Senior Manager, Canadian Policy and Public Affairs

Waabi; Toronto; On-site; CAD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and equity awards

Health and Wellness benefits

Unlimited Vacation

Flexible hours and Work from Home support

Daily drinks, snacks, and catered meals

Team building activities and social events

Job summary

A leading AI transportation start-up is seeking a seasoned Government Relations professional in Toronto to navigate policy matters across Canada. The ideal candidate will possess over 10 years of experience in public policy, working closely with federal and provincial ministries. Responsibilities include cultivating relationships, tracking legislation, and drafting regulatory comments. The position offers a competitive salary range of $190,000 to $230,000 CAD along with generous perks such as unlimited vacation, health benefits, and equity awards.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Canadian government relations or public policy.
• Proven track record working with federal and provincial ministries.
• Experience serving as an ambassador to Parliamentary offices.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate strategic relationships across key federal ministries and governments.
• Track relevant legislation to ensure Waabi's priorities are integrated.
• Lead the drafting and submission of regulatory comments.

Skills

Government relations experience

Legislative knowledge

Policy advocacy

Industry experience in tech or transportation

Job description

Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world‑class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech.

With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, Waabi is growing quickly and looking for diverse, innovative and collaborative candidates who want to impact the world in a positive way. To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai

You will

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships across Parliament, key federal ministries (e.g., Transport Canada, ISED), and all relevant provincial/territorial governments.
• Track all relevant provincial and federal legislation and regulation and ensure Waabi's priorities are integrated into legislative and regulatory processes.
• Build out a program to increase financial and operational support from the Canadian government.
• Represent Waabi within key Canadian industry associations and coalitions, driving consensus and proactively shaping coalition policy positions on critical issues.
• Lead and oversee the drafting and submission of regulatory comments on federal and provincial rule‑makings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all Canadian policy matters, reporting key developments and strategic recommendations to the Head of Policy.

Qualifications

• Proven track record working with federal and provincial ministries, including both political and civil service staff.
• Deep legislative and regulatory know‑how at both the provincial and federal levels.
• Experience serving as a direct ambassador to Parliamentary offices, relevant federal/provincial ministry officials, and industry association leadership.
• 10+ years of experience in Canadian government relations or public policy.
• Tech or transportation industry experience.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with Autonomous Vehicle (AV) policy within the trucking or robotaxi industries.

The CAD yearly salary range for this role is: $190,000 ‑ $230,000 CAD in addition to competitive perks & benefits. Waabi CAD Inc.’s yearly salary ranges are determined based on several factors in accordance with the Company’s compensation practices. Note: The Company provides additional compensation for employees in this role, including equity incentive awards and an annual performance bonus.

Perks/Benefits

• Competitive compensation and equity awards
• Health and Wellness benefits encompassing Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Unlimited Vacation
• Flexible hours and Work from Home support
• Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals (when in office)
• Regularly scheduled team building activities and social events both on‑site, off‑site & virtually
• As we grow, this list continues to evolve!

Waabi is a technology start‑up building technologies to transform the way the world moves. Join our talented team to be a part of the future and to make an impact!

Waabi is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible workplace for all our employees. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, caregiver status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We make workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.