Senior Public Affairs Advisor

OPSEU Pension Trust Fund; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 105,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work model

Job summary

OPTrust is seeking a Senior Public Affairs Advisor to manage its reputation with media, stakeholders, Sponsors and policy makers. The role leads outreach and advocacy initiatives, including expanding OPTrust Select.

You will monitor public policy, shape strategic communications, prepare submissions for consultations, and organize external events. 12-month contract in Toronto with a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in government or public affairs.
• Experience in pension or financial sectors an asset.
• Honours BA in political science, communications, economics, or related field.
• Direct experience with advocacy campaigns and/or business development.
• Demonstrated understanding of pension policy, federal and provincial government, media relations, economics, and investment landscape.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; public speaking ability.

Responsibilities

• Monitor public policy environment related to pensions and investments; brief senior management and the Board as needed, and develop strategic responses.
• Lead outreach and strategic initiatives for OPTrust Select; engage prospective employers and members to grow the Plan’s membership.
• Advise senior management on external facing initiatives such as media relations or interactions with policy makers; organize external events and stakeholder engagements.

Skills

Public affairs

Media relations

Policy analysis

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Research skills

Education

Honours BA in political science

Job description

Senior Public Affairs Advisor

Department: Risk, Actuarial Services and Plan Policy – Public Affairs
Type: Contract - 12 Month
Location: Toronto (Hybrid)
Posting Date: November 4, 2026

At OPTrust, paying pensions today, preserving pensions for tomorrow is our mission and business. When you choose OPTrust, you join a team of smart, talented people who fuel our success and have a passion for pensions. Everyone at OPTrust – in Toronto, London and Sydney – makes a meaningful impact. Our culture is driven by team members with different backgrounds and perspectives creating an inclusive and fulfilling place to work for everyone. We work in a fast-paced environment, but we find time to have fun and give back to the community.

What OPTrust offers you

• A flexible, hybrid work model.
• Benefits package after six months of consecutive employment.
• Optional membership in our world-class defined benefit pension plan.
• A dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity strategy with meaningful opportunities to participate, including our employee-led resource groups.

A purpose-driven environment where we all work towards the common goal of paying pensions today and preserving pensions for tomorrow.

About the role

The Senior Public Affairs Advisor is responsible for managing OPTrust’s organizational reputation to external audiences, including media, stakeholders, Sponsors, and policy makers. The individual will advance OPTrust’s advocacy strategy and reputation management goals, as well as lead outreach and strategic growth initiatives, including plan expansion for OPTrust Select.

What you’ll do

• Research & Analysis Monitoring and analyzing the broader public policy environment as it relates to pensions and investment activity, briefing senior management and the Board of Trustees as needed, and developing strategic responses to emerging issues. Identifying opportunities and implementing media relations strategies to gain exposure and build OPTrust’s reputation. Preparing draft submissions on behalf of OPTrust in response to provincial and federal government consultations and policy. Monitoring geopolitical events and the risks they may pose to OPTrust investments. Preparing and reviewing internal and external communication materials and collaborating with internal departments to ensure all materials are aligned with key messages and reputation management goals.
• Communication & Coordination Leading outreach and strategic initiatives for OPTrust Select, working directly with prospective employers and members to grow the Plan’s membership. Engaging in public speaking opportunities on behalf of OPTrust to cultivate further exposure for the Plan and the defined benefit model. Advising senior management on strategic approach to external facing initiatives, such as media relations or interactions with policy makers. Liaising with internal experts to produce briefing notes and reports on policy issues and respond to requests for information internally and from Plan Sponsors, government agencies and ministries. Organizing external events with significant strategic objectives, including stakeholder engagements, conferences and panels. Supporting the department head in developing and managing relationships with the Plan's Sponsors, public sector pension plans and other stakeholders. Performs other duties as assigned. Ensure clear understanding and adherence of all OPTrust’s policies, procedures, guidelines as well as living our values and fostering an inclusive culture.

What you bring

• Minimum 8 years’ experience working in government and/or public affairs.
• Experience in the pension or financial sectors an asset.
• Minimum Hon. BA in political science, communications, economics, or related field.
• Direct experience with developing and supporting implementation of advocacy campaigns and/or business development.
• Demonstrated understanding of pension policy, federal and provincial government, media relations, economics, and investment landscape.
• Well-developed political acumen: ability to influence without authority.
• Demonstrated experience presenting complex subject matter in everyday language.
• Effective at linking organizational objectives to public policy objectives.
• Demonstrated experience in interpersonal skills, and ability to work with all levels of the organization and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Creative, collaborative, flexible and results-oriented approach.
• Ability to analyze and conduct extensive research related to emerging issues.
• Proven research, analytical skills and ability to think strategically.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and experience in public speaking and producing communication materials for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Effective organizational skills and ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines in a demanding environment.
• Exemplify OPTrust’s values: collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence, and continuous improvement.

The range of expected compensation for this position is $104,550 to $128,763 per year.

Inclusion and Diversity

Serving a membership as diverse as ours and investing in a global market means cultivating an environment that embraces inclusion, diversity, and equity in everything we do. OPTrust is an organization engaged in building on our unique and diverse strengths. We know a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and perspectives are critical to achieving our shared goals. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please send a message to [e-mail], or discuss your needs with the Talent Acquisition Consultant during the telephone screening. We will do our best to work with you and provide appropriate accommodation. As an organization we’re seeking ways to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92. We are working with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to build bridges with Indigenous communities and partners, and we have created an employee-led Reconciliation Working Group that will work with Indigenous experts to identify a path to reconciliation for our organization.

About OPTrust

With net assets of over $27 billion, OPTrust invests and manages one of Canada's largest pension funds and administers the OPSEU Pension Plan (including OPTrust Select), a defined benefit plan with 118,000 members. OPTrust was established to give plan members and the Government of Ontario an equal voice in the administration of the Plan and the investment of its assets through joint trusteeship. OPTrust is governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees, five of whom are appointed by OPSEU/SEFPO and five by the Government of Ontario.