Manager, Government & Stakeholder Relations

Vector Institute; Toronto; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading AI institute in Toronto seeks a Manager for Government & Stakeholder Relations to enhance engagement with federal and provincial governments. The role requires strong project management, communication skills, and a minimum of 5-7 years in government relations. The successful candidate will develop strategies for effective stakeholder engagement and oversee project execution aligned with the institute's goals.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of related experience in government relations and/or public relations.
• Understanding of the technology sector in Canada and interest in artificial intelligence.
• Ability to speak other languages, French considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in government and stakeholder engagements.
• Collaborate with external GR firm on strategy development.
• Develop tailored briefing materials and strategic talking points.

Skills

Government relations experience

Public relations expertise

Project management

Verbal and written communication

Knowledge of AI

Education

University degree in a related field

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Manager, Government & Stakeholder Relations

Position Summary

This 9-month contract seeks an experienced government and stakeholder relations professional to maintain continuity in the Vector Institute's work with both the federal and provincial governments. The role requires sustaining and improving existing project management approaches to ensure measurable engagement outcomes and ongoing strategic relationships aligned with Vector's business objectives. Reporting to the VP, Marketing & Communications, with a dotted line to the Chief Operations and Finance Officer, the role has the following:

Key Responsibilities

• Provide continuity and leadership in government and stakeholder engagements by managing and executing existing strategies with federal and provincial governments and innovation ecosystem partners; Lead the development and execution of government-facing engagement plans including ministerial roundtables, meetings with officials, site visits, and hosting dignitaries at Vector events;
• Collaborate with Vector's external GR firm on strategy development, meeting support, and ensuring alignment with Vector's objectives, products, and timelines;
• Oversee coordination protocols and budget management for an external GR firm, including tracking timelines, invoice reviews, and liaising with the Finance team;
• Participate in meetings with GR firm at both a planning and tactical level, documenting action items, and supporting deliverables in shared government engagement plans;
• Support preparation, review, and delivery of government-facing submissions and advocacy materials;
• Strengthen relationships with institutional officials and government departments / ministries funding the AI ecosystem, and maintain a modular presentation library for rapid audience customization;
• Create stakeholder-specific messaging demonstrating Vector's value proposition to different government departments / ministries and innovation ecosystem partners;
• Capture and document AI success stories and case studies for government relations materials in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications team;
• Maintain understanding of organizational challenges, regulatory and industry trends, and public policy issues affecting Vector's work;
• Identify high-profile and contentious issues, supporting risk mitigation for government interactions with the external GR firm, Communications team, and senior management;
• Maintain a dynamic CRM database of government and AI ecosystem contacts, including interaction history, follow-up items, and relationship health indicators;
• Develop quarterly reports on government relations activities, synthesizing stakeholder interactions and strategic outcomes for the Board of Directors;
• Develop tailored briefing materials, strategic talking points, and quarterly government updates supporting Vector's AI leadership;
• Support stakeholder engagement planning and execution for Vector's AI Ecosystem Report and Annual Report;
• Represent the Vector Institute at government and stakeholder meetings and events during business hours, with occasional evening / weekend attendance for high-priority engagements;
• Work directly with CEO’s Office to ensure lobbying legislation compliance, compile reports, and document meetings as required;
• Prepare comprehensive handover documentation and brief the returning Manager to support a seamless transition; and,
• Complete other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Key Success Measures

• Maintain a centralized government contact tracker in Salesforce with current contact details, engagement history, and next steps;
• Document increased inbound government interest, including site visits, consultation invitations, funding discussions, and policy session requests;
• Complete all government submissions on time with messaging aligned to both government priorities and the Vector Institute's strategic objectives;
• Coordinate scheduled initiatives across Vector’s programs to maximize visibility and stakeholder engagement;
• Ensure all internal and external stakeholders are informed and engaged in upcoming government relations activities;
• Sustain regular meetings with funding decision-makers and influencers ahead of key deadlines; and,
• Deliver a comprehensive transition package, including an updated tracker, relationship map, and engagement recommendations.

Profile of the Ideal Candidate

• Minimum 5-7 years of related experience in government relations and / or public relations with a focus on the Public Sector
• University degree in a related field (e.g., Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration, Journalism), or equivalent combination of education and experience satisfactory to Vector
• Proven experience working with both governments and institutions
• Understanding of the technology sector in Canada and interest in artificial intelligence
• A self-starter, able to translate complex or ambiguous ideas into clear, actionable priorities and follow through with high quality deliverables on tight deadlines
• Experience developing project plans and managing project teams to produce high-quality deliverables on tight timelines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to speak other languages, French in particular, is considered an asset

At the Vector Institute, we are committed to driving excellence and leadership in Canada’s knowledge, creation, and use of AI to foster economic growth and improve the lives of Canadians. We strive for greater inclusion in the programs and culture that we build by welcoming and encouraging applications from all qualified candidates. This includes, but is not limited to, applicants who are Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, racialized persons / visible minorities, women, and people with disabilities.

If you require an accommodation at any point throughout the recruitment and selection process, please contact [e-mail] and we will happily work with you to meet your needs.