Job Description / Duties

Are you an experienced policy, advocacy and government relations executive with well-honed skills in planning and executing an organization’s strategic priorities in these areas, either provincially or federally? Do you excel at developing and communicating an industry’s policy positions, and implementing advocacy and government relations tactics? Are you adept at monitoring and evaluating departmental initiatives and the activities of Parliament or a provincial legislature? Just as importantly do you thrive in a fast-paced, exciting work environment where no two days are alike? Do you have an affinity for travel and tourism, and an interest in the myriad of related industries nation-wide? If yes, this opportunity might be the perfect fit for you to join our small, yet mighty and dynamic advocacy team at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Position: Director, Policy and Government Affairs
Location: Ottawa, Ontario. Candidates should note that TIAC employees are expected to work a minimum of three days a week in the office, which is located at 116 Lisgar Street, K2P 0C2.
Reporting: Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs
Role: Reporting to the VP, Policy and Government Affairs, the Director of Policy and Government Affairs will work collaboratively and lead projects with support from other colleagues within TIAC’s Advocacy Department related to the development and execution of TIAC’s policy, research and advocacy initiatives. In this regard, the Director will contribute in a significant way to ensuring that all research, policy, and advocacy initiatives are consistent with TIAC’s mandate and strategic priorities. The Director will also, on occasion, provide support to initiatives led by other TIAC Departments.

As a national, member-driven organization, collaboration is a key pillar to TIAC’s work culture as it pursues its vision to lead the Canadian tourism industry to be the most competitive in the world. It is also key in its mission to be the voice of Canada’s tourism industry and improve its global competitiveness as an international destination through leadership and advocacy. In carrying out its mandate, TIAC collaborates with several stakeholders including its
members, some 24 federal departments and agencies, federal crown corporations, provincial and territorial tourism associations, destination marketing organizations, and several other national sectoral tourism associations. In performing all their functions, the Director will seek, to the extent possible, to build and strengthen such relationships with a view to ensuring TIAC’s strategic objectives are achieved.

Core Responsibilities (include, but are not necessarily limited to):
• Contributing to the planning and execution of TIAC’s advocacy and government relations strategy.
• Participating in the development and execution of TIAC’s policy positions as well as specific advocacy and government relations tactics.
• Monitoring and assessing key trends, developments and issues in both the domestic tourism sector, and key international markets.
• Developing, managing and advising on a variety of issues in the tourism sector, including maintaining effective working relationships with other national, provincial and sectoral organizations.
• Monitoring and evaluating federal department activities, consultations, and decisions on policies and programs related to the tourism sector.
• Monitoring and assessing activities of Parliament, including relevant Cabinet Ministers and the work of standing committees, that have implications for the tourism sector.
• Planning and executing research projects as needed in support of policy, advocacy and/or government relations initiatives.
• Drafting detailed submissions in response to government consultations.
• Oversee the assembly and maintenance of a compendium of key data and statistics on both the domestic tourism sector and key international markets, including participating in related industry-wide initiatives that seek to measure the performance of the tourism sector.
• Writing briefing notes, letters, presentations, decks, remarks, and/or position papers on matters related to tourism trends and/or advocacy or government relations initiatives.
• Contributing to the planning, organization and execution of Parliamentary Tourism Caucus meetings.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with key tourism sector decision-makers, relevant federal departmental executives, as well as Members of Parliament, staff and party officials .
• Communicating TIAC’ policy positions to decision-makers as required.
• Representing TIAC at industry events, including participating on panels and preparing and making presentations.
• Staying up to date regarding economics, key data, and the structure of the tourism and travel sectors in Canada.
• Contributing to a collegial and collaborative work environment where all staff are supported, empowered and respected.
• Consulting with external private- and public-sector stakeholders.
• Responding to enquiries from the public, members and other industry private- and public-sector stakeholders.
• Other related duties as required from time to time.

Evaluated Requirements and Skills
• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from a recognized university in Canada in a relevant field.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience with the planning and execution of an organization’s advocacy or government relations strategy, either provincially or federally.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience contributing to the development and execution of an organization’s policy positions, as well as specific advocacy and government relations tactics.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience monitoring and evaluating government departmental initiatives and/or the general activities of Canada’s Parliament or a provincial legislature.
• Significant relevant experience carrying out general research, gathering key data and intelligence, as well as identifying, analyzing, and presenting major trends.
• Extensive experience assessing studies and reports and identifying key insights.
• Exceptional ability writing detailed reports and other documents and presentations at the highest professional standards.
• Outstanding initiation, collaboration and organizational skills to help policy files and advocacy initiatives move forward as quickly and effectively as possible.
• Considerable experience building rapport, form effective relationships, develop priorities and working plans, and efficiently carry them out.
• A high level of meticulousness and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, especially in the English language.
• Experience with and knowledge of a tourism industry or sector is considered a definite asset.
• Proficiency in both the English and French also considered an asset.

Contact Information

Marc Seguin
Vice-President, Policy and Government Affairs
MSeguin@tiac-aitc.ca

Employer Profile

Founded in 1931, TIAC serves as the national private-sector advocate for Canada’s tourism sector. Acting on behalf of thousands of tourism businesses across the suite of industries our sector encompasses, we champion positive measures to help
tourism operators prosper. We represent tourism interests at the national level, and our advocacy work involves promoting and supporting policies, programs and initiatives that will foster the sector's overall development and growth.