Government Relations Specialist

Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia is currently searching for a Government Relations Specialist to join our team in Burnaby!

The Government Relations Specialist drives the organization’s government relations program forward by planning and executing the day-to-day government affairs activities for the organization. As a key member of the government relations team, this position plays a lead role in implementing the government relations program to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Our organization - one of BC's Top Employers – offers a competitive salary, comprehensive and generous benefits, an inclusive culture, and a hybrid work environment. Full details on our compensation and benefits value offering can be found below.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Leads the planning and implementation of the organization’s government relations program, including the development of a yearly engagement plan; develops and manages the tactical plan and schedule to achieve strategic goals. Collaborates with departmental leaders and external consultants to ensure strategic alignment.
• Responsible for internal communications related to Government Relations updates. Keeps Intranet page up to date, drafts content for staff updates, and collaborates with the Communications team on the development, timing, and publication of relevant internal communications.
• Monitors and keeps current on legislative, regulatory and policy issues and developments; provides analysis, interpretation, and assessment of potential impacts to the organization; thinks critically to determine best path forward; and coordinates the development of organizational responses to legislative, regulatory, and public policy changes. Proactively ensures that department leaders are kept informed and updated about relevant changes or issues, and provides recommendations on next steps.
• Coordinates the policy response/development process by providing project planning, tracking, and reporting, as well as research and liaison with internal and external partners to assess implications of government policy proposals and develop responses. Conducts research and in-depth analysis, works with internal subject matter experts in identifying issues and implications, evaluating options, and developing recommendations on matters pertaining to government proposals, policy and legislation.
• Responsible for drafting position papers, policy briefs and other written materials to inform internal leadership and support decision-making.
• Works with colleagues across the organization and supports internal working groups – issue-specific task forces and an advisory group – to identify, assess and monitor priority issues. Supports the working groups by planning agendas, scheduling meetings, coordinating meeting materials, tracking and documenting developments.
• Works with internal subject matter experts and the communications team to draft and support communications with government officials and other relevant organizational partners.
• Creates engaging presentation materials and key message documents for the Executive team, supporting their preparation for Ministerial meetings and other regular government meetings through pre and post meeting preparation, preparing meeting materials and speaking notes, and managing tracking of action items. Responsible for maintaining and updating repository of key message documents.
• Leads the development of timely reports and communication to the Board to advise on key developments and progress. Responsible for managing and updating the organization’s GR tracker and leads the development of Board update reporting material.
• Supports the planning and delivery of meetings and events with government officials and other relevant partners, including taking primary responsibility for event organization, meeting coordination, on-site support and preparation of meeting materials and speaking notes.
• Participates in regular meetings on government relations with staff and external consultants, tracking progress on strategic objectives and following up on action items as required.
• Responsible for tracking progress against the government relations plan, including tracking all engagement activities, action items, and outcomes.
• Tracks all government relations lobbying activities and ensures timely monthly reporting to the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, in compliance with the Lobbyists Transparency Act; keeps up to date on legislative requirements related to government relations activities.
• Coordinates specific meetings with the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance related to policy, legislation, and government affairs, providing support to the Executive Team in their engagements with that Office.
• Other duties as assigned by direct leader and, as appropriate, members of the departmental leadership team.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

The successful applicant will possess the following:

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, law, or related field.
• 5-7 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or similar role.
• Experience working with, and strong understanding of, provincial government legislative, regulatory and policy processes.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting legislative and regulatory documents, and preparing policy papers and briefing notes.
• Project management experience, including strong organizational skills and ability to follow project management methodologies.
• Experience managing relationships with government officials and bodies on behalf of an organization, and experience using excellent interpersonal skills to maintain and develop those relationships.
• Demonstrated experience in proactively assessing the impacts of government updates/changes and providing recommendations to leadership on organizational responses.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

Each member of our team contributes to public safety in BC and helps us deliver on our vision of "modern regulation for a resilient world." We serve the public as an inclusive, progressive, and future-focused regulator. Our Strategic Plan also places priority on our role to advance climate action, foster equity, diversity and inclusion, and move towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. At Engineers and Geoscientists BC, we are committed to demonstrating our values of collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.

This role offers a competitive compensation and benefits program including a salary within our hiring range of $88,000 to $98,500. Placement within the hiring range will be based on candidate experience relative to the requirements of the role. Additional details on our generous benefit offerings are found below.

WHO WE ARE

Engineers and Geoscientists BC is proud to be recognized as one of BC's Top Employers.

Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia is the business name of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia. We regulate and govern these professions under the authority of the Professional Governance Act.

We are charged with protecting the public interest by setting and maintaining high academic, experience, and professional practice standards for over 40,000 registrants. Individuals licensed by Engineers and Geoscientists BC are the only persons permitted by law to undertake and assume responsibility for engineering and geoscience projects in BC.

We are a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of elected registrants, licensees, and government appointees. The board is accountable to the public through the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills under the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance, for both the governance and management of the organization.

To learn more about our work please visit us at https://www.egbc.ca.

HP1