Principal, Government Relations

Position Summary

Our Principals play a vital role in leading our client teams and ensuring high-value, excellent client service. This position focuses primarily on client relationships management, business development, and management and oversight of client team service delivery. Government Relations Principals report directly to the Business Performance Lead with responsibilities including but not exclusive to the following:

Market Eminence and Business Development

• Identify and pursue opportunities to raise profile publicly, aligned with respective service offering and expertise.
• Identify market opportunities and develop and execute pursuit strategies in support of sales.
• Coordinate and develop pitch materials and proposals in support of qualified sales opportunities.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand the scope of service offerings within existing client accounts.
• Meet annual internal business development and sales targets.

Client Service and Team Management

• Lead multi-faceted client servicing teams in areas of government relations, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and/or other relevant areas.
• Responsible for management of client team, ensuring that team members understand their respective roles and responsibilities on a client file.
• Accountable for ensuring all client materials meet standards for quality, accuracy and completeness.
• Reconcile views and perspectives within a client team to support the delivery of a single aligned suite of advice and recommendations to the client.
• Support the coaching and development of team members.
• Accountable for the administration of the client account, including invoicing, managed revenue splits, sales credits, etc.
• Meet annual internal managed revenue targets.

Material and Product Development

• Determine the strategy, plan and approach in support of client objectives.
• Collect and analyze relevant information and intelligence.
• Develop analysis in support of reports and thought leadership.

Monitoring and Intelligence Gathering

• Establish and maintain two-way communication with relevant official bodies.
• Develop sectoral and industry-specific expertise
• Collect and share intelligence internally as appropriate
• Develop analysis and perspectives based on publicly available information and internally collected intelligence
• Proactively identify relevant emerging issues.

Core Conduct and Expectations

• Ensure behaviour aligns with the vision and values of the organization (including justice, equity, diversity and inclusion principles) maintaining professional level consultation with all levels of team members and external clients and in compliance with corporate Code of Conduct.
• Review all materials to ensure accuracy and quality prior to distribution.
• Undertake responsibilities and assignments in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely responses to team member and client requests.
• Manage expectations within your client team and proactively communicate deviations from commitments.
• Contribute to internal initiatives in support of the management of the business.
• Meet performance standards as defined by the Performance management program, ensuring consistently meeting or exceeding targets established.

Qualifications

• Minimum post-secondary degree/ diploma preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years experience working in a similar role or within a professional services consulting firm preferrable within public sector, government relations.
• Demonstrated experience effectively leading multiple projects/files, including the ability to prioritize and negotiate when presented with conflicting demands.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake business development activities in pursuit of developing a book of business.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications, comfortable with presenting concepts to a diverse audience across the organization.
• Political savviness, ability to identify and respond appropriately understanding various parties and stakeholders involved in decision making processes with the ability to anticipate reactions and recommend solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with peers, direct reports, internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power Point, Visio etc.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making abilities to make sound recommendations based on research, alternatives and reputational risks.
• Effective time management skills to manage timelines while working under pressure.
• Excellent public speaking, facilitation and/or presentation skills
• Self motivated with a high level of initiative and exceptional organizational skills.

We believe in equal opportunity in employment practices without discrimination and comply with all laws regarding human rights in the provinces where we operate.