Manager, Public Affairs

Standards Council of Canada | Conseil canadien des normes; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Standards Council of Canada | Conseil canadien des normes is seeking a Manager, Public Affairs to lead SCC's external engagement with government, industry and stakeholders from our Ottawa office. You will shape strategies, coordinate cross‑functional teams and advocate for SCC priorities across public channels.

You will bring a decade of public affairs experience, strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to translate complex policy developments into clear guidance for senior

Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive experience in public affairs, government relations, stakeholder engagement, or related field.
• 5 years of experience developing engagement strategies and briefing materials for senior leaders.
• Understanding of government decision-making and regulatory environments.
• Ability to provide concise, evidence-based advice to leadership.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in complex organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead external relationship coordination and provide public affairs counsel to support external positioning.
• Define engagement priorities aligned with organizational objectives and set strategic direction for engagement.
• Coordinate SCC's relationship management and connect external relationships to internal experts.
• Collaborate with policy and program teams to ensure coherent engagement activity.
• Prepare and advise executive leadership for high-impact engagements, including audiences and timing.
• Monitor emerging issues and policy developments affecting SCC.
• Advise on engagement strategy, including prioritizing audiences and positioning.

Skills

Public affairs

Government relations

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic communications

Policy analysis

Education

University degree in public policy or related field

Job description

Job Description

Posted Friday, August 7, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. | Expires Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 3:59 a.m.

Who We Are

SCC is a small but impactful federal Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry. Using our expertise and vast network, SCC helps organizations by opening a gateway to possibilities, both at home and abroad. We bring people together, foster collaboration and expand their horizons in trade, sustainability and global connectivity. We represent and advance Canada's interests on the international stage in ways no other organization can.

As Canada's national standardization body, SCC offers more than a few pieces of the standards development and conformity assessment puzzle. We provide comprehensive strategies that allow Canadian businesses and innovators to contribute to shaping established and emerging markets. We help knock down trade barriers and create opportunities for businesses to innovate and expand into new markets by laying the foundation for their success.

SCC's work also helps drive Canada's health, well-being and economic prosperity. Whether it's the food we eat, the products and technologies we use, or how we get to work, every aspect of our lives is touched by standards. Standards and conformity assessment not only provide confidence in the quality and safety of products and services, they also play an integral role in improving the overall health and safety of Canadians, and of their environment. At SCC, everything we do is aimed at improving Canadians' quality of life and economic prosperity.

Our Culture

A recipient of Waterstone's Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures award in 2023, 2024, and 2025, we foster a culture grounded in our core values: we are people focused, we are purposeful, we are forward-thinking and we work as one. Our culture continues to evolve as we adapt to new ways of working, strengthening our ability to collaborate, remain agile, and support one another. This sustained recognition reflects a workplace defined by compassion, flexibility, and a shared commitment to excellence.

A Day in the Life of a Manager, Public Affairs

The Manager, Public Affairs leads SCC's public affairs function by developing and implementing strategies that strengthen relationships with government, industry, and other key stakeholders. The role supports a coordinated and strategic approach to external engagement, ensuring SCC's priorities and the value of standards are effectively communicated and understood.

The Manager, Public affairs collaborates with policy, program, communications, and research teams to inform engagement strategies, monitor the external environment, identify emerging opportunities and risks, and provide advice to leadership. Through strategic relationship management and evidence-informed approaches, the role contributes significantly to SCC's positioning and continued impact within Canada's standardization and accreditation landscape.

Your Background

Requirements

Security clearance: Secret

Education

• University degree in public policy, political science, communications, or a related field or an equivalent of education and experience

Experience and skills

• 10 years of progressive experience in public affairs, government relations, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, or a related field.
• 5 years of experience developing and implementing engagement strategies, briefing materials, and recommendations for senior leaders or external stakeholders.
• Experience in public affairs, government relations, policy, or a related function, including an understanding of government decision-making and the policy and regulatory environment.
• Experience providing advice to senior management, including synthesizing information and assessing risks and implications.
• Ability to integrate analysis and evidence into clear, persuasive advice and external positioning.
• Experience working across teams and leading others to support alignment and coordination in a complex organizational environment.

You May Also Have

• Master's degree in a related field could be an asset

Key Activities

• Leads the strategic coordination of external relationships and outreach planning, providing public affairs advice to support external positioning.
• Defines engagement priorities aligned with organizational objectives and sets the strategic direction for when and why engagement occurs.
• Coordinates and strengthens SCC's overall approach to relationship management, and connects external relationships to the appropriate internal expertise and action.
• Works closely with policy and program leads to support engagement activities, ensuring coherence in approach and consistency in outcomes.


• Supports and prepares executive leadership for high-impact engagements, including advising on audiences, positioning, and relationship strategy.


• Monitors emerging issues, external trends, and policy and regulatory developments affecting SCC.


• Advises on engagement strategy, including priority audiences, timing, and positioning.

A Final Note

Note 1: Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Note 2: SCC is responsible for the Personnel Security Clearance process. Typically to be eligible for a \"Reliability\" clearance, you must have five years of verifiable background information and to be eligible for a \"Secret\" clearance, you must have 10 years of verifiable background information. The process usually involves reference inquiries, verification of qualifications, criminal records checks, and credit checks (as required) and may require fingerprints. For more information about obtaining a security clearance, please review the Standard on Security Screening .

We are committed to creating and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment that reflects the peoples' lives that we impact and the Canadian community that we work within. We strive to create an environment where everyone is comfortable being their authentic selves. We welcome Indigenous peoples and persons from all races, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and physical or mental abilities to be part of our team.

We strive to ensure a barrier-free selection process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, testing or interview, please advise the HR representative of the accommodation measures that you require to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

Upon our review of all applications, those who appear to be the best fit with the mandate of this role and with SCC's mission and vision will be contacted. You will receive confirmation that your application has reached us.

Thank you for your interest in SCC and for taking the time to review this ad. We look forward to hearing from you!