Vice President Government Relations

Fertilizer Canada is the industry association representing Canadian manufacturers, wholesalers and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizer used in the production of agricultural crops that help feed the world.

 

The Vice President of Government Relations is a high-energy, proactive, action-oriented, results and metrics-driven leader who serves as Fertilizer Canada’s (FC) top government relations executive accountable for planning and leading the organization’s comprehensive and dynamic advocacy program directed at all levels of government.  The Vice President also serves as an integral member of the association’s senior leadership team and is involved in conceptualizing and executing the organization’s broad-based membership and industry interests in support of FC’s mission.

 

 

FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP:

 

  • Serves as FC’s top government relations professional and representative.
  • Possesses and cultivates trusting and enduring relationships with elected officials and their staff, political appointees, senior civil servants, and key individuals in relevant private sector organizations.
  • Leads the development and execution of FC’s Federal & Provincial advocacy priorities by setting strategic direction and developing proactive, effective, and best-practice driven approaches.
  • Serves as a highly-engaged and inspirational leader and manager of FC’s Government Relations team.
  • Serves as an integral member of FC’s Senior Leadership Team.
  • Supports the effective, timely, and ongoing communication of FC’s advocacy priorities to elected officials, members of the media, and a wide- array of stakeholders.
  • Conducts and coordinates ongoing environmental scanning to ensure that FC is proactively addressing current and emerging public policy issues that impact members and the fertilizer industry as a whole.
  • Ensures that FC’s advocacy initiatives are proactively and consistently communicated through various channels to FC members and other key stakeholders.
  • Leads, manages, develops, and/or participates in various coalitions.
  • Serves as a resource to FC members and staff.
  • May be required to act as a spokesperson and must ensure that the association maintains strong relationships with all government officials locally (as appropriate), provincially and federally.

 

 

Leadership Responsibilities:

 

  • Work-Flow - review, support and approve workplans for implementation
  • Financial - develop and oversee long-term budgets
  • Member Engagement – leadership on relevant Fertilizer Canada Committees ensuring Industry positions established, dealing with member issues /concerns.
  • Board of Directors engagement – present, provide recommendations, address concerns/questions to BOD on policy and program related initiatives and issues.
  • Regulatory Compliance - maintains compliance with all relevant provincial and federal laws, regulations, and ethical standards related to advocacy activities.

 

Qualifications/Skills Required: 

 

  • A minimum track record of 7-10 years working at a senior level in politics, public affairs, or government with a considerable understanding of how governments in Canada operate.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and executing advocacy strategies in member-based organizations. 
  • Proven ability to build networks of contacts and supporters at both the Federal and Provincial levels.
  • A multitasker able to manage multiple projects and priorities.
  • Ability to work with internal subject matter experts to evaluate public policy priorities, opportunities, risk and lead organization-wide responses to legislative initiatives and consultations as well as responding to general inquiries from elected and non-elected decision-makers on key issues
  • Previous experience in the agricultural sector, or in a similar role in an industry trade association would be considered an asset, but not a requirement.