Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations

About this position

United Way Greater Toronto is looking for an experienced, collaborative, and strategic Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations, to join our team at our Toronto office.

Reporting to the Director, Public Affairs, the Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations is responsible for supporting the development and execution of government and public policy stakeholder relations and communications strategy related to United Way Greater Toronto’s (UWGT) strategic priorities.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and manage government relations and related communication strategies to advance the organization’s strategic priorities related to fighting poverty and creating equitable communities, with intersections across housing stability, financial stability, engaged and connected residents, and access to community services, including community real estate.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers makers amongst public, private and not-for-profit stakeholders, building cross-sector partnerships and initiatives that advance system-level solutions related to the underlying systemic causes of poverty and inequity. 
• Work with the Director of Public Affairs and the Senior Management Team on ongoing development and execution of United Way’s public affairs strategy, in close collaboration with community partners.
• Ensure alignment and coordination of initiatives across UWGT teams such as Research, Public Policy and Evaluation (RPPE), Community Impact and Mobilization, Community Real Estate, Strategic Initiatives, Neighbourhood Solutions, Philanthropy, Marketing, Communications and the President’s Office as they relate to government engagement and relationship building.
• Identify opportunities to build and strengthen relationships between UWGT and community partners, residents, and persons with lived and living experience of poverty across Peel, Toronto and York Region, as well as explore opportunities for collaboration and co-design, and potential capacity-building activities.
• In collaboration with Communications and RPPE, identify opportunities for UWGT to demonstrate thought leadership on issues related poverty and equitable communities through policy engagement, submissions to government, organizing and participating in public policy discussions and public education initiatives, and strengthening Public Affairs’ reach with relevant partners in newer areas of work, including community real estate.
• Identify funding opportunities and assist with fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship related to United Way’s strategic priorities.
• Develop briefing notes, backgrounders, and other supporting materials for UWGT senior leadership.
• Support UWGT’s strategic communications efforts, particularly with respect to building understanding of UWGT’s community impact agenda.
• Represent where appropriate, or provide support to the Director, Public Affairs and other UWGT representatives among various government and community stakeholders.
• Manage and/or execute other key initiatives and special projects as assigned by the Director, Public Affairs.
• Manage students or interns to assist with the execution of UWGT’s public affairs strategies.

What you’ll need to be successful:

• More than five years and up to and including 10 years’ experience in community, government and/or political relations, advocacy, and strategic communications or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Strong experience in government relations is essential, including representing organizational interests on policy issues, identifying opportunities for policy influence, alignment and impact, and building strategic partnerships.
• Sound knowledge of and experience working in municipal, provincial and/or federal governments and/or political establishments on issues related to poverty and the intersectional nature of housing stability, financial stability, access to community services, and/or engaged and connected residents.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and understanding of United Way’s community impact strategy strongly desired.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues affecting the community social services sector, particularly in Peel, Toronto and York Region.
• Willingness to actively contribute to the organizational equity framework through participation in learning opportunities and implementing anti-oppressive and anti-racist learnings into actional internally and externally.
• Highly developed analytical skills with ability to conduct research and use independent judgement to problem solve.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and manage contentious issues to resolution with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to coordinate and modify projects, and occasionally working with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage, foster and grow constituent relationships.
• Proven ability to take initiative and carry projects to completion with minimum supervision.
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Post-secondary education in communications, political science, public policy or public administration, or equivalent work-related experience preferred.

Show us your Local Love. Come and do great work at United Way Greater Toronto!

Please apply no later than December 11, 2024.

We are committed to being transparent about our practices around pay. The salary range for this role will be shared with candidates who are being considered for it.

As part of our recruitment process, United Way Greater Toronto offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities. If we contact you about an opportunity, please let us know if you require accommodation.

About United Way Greater Toronto:

As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net to support people living in poverty. United Way’s network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive. Mobilizing community support, United Way’s work is rooted in ground-breaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building a more equitable region and lasting solutions to the GTA’s greatest challenges.
Learn more about our work at unitedwaygt.org.

Diversity & Inclusion:

United Way is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our diverse community to ensure we’re best equipped to serve it. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and those who may need accommodation to apply to join our team. Our commitment to excellence in diversity goes beyond promoting equity. By incorporating a variety of experiences and perspectives, we create opportunities for innovative solutions and maximize the impact of our work.