Public Policy jobs in Canada

Government Relations and External Affairs Specialist

At Interac, we design and deliver products and solutions that give Canadians control over their money so they can get more out of life. But that’s not all. Whether we’re leading real-time money movement, driving innovative commerce solutions like open payments for transit systems, or making advancements in new areas like verification and open banking, we are playing a key role in shaping the future of the digital economy in Canada.

Want to make a lasting impact amongst a community of creative thinkers, problem solvers, and high-performance application developers? We want to hear from you.

The Government Relations & External Affairs Specialist will support the company's efforts in engaging with government entities, managing legislative and regulatory affairs, and fostering relationships with external stakeholders. This role requires a proactive individual with strong communication skills and a keen interest in public policy and government relations. The Specialist will contribute to advancing public sector objectives and protecting the company's reputation with key government and stakeholder audiences.

You’ll be responsible for:

Government Engagement:

1. Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with government officials and agencies.
2. Monitor and analyze government policies, legislation, and regulations that impact the company.
3. Support the preparation of briefing materials, reports, and presentations for meetings with government representatives.
4. Develop and execute government and stakeholder relations strategies to broaden awareness of the organization with key federal, provincial, and municipal government audiences.

Legislative and Regulatory Affairs:

1. Track and report on legislative and regulatory developments relevant to the company's interests.
2. Assist in drafting position papers, policy briefs, and regulatory submissions.
3. Coordinate with internal teams to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
4. Support the development of organizational responses to legislative, regulatory, and public policy changes impacting the business.

External and Industry Relations:

1. Support relationships with industry associations, advocacy groups, and other external stakeholders.
2. Advance strategies to promote the company with external audiences, including events, targeted engagement, thought leadership and meetings.

Communications and Business Enablement:

1. Devising and implementing strategies to proactively influence, educate, and inform government and stakeholder audiences.
2. Writing and editing content and messaging directed at government and stakeholder audiences.
3. Support business development and go-to-market efforts in public sector commercial objectives.
4. Assist with issues management, providing counsel on public sector risks and working with the broader team to build and protect corporate reputation.

You bring:

1. Bachelor’s degree in political science, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field.
2. 3-5 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or a related field.
3. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
4. Ability to analyze and interpret legislative and regulatory documents.
5. Excellent organizational and project management skills.
6. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
7. Experience working with government departments, agencies or in a public policy environment.
8. A mix of government and corporate or agency experience.
9. Knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process in Canada.
10. Familiarity with financial and payments sector regulations and standards.
11. Proactive and self-motivated.
12. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively.
13. Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
14. Eligibility to work for Interac Corp. in Canada in a full-time capacity.