Description:
The relations advisor provides strategic advice regarding the government and key stakeholder relations components of critical files. This includes: relationship building and maintenance, providing advice and guidance on strategic messaging, recommended approaches, and issues management, particularly, but not exclusively, as they relate to port authority-led infrastructure projects and tenant-led development projects. Reporting to the manager and senior strategic advisor, government relations, this position participates on and may lead, as appropriate, related tasks as required, including developing productive relationships with government and stakeholders, meeting and event scheduling and arranging, and the development of plans and strategies, reports, briefing notes, submissions, presentations and other materials.
What Success Looks Like
- Working closely with the manager, develop and implement government, regulatory agency and stakeholder communications and engagement activities, including participating/facilitating in meetings, planning and executing outreach programs, and tracking and managing issues
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with government representatives at all levels, ensuring communication goals are met As required, provide VFPA representation in BC and across Canada with members of the provincial and federal government, industry, regulatory agencies, First Nations groups and other stakeholders, where tact and diplomacy will be required to reconcile issues in a manner that advances VFPA interests
- Monitor, identify, report and provide recommendations on current and emerging issues that may impact corporate initiatives
- Under direction, develop and implement outreach, advocacy and other communications strategies, plans and tactics
- Ensure communications activities are aligned with other departmental and organizational objectives and initiatives
- Incorporate government and key stakeholder engagement initiatives into project communications as required
- Coordinate the graphic design of communications and outreach materials, working closely with Corporate Communications as required
- Participate on cross-functional teams, providing subject matter expertise across the organization on government issues.
- Provide general communications support on an as needed basis, which may include planning and/or support of special events, government and media relations, business communications, tours and presentations, photography, reports, general research, budgets and information requests.
- Tracks engagement activities, action items and outcomes.
- Works with staff and external consultants to monitor regulatory, government and stakeholder issues nationally, provincially and internationally as appropriate
- Tracks government policy and regulatory changes, providing advice on their implications
- Researches and prepares briefing notes, submissions, binders, letters and other materials
- Writes regular and annual reports on work activities and outcomes
- Maintain government and stakeholder contacts in CRM and ensure records of engagement activities are kept up to date.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and create procedures and templates to assist with processes. Maintain a bring-forward system and follow-up on routine responsibilities. Prioritize and multi-task assignments to meet deliverables.
- Compose, proofread and format correspondence, presentations and spreadsheets.
- As required, organize meetings and events.
- Performs other assigned duties as required.
What You Bring
- A bachelor’s degree in political science or other appropriate university degree, along with a minimum of five (5) years of demonstrable experience in federal or provincial government relations in Canada and in developing and implementing government relations strategies around complex projects.
- Must have demonstrated, recent established relationships with provincial or federal government elected and public service officials.
- Strong networking and interpersonal skills, and strong knowledge of existing federal and provincial government structures, processes and priorities is considered an asset.
- Exceptional research, writing and analytical skills required.
- Must be a self-motivated individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy and the ability to liaise effectively and positively with both staff and outside contacts.
- Must be a strategic thinker with the ability to analyze individual initiatives in the context of the bigger picture, identify issues, provide advice and escalate situations when necessary.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. Must be a team player with a customer service focus.
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and flexibility to perform multiple tasks are required.