Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Quebec and Francophonie

UnivCan; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 108,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks of vacation

Pension plan

Group insurance

Gym membership

Scholarships for children of employees

Job summary

Universities Canada, based in Ottawa, seeks a Senior Advisor, Public Affairs for Quebec and Francophonie to lead government relations and stakeholder engagement across francophone environments. The role influences federal-Quebec dynamics and ensures francophone perspectives are embedded in advocacy and policy work.

The ideal candidate will bring 6+ years in policy or government relations, strong bilingual communication, and the ability to work across a matrixed organization in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 6+ years in government, policy, or stakeholder relations.
• Experience on Quebec public policy in francophone contexts.
• Bilingual in French and English; strong written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with Quebec and francophone university leaders, government officials and stakeholders.
• Represent Universities Canada in Quebec forums, meetings and consultations.
• Lead government relations and engagement activities related to Quebec and the Francophonie.
• Provide strategic advice on political, policy and stakeholder developments to senior leadership.
• Develop advocacy materials reflecting Quebec and francophone perspectives.

Skills

Relationship-building

French & English bilingual

Political judgement

Independent & proactive

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in public policy or related field

Job description

Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Quebec and Francophonie

September 23, 2026

Job type

Full-Time, Permanent

Hiring range from $107,527 to $120,000; with the ability to progress to a maximum of 154,571

Universities Canada (UC) is the voice of Canadian universities, at home and abroad. We are a membership organization providing university presidents with a unified voice for higher education, research and innovation. Universities Canada advances the mission of our member institutions to transform lives, strengthen communities and find solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our world. As one of Canada’s leading advocacy organizations, we are seeking an accomplished results-oriented leader to join our team as Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Quebec and Francophonie.

Reporting to the Vice-President, Public Affairs, the Senior Advisor serves as Universities Canada’s lead advisor on Quebec and Francophonie public affairs matters. The Senior Advisor builds and maintains trusted relationships with university leaders, government officials, sector partners and other stakeholders, ensuring Quebec and francophone perspectives are meaningfully reflected in the association’s advocacy, engagement and public affairs activities.

Working closely with senior leaders and internal teams, the Senior Advisor monitors political and policy developments, identifies emerging opportunities and risks, and translates insight into practical strategies and action. The role requires exceptional communication skills, strong political judgment, and the ability to establish credibility with senior stakeholders while representing Universities Canada externally in Quebec and francophone environments.

Your responsibilities will include;

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Quebec and francophone university leaders, government officials, sector organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent Universities Canada in Quebec and francophone forums, meetings, consultations, conferences and stakeholder discussions.
• Lead and support government relations and stakeholder engagement activities related to Quebec and the Francophonie, including the development and execution of engagement strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership by providing strategic advice on political, policy and stakeholder developments affecting Quebec and francophone institutions.
• Monitor and analyze political, policy and stakeholder trends to identify emerging opportunities, risks and engagement strategies.
• Lead the integration of Quebec and Francophonie perspectives into federal advocacy priorities, public affairs strategies and policy development activities.
• Support engagement with Quebec-based university leaders and francophone member institutions through strategic advice, briefings and relationship management.
• Develop and contribute to advocacy materials, briefing notes, position papers and public affairs content incorporating Quebec and francophone perspectives.
• Conduct research and analysis on issues affecting Quebec and francophone universities to support advocacy and stakeholder engagement efforts.
• Collaborate across Policy, Government Relations, Communications, Member Relations and other internal teams to advance integrated advocacy and engagement strategies.
• Ensure communications and advocacy materials reflect language, tone and context appropriate for francophone audiences.
• Contribute to organizational planning and the continuous improvement of engagement strategies.

The ideal person for this job will have the following;
Education:

A bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, public administration, communications, law, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in government and stakeholder relations, public policy, political environments, and/or research.
• Demonstrated experience working on Quebec public policy issues within francophone governmental, institutional, or stakeholder contexts.
• Strong understanding of federal decision-making processes and federal–Quebec dynamics.
• Experience working in complex, matrixed environments with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in higher education, research, associations, membership-based organizations or other stakeholder-driven environments is a strong asset.

Abilities:

• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to quickly establish credibility and trust with senior stakeholders, member institutions, government representatives and sector partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages and influence diverse audiences in both French and English. Bilingualism is required.
• Strong political acumen and judgment, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and identify emerging opportunities and risks.
• Ability to translate political, policy and stakeholder insight into practical advice, engagement strategies and organizational action.
• Ability to influence, collaborate and build consensus across teams without direct authority.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret political, stakeholder and policy environments to support effective decision-making.

The position is based in Ottawa. Universities Canada has adopted a hybrid work model where employees are expected to work in the office a minimum of two days a week.

The hiring range for this position is from $107,527 to $120,000; with the ability to progress to a maximum of $154,571. To ensure fair and equitable pay at Universities Canada, placement on the salary range will be based on years of experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the position. Candidates who do not meet all of the position requirements may be considered in an underfill capacity, in which case the candidate would be hired at a lower level than the position level.
Universities Canada is a National Capital Region Top Employer. We offer a comprehensive benefit package which includes four weeks of vacation, an attractive pension plan, group insurance, free gym membership and scholarships for children of our employees.

To learn more about us, visit us at www.univcan.ca or find us on social media.

While all responses will be appreciated and handled in strictest confidence, only those being considered for interviews will be acknowledged. You must be legally allowed to work in Canada to be eligible for this position.

AI-enabled tools may be used for administrative purposes (e.g. interview transcription). All candidate screening, assessment and hiring decisions are made by humans.

Universities Canada promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples and persons of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions. Universities Canada provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

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