Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Government Relations (AVP), the Director, Government Relations provides leadership to the Office of Government Relations as well as spearheading and implementing initiatives with senior administration and other stakeholders across campus. The Director, Government Relations is responsible for providing policy advice, strategic direction and issues management advice to the AVP, Government Relations, senior and executive leadership in colleges, schools, institutes and centres in relation to the university’s interactions and activities across the federal and provincial governments.

Nature of Work:

Under the direction of the AVP Government Relations, the Director is expected to understand and evaluate the activities taking place across the university’s government relations initiatives in order to advance the university’s key strategic initiatives as they relate to government. The Director also is expected to understand priorities and trends across all orders of government, and to utilize a keen analytical mindset in determining how the university’s initiatives intersect with those priorities and trends. The Director plays a leadership role in formulating strategies that seek to advance the university reputation, public policy interests and the securing of resources through strong government relations.

The Director, Government Relations is a key member of the Government Relations team and will play a leadership in building an integrated approach to the university’s government relations function that advances the university’s vision, presence and impact, locally, provincially, and nationally.

Accountabilities:

Strategic counsel and advice

• Provides intelligence and strategic counsel and recommendations to the AVP, senior and executive leadership and other internal University stakeholders on a wide range of government relations matters.
• Provides government relations expertise to the AVP, executive and senior leadership (including Deans, Executives Directors and Directors) on emerging, controversial and time sensitive strategic interactions with government generally on a day-to-day basis and as required for specific areas or projects.
• Fosters relationships with elected officials, public servants and key members of political parties in order to advance university interests with government.
• Assesses current government relations activities and provides recommendations to the AVP regarding the impact of the activities.
• Reviews best practices of government relations offices and strategies at other major Canadian universities and makes recommendation to the AVP.
• Works with the AVP and Vice President University Relations to develop government relations strategies that can be adopted campus-wide
• Consults with colleges, centres, schools and research institutes to provide recommendations on the development and implementation of individual government relations strategies to help ensure a consistent and coordinated university-wide approach to government relations

Advance key University priorities with provincial and federal government

• Work with the AVP to manage and facilitate institutional engagement with government and coordinated prioritization of institutional initiatives
• Exchange information with campus partners on new developments, challenges and opportunities resulting from engagement and activities with government
• Work with key officials and ministries to advance pan-government approaches to critical issues
• Leverage the reach and influence of regional and national partner organizations and stakeholders to enhance the University’s national presence and voice

Develop advocacy material and execute strategic events that advance the University’s reputation with government stakeholders

• Oversee the production of targeted materials that advance the University’s reputation by telling our stories in a way that resonates with, and connects to, government audiences in each provincial and federal riding in Saskatchewan
• Position the University as a partner to government and the community, serving the needs of the public and solving grand challenges
• Collaborate with colleagues across the University to plan tours, announcement, visits and meetings with government officials in university facilities and in external communities to demonstrate the impact made by public funding and to showcase expertise and research excellence
• Ensure regular communications to government officials, staff and influencers

Lead intelligence gathering and issues scanning

• Oversee the research and monitoring undertaken in order to provide timely, accurate and strategic information on government leaders, priorities, legislation, issues and opportunities.
• Prepare detailed briefings for meetings with government
• Cultivate and maintain strong, collegial relationships with a network of officials and staff to ensure that the University has access to government leaders and opportunities to participate in government events, initiatives and activities
• Ensure that the President and the President’s Executive Committee is fully prepared with background information, candidate and platform analysis, key messages and government relations support in advance of and throughout elections
• Work with the AVP to develop the University’s submissions to government including operations forecast, submissions to committees or reviews, and requests for information from government officials and departments
• Lead the advanced preparation prior to, during and after missions to Ottawa for the President and AVP

Scope:

The Director is a senior government relations expert working routinely with matters that are time-sensitive, complex, sensitive in nature, confidential and with a significant impact on the University in terms of its relationships, resources and reputation.

The Director is often the first point of contact for a query by a senior University leader and/or government official and is responsible for providing counsel and support on a wide variety of issues and initiatives.

Key university partners include the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic, the Office of the Vice-President Research, the Office of People and Resources, Colleges, Schools, research institutes and centres. Key external partners include government officials and staff in provincial and federal ministries and departments as well as stakeholders of influence.

The Director requires exceptional problem solving ability and will have full latitude within the institution to manage and solve issues that are complex, confidential, sensitive and, often, time-urgent. This includes working with both internal and external stakeholders. The consequence of error associated with the work that is led and implemented by the Director is significant given that it directly impacts key relationships, resources and the reputation of the University.

The Director also coaches and mentors senior administrators across campus in order to articulate institutional priorities with government, to identify and qualify opportunities and to lead government relations strategies.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree required, advanced degree strongly preferred;
• Minimum five years of leadership experience in government relations with a significant portion of this experience in higher education;
• Demonstrated ability to think and perform strategically, and to effectively communicate strategic advice and counsel;
• Superior knowledge of and experience working with the provincial and/or federal government at a senior-level of decision making;
• Substantive leadership experience in an organization of considerable organizational and political complexity;
• Familiarity with the post-secondary environment and/or public sector organizations at a decision making level and experience in policy development and implementation.

Competencies:

• Enthusiasm for the mission of public universities and resonance with the University of Saskatchewan’s mission, vision and values;
• An open and collaborative leadership style that motivates, engages, energizes and focuses on results;
• Proven success in building productive, long-term relationships with senior university and campus administrators, faculty, staff, government officials and other external stakeholders;
• Strong commitment to team building and professional development;
• Creativity and the ability to foster creativity in others;
• Familiarity with best practices in government relations, particularly among Universities Canada and U15 institutions.

We are seeking qualified candidates for the role of Director, Government Relations. This competition aims to fill two positions: one permanent Director role and one Director position with a term of 16 months with possibility of extension or becoming permanent. Applicants will be considered for both opportunities as part of this selection process.