Manager, Government Relations & Community Engagement

Department: Government Relations and Community Engagement
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.

SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

The University of Guelph (U of G) is a top comprehensive, research-intensive institution that has been at the forefront of academic excellence and innovation, offering a diverse range of programs and fostering a vibrant learning community. With 30,000 students and three unique campuses, U of G is focused on training future leaders while also improving life. Our programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary for success in today's rapidly evolving global landscape. We take pride in our commitment to research and innovation, addressing the pressing challenges facing society and making meaningful contributions globally.

The Government Relations and Community Engagement team, which is part of the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor, is a dedicated team of professionals who work across the University to advance its strategic priorities. As Manager, Government Relations & Community Engagement, you will play a pivotal role in supporting U of G’s interest with government and community stakeholders. Reporting to the Director, and leveraging your knowledge of federal, provincial, and municipal governments, you will be responsible for fostering positive relationships with policymakers, staying informed of current and emerging issues and pursuing funding opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

With a strategic and proactive mindset, you will develop forward-looking plans and strategies to support areas of importance to the University. Not only will you exercise a high level of project management acumen and carefully monitor external activities at all levels of government, but you will also effectively synthesize and communicate relevant information, recommendations and briefing materials to internal partners.

As part of a small and dynamic team, you will draw on your strong interpersonal skills to foster positive working relationships with external stakeholders. As Manager, you will be expected to work with a diverse group of students, faculty and staff within the University to support an institutional approach to government and community engagement. Among other responsibilities, you will be called upon to:

• Develop and implement government relations strategies and advocacy plans in support of U of G priorities
• Proactively monitor public policy and legislation to identify trends, potential threats and opportunities to the University’s operations
• Develop materials for internal and external use, including, but not limited to, position statements, talking points, white papers, presentations, and submissions
• Identify opportunities for government officials to participate in University activities and act as a point of contact for on-campus events and visits
• Work with campus partners to manage all aspects of government announcements, events and visits to campus
• Represent the University with government and community stakeholders, including meetings, delegations and consultations
• Monitor and coordinate lobbyist requirements for the federal and provincial lobbyist registries, including educating, and liaising with, internal stakeholders on requirements and reporting
• Create and maintain a government and community engagement contact management system
• Participate with, contribute to, and support the Office of Government Relations and Community Engagement
• This role will involve occasional travel and may require working outside of regular hours of business.

Requirements

To be considered for the position of Manager, Government Relations & Community Engagement, you must be a critical thinker with strong attention for detail and operational execution skills, and a profile that includes:

• A university degree in political science, public policy, business/public administration, or a related field
• 3 to 6 years of experience working in a government, advocacy, community, stakeholder, or community engagement role; experience in the post-secondary sector is an asset
• Strong knowledge of the inner workings of government, including the decision-making processes, relevant programming and reporting requirements, and the political process and environment
• Proven strategic thinking with the ability to translate to effective operational execution
• Demonstrable experience researching, monitoring, and impacting public policy, legislative and regulatory requirements through the development and implementation of strategic advocacy campaigns
• Experience preparing communications materials, including briefing notes, presentations, and other documents for post-secondary leaders and/or government audiences
• Significant experience working in a complex, decentralized environment, serving a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders while thinking creatively about opportunities for collaboration
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail, and organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues
• Capacity to successfully and professionally manage competing priorities with minimal supervision and direction
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information, provide advice, exercise sound judgement and diplomacy, and communicate effectively with government and senior leaders
• Availability to attend events and conferences on occassional evenings and weekends

The University of Guelph (www.uoguelph.ca) is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive comprehensive institutions, with a record of outstanding scholarship in the arts, humanities, social sciences, life sciences, physical and engineering sciences, agriculture and veterinary sciences. This is your chance to join us in our endeavour to improve life.

Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10024053
Classification: P&M FT- Band 05
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 09/20/2024
Closing Date: 10/04/2024