoring the political landscape, analyzing issues, and coordinating digital advocacy efforts that mobilize supporters into collective action. Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and the timely execution of advocacy initiatives, you will strengthen our ability to influence systems, remove barriers, and accelerate progress toward better care, well‑being, and equity for people affected by MS across Canada.

Our ideal candidate:

• Brings proven experience in managing government relations and advocacy initiatives that advance policy change through strategic insight, relationship‑building, and thoughtful execution.
• Demonstrates strong analytical and political awareness, with the ability to scan political and policy environments, identify emerging opportunities, and translate insights into clear and relevant action plans.
• Demonstrates strong project management skills, coordinating timelines, team and community members, and deliverables to ensure the successful execution of advocacy initiatives.
• Experience designing and coordinating digital advocacy programs — including supporter mobilization tools, action pages, or digital campaign platforms, is considered an asset.
• Thrives in a collaborative environment, building trusting relationships with colleagues, partners, and community members to achieve shared impact.
• Brings strong organization and attention to detail, ensuring timely and compliant administration of advocacy activities across teams and partners.
• Possesses knowledge of the not‑for‑profit sector, political processes, and government relations in Canada.
• Willingness to travel within Canada and work occasional evenings or weekends for meetings and events.

What we offer

At MS Canada, we provide impactful and rewarding career opportunities. We have a comprehensive total rewards package that includes:

• Starting salary within the range of $75,000-$82,000
• Competitive health and dental benefits package, spending accounts, and gender affirmation coverage,
• Opportunity to secure your financial future with retirement plan matching,
• Investment in your professional growth and development,
• Generous paid time off including an extended office closure at the end of the year and half day Fridays before long weekends,
• Support work life balance through flexible schedules and hybrid work arrangements

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace—so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are committed to accommodating applicants’ needs throughout the recruitment process. Please indicate accommodations as required.

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we work and operate spans across the traditional territories of many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. We recognize and honor the enduring presence, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous communities throughout Canada's history. We acknowledge our responsibility to understand, respect, and support the diverse indigenous nations and their ongoing relationships with the land.

As part of our recruitment process, we use AI-enabled tools to assist with summarizing applicant information and anonymizing applications. This helps reduce potential bias and ensures a fair and consistent experience for all candidates. Final hiring decisions are always made by our hiring teams.

All positions at MS Canada will require a background check in compliance with our Screening Measures Policy.