Director, Government Relations

Why you’ll love working here:

• High-performance, people-focused culture

• Our commitment that equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to our work environment and business success, which helps employees feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves

• Learning and development initiatives, including workshops, Speaker Series events and access to LinkedIn Learning, that support employees’ career growth

• Membership in HOOPP’s world class defined benefit pension plan, which can serve as an important part of your retirement security

• Competitive, 100% company-paid extended health and dental benefits for permanent employees, including coverage supporting our team's diversity and mental health (e.g., gender affirmation, fertility and drug treatment, psychological support benefits of $2,500 per year, and newly extended maternity/parental leave top of 26 weeks)

• Optional post-retirement health and dental benefits subsidized at 50%

• Yoga classes, meditation workshops, nutritional consultations, and wellness seminars

• Access to an annual wellness reimbursement program for health and wellness-related expenses for permanent and temporary employees

• The opportunity to make a difference and help take care of those who care for us, by providing a financially secure retirement for Ontario healthcare workers

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President of Strategy, Global Intelligence and Advocacy (SGA), the Director of Government Relations is a member of the SGA Senior Management team. The Director is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of HOOPP’s domestic Government Relations (federal, provincial, inter-provincial, quasi government) proactive and reactive strategies and engagement plan to ensure it helps achieve the organization’s strategic plan and long-term objectives.

The role requires an innovative and collaborative leader who excels in “connecting the dots” across HOOPP and the government. The Director will work with government officials, both political and bureaucratic, to advance HOOPP’s priorities and ensure that the provincial and federal governments’ policies, regulations, and legislation reflect the needs of HOOPP and our members. The Director will have deep experience with government policy making, a well-developed network, and demonstrated ability to translate government policy and the organization’s views to government decision-makers.

The Director will have a proven track record of being a persuasive and dynamic leader with highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, who is outgoing and comfortable with networking, influencing, and persuading leaders and members of Ministers’ offices and leaders in the bureaucracy.

As a member of the SGA Senior Management Team, the Director will be a proactive and accountable leader. They will uphold the values of HOOPP and will be a proponent of a high-performing culture that promotes diversity and inclusivity.

What you will do:

• The Director is accountable for the ongoing development and execution of HOOPP’s domestic government relations strategy. They will assess opportunities and risks, bring a strategic focus and discipline to the table, and ensure alignment with the respective operating areas within HOOPP to reach optimum results.

• Be responsible for the development, refinement, and implementation of HOOPP’s domestic Government Relations Strategy.

• Lead the annual creation and refinement of the government relations strategy, aligned to HOOPP’s media relations strategy and the corporate reputation management plan.

• Monitor legislative, policy, and regulatory activity that may affect HOOPP, developing analytic reports and recommendations (e.g., Throne Speeches, Budgets, Fall Economic Statements, Government appointments, Standing Committee proceedings) for the CEO and Executive Team and other Senior Leaders.

• Draft government correspondence, pre-budget submissions, position papers, etc., ensuring timely communications to government officials, politicians, political staff, and other influencers.

• Engage in direct advocacy with government and other key stakeholders, both proactively and reactively, on HOOPP’s priority public policy issues.

• Lead the development of strategies for issues management and advise on issues, trends, etc., with staff across the organization.

• Build trusted relationships with strategic internal partners across the HOOPP executive team and other senior colleagues, and ultimately members. Similarly, trusted external relationships including external stakeholders such as politicians and their staff, government officials, government regulators, relevant industry influencers and stakeholders (including peer plans and Settlors) as well as external consultants.

• Partner with subject matter experts from across the organization, preparing/providing feedback on HOOPP submissions to governments and regulators.

• Keep abreast of government relations activities at peer plans and co-ordinate, where appropriate.

• Lead briefings and oversee regular reporting to the VP, SGA as well as the COO on government and regulatory developments and trends relevant to HOOPP.

• Work collaboratively with other members of the team, including supporting any international government relations strategy work on an as-needed basis.

• Demonstrate strong leadership and ability as a trusted advisor for senior HOOPP executives on government relations and issues management.

• Provide direct analysis and response recommendations to senior executives in high-pressure and high-risk crisis scenarios when immediate and informed corporate positioning is required.

• Review and summarize materials and prepare briefing materials for CEO, COO, ExT, and divisional leaders.

• Conduct briefing sessions with CEO, COO & ExT and ensure they are fully prepared with background information, key messages, and government relations support in advance of the meetings, attending where appropriate.

• Exchange information with partners both internal and external (peer plans) on new developments, challenges, and opportunities resulting from engagement and activities with government and work with them to advance pan-government approaches to critical issues affecting Ontario/Canadian pensions.

• Lead the External Affairs Committee, which assists HOOPP, its CEO and ExT with public policy and reputational risks and opportunities across the organization.

• Keep the VP and COO apprised of potential or emerging issues and ongoing work of the Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives teams.

Team Development/Management

• Responsible and accountable for the successful leadership, mentorship, and management of the Government Relations team while facilitating a Diversity and Inclusion mindset that aligns with HOOPP’s core values.

• Promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, a commitment to quality, healthy risk-taking, a team-first collaborative mindset, and analytics-based recommendations.

• Inspire, empower, coach, and mentor employees to personal and professional success using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.

• Oversee and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, quarterly performance check-ins, and administer salary adjustments.

• Provide regular and timely feedback and coaching to direct reports.

• Foster a spirit of teamwork and consciously enable a culture that is consistent with HOOPP’s vision and core values.

What you bring:

• BA, MA in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Relations. MBA preferred.

• 8-10 years of experience in senior roles in government relations, public affairs, stakeholder relations, and strategic communications with a minimum of five years of business experience outside of Government. Proven track record of providing strategic advice to advance the goals and objectives of an organization.

• In-depth knowledge of government decision-making at both a political and civil service level.

• In-depth experience in issues management, media relations, and reputation management is critical.

• Sound judgment on issues with a high political, stakeholder, or reputational sensitivity and ability to instantly establish credibility.

• Highly developed organizational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage complex processes that cut across business units in a diplomatic and professional manner.

• Effective collaboration and relationship-management skills, ideally with experience in a decentralized work environment, including the ability to manage and strengthen relationships with government officials, colleagues across the HOOPP enterprise, and other senior external resources.

• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

• Superior management skills: ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers.

• Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented.

• Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs.

• Excellent and persuasive communicator.

• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive.

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with all levels of staff.

• Knowledge of management practices in strategic planning and risk management, policy development, financial management, and stakeholder relationship management.

• Committed to excellence and HOOPP's mission.

• Advanced verbal and written communication skills for senior government, media, and public affairs audiences as well as internal strategic partners at the senior executive and board level.

• Proven experience in working closely with multiple senior executives to help manage and move forward the organization’s agenda.

• Knowledge of and experience working in one or more of the following areas: government and public policy; public affairs; brand and reputation risk management.

• Knowledge of and experience in one or more of the following areas: pension management; asset management; investments; pension policy; financial regulation; healthcare.

• In-depth knowledge of government decision-making at both a political and civil service level as well as understanding of the provincial and federal public policy landscape and audiences.

• Developed networks in the pension or healthcare sector and/or government/quasi-government.

• Knowledge of management practices in strategic planning and risk management, policy development, financial management, and stakeholder relationship management.

• Background in reputation risk management at a senior executive/board level.

About HOOPP

The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) is one of the strongest and most stable defined benefit (DB) pension plans in Canada. Since 1960, HOOPP has been helping Ontario's healthcare workers build the foundation for a financially secure retirement.

We take pride in being the pension plan for Ontario’s healthcare community and serve more than 460,000 members at more than 670 employers across the province. At HOOPP, we are committed to providing our members with a stable and reliable pension that starts in retirement and is paid for life.

With offices in Toronto and London, we manage a global, multi-asset class investment portfolio. At the end of 2023, our net assets reached $112.6 billion and our funded status remained strong and stable at 115%.

HOOPP's core values - professional, accountable, collaborative, compassionate, and trustworthy - guide every interaction with our members, employers, and employees. We've become one of Canada's leading pension plans by consistently challenging ourselves and embracing innovation. From our unique investment management approach to our innovative technology and thought-provoking research, we constantly seek to push the boundaries, and we do this by hiring passionate, forward-thinking people.

Our high-performance culture is founded on collaboration, respect, and belonging. HOOPP is an equal opportunity employer and we're proud of our diversity. We select applicants for employment solely on the basis of their qualifications. Should you require accommodation because of a disability during the recruitment and selection process, please contact our Human Resources team. We will be happy to consult with you so that arrangements can be made for reasonable accommodation.