Senior Consultant, Public Affairs and Government Relations

NATIONAL; Toronto; On-site; CAD 77,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Collaborative workplace

Diverse client exposure

Mentorship and career growth

Job summary

NATIONAL in Toronto is seeking a Senior Consultant to join our Public Affairs and Government Relations team. You will guide clients through political, regulatory, and reputational landscapes, turning current events into practical strategies that advance goals.

You will work with senior leaders across practice areas to deliver counsel, manage multi-client portfolios, and contribute to business development while maintaining exceptional client service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–6 years in public affairs or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario politics, municipal government and public policy.
• Experience supporting senior decision-makers is a plus.
• Excellent writing, research and presentation abilities.
• Responsive, organized, and detail-oriented client service mindset.
• Ability to monitor political, media and stakeholder developments and translate to insights.
• Able to manage multiple files, deadlines and relationships.

Responsibilities

• Serve as day-to-day client-facing manager for multiple industry accounts.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver expert counsel and service.
• Design and manage government relations programs and stakeholder campaigns.
• Lead reputation management, crisis management and media campaigns.
• Monitor political and policy developments and propose client strategies.
• Oversee project plans and budgets for accounts.
• Support firm-wide business development in key practice areas.
• Coordinate with other NATIONAL practices to deliver integrated services.

Skills

Public affairs

Ontario politics

Agency experience

Writing skills

Research skills

Presentation skills

Client service

Monitoring developments

Multitasking

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

Post-secondary degree in public relations / political science / business administration / public administration

Job description

Senior Consultant, Public Affairs and Government Relations

About us

At NATIONAL, we are proud to be Canada’s leading public relations firm, bringing together a coast-to-coast network of public affairs experts. In Toronto, our Public Affairs and Government Relations team partners with clients across a wide range of sectors to design, activate, and manage strategies that resonate with audiences and deliver measurable impact. As our team continues to grow, we are seeking a consultant with a passion for strategic communications, public affairs, government relations and, above and beyond, exceptional client service.

The role

As a Senior Consultant on NATIONAL’s Public Affairs and Government Relations team in Toronto, you will help clients understand and navigate complex political, regulatory and reputational environments. You will support high-profile mandates across sectors, helping to turn current events, policy developments and stakeholder dynamics into practical strategies that advance client goals.

This role is ideal for someone with strong political instincts, excellent client service skills and the ability to manage multiple moving pieces in a fast-paced agency environment. You may come from a public affairs agency, a political office, government, corporate communications or another client-facing advisory role.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the day-to-day, client-facing manager for accounts across multiple industry sectors
• Collaborate with senior communications and public affairs leaders to deliver expert counsel and exceptional service
• Design, manage, and execute impactful municipal and provincial government relations programs as well as stakeholder engagement and advocacy campaigns
• Lead and support reputation management programs, issues and crisis management, and communications campaigns (earned, owned, and paid media strategies)
• Monitor and analyze evolving political, economic, and social issues; proactively propose strategies to advance client goals
• Oversee account management, including project work plans and budgets
• Contribute to practice and Firm-wide business development initiatives, with a focus on issues/crisis management, reputation management, campaign strategy and activation, public engagement, and stakeholder relations
• Work with colleagues across NATIONAL practices and offices to deliver integrated communications services

Qualifications

• Three to six years of experience in public affairs, government relations, strategic communications, political offices, consulting, government or a related environment
• Strong understanding of Ontario politics, municipal government and/or public policy
• Post-secondary degree in public relations, political science, business administration, public administration, or a related field
• Agency experience, political staff experience or experience supporting senior decision-makers considered a strong asset
• Excellent writing, research and presentation skills
• Strong client service instincts, including responsiveness, organization, judgment and attention to detail
• Ability to monitor political, media and stakeholder developments and translate them into client-relevant insights
• Comfortable managing multiple files, deadlines and relationships at once
• Entrepreneurial, curious and motivated to help grow the practice

Abilities

• Sound judgment and critical thinking, with the ability to assess complex situations and recommend practical courses of action
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and proactively bring forward solutions
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, with the ability to work effectively with clients, colleagues and external stakeholders
• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team while taking ownership of work and driving assignments forward independently
• Adaptability and comfort working in a fast-paced environment where priorities and circumstances can change quickly
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current on political, policy, communications and industry developments

What we offer

• A collaborative, entrepreneurial workplace culture that values curiosity, innovation and teamwork
• The opportunity to work directly with senior advisors, clients and decision-makers on high-profile files at the intersection of business, politics, media and public opinion
• Meaningful responsibility, mentorship and opportunities to accelerate your career in public affairs and government relations
• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of clients, industries and public policy issues across Canada
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits

Expected Compensation

• The expected salary for this role is $77,000-$87,500 CAD. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

NATIONAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Should you require any accommodation during the selection process, please inform us.

NATIONAL Public Relations provides creative communications solutions that move people in thought and actions. We bring together a team of 300 seasoned professionals, who are committed to helping organizations of all sizes and in all sectors understand their challenges and opportunities and solve the issues they are facing. For 47 years, NATIONAL has been at the center of issues and industries that matter, leading change for today and tomorrow.

NATIONAL is Canada’s leading public relations firm, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, Halifax and St. John’s. Its network includes Time & Space, a leader in media strategy, data analysis, planning and execution.

NATIONAL Public Relations is anAVENIR GLOBAL company, the largest Canadian-owned global communications firm, ranked among the 25 largest in the world with offices in 23 locations across Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. For more information about NATIONAL, please visit ourwebsite or follow us onLinkedIn andX .