Director, Government Relations

Hiring Range Salary: $125,000 - $145,000 + discretionary bonusVacancy Status: Current OpeningWHO WE AREAt Toronto Global, we’re on a mission to attract, influence and support international businesses to grow in the Toronto Region. Our dedicated team takes the time to understand the unique goals of each international company we work with and offers complimentary services that streamline the information, insights, and connections they need most to make well-informed business expansion decisions. Our private sector-led Board of Directors is made up of a highly engaged and dynamic group of leaders who reflect the Toronto Region’s economic, multicultural and regional diversity. Companies we have helped land in the Toronto Region include big names – like HCL Technologies, Twitter, Reddit, Netflix, Unilever, Wayfair, Cloudflare, DoorDash, Pinterest, Sanofi, Recursion, Snowflake, and more.OUR PEOPLE & CULTUREWe’re an enthusiastic team of smart, passionate professionals. Our culture is built on empowering individual team members to contribute to something greater, whether it’s by lending their voice to one of our internal staff committees or by getting involved in team social and business events. Interested in wellness, work-life balance, and planning for the future? We’ve got you covered In addition to a competitive base salary and performance bonus, this opportunity includes comprehensive health and dental benefits, a generous professional development fund, defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, and our popular “Summer Fridays” off program.Our downtown office is by St. Andrew’s subway station (a 5-minute walk to Union Station), located in the heart of vibrant creative, cultural, and culinary hotspots, major sporting events, and urban park space. We love driving the growth of the Toronto Region through our work and do it proudly. We are high achievers, but this doesn’t interfere with our sense of humour, endless curiosity, and our desire to have funOur team embraces a flexible hybrid work model: a minimum of 3 days per week in the office, and up to 2 days per week from home.POSITION SUMMARYReporting directly to the CEO, the Director, Government Relations plays an important leadership role in shaping and advancing Toronto Global’s government relations strategy and stakeholder engagement initiatives. As our GR leader, you will forge strong relationships, drive strategic government partnerships, and ensure Toronto Global remains at the forefront of foreign direct investment across all government partners and relevant stakeholder groups.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESGovernment RelationsStrengthen Government Partnerships: Build and maintain effective relationships and develop a consistent engagement strategy with federal, provincial, and municipal funders, and other government partners, highlighting Toronto Global’s measurable ROI and strategic impact.Monitor & Influence: Anticipate and monitor legislative, policy, and regulatory developments, providing analysis and recommendations as part of the senior leadership team in support of Toronto Global’s mission.Strategic Communications: Serve as liaison to political leaders, government officials, and decision-makers, clearly articulating Toronto Global’s key messaging narrative. Advocate for positions that advance business priorities, access to funding opportunities, or other strategic objectives, as directed by the CEO.Funding & Project SupportFunding Initiatives: Collaborate across the organization to support new and existing funding initiatives (program funding, proposals, grants, agreements, etc.).Projects: Actively contribute to ad-hoc and ongoing projects as needed, including the Joint Advisory Committee, Toronto Global hosted events, bid books, campaigns, partnership activations, etc.Reporting: Present regular updates and performance reports to the Executive Team and draft briefing materials to Board of Directors, as requested. Review internal KPIs to measure effectiveness of government relations activities (e.g., funding commitments, government and elected official outreach).Accountability Structure: Support CEO and VPs in the execution of existing stakeholder map and accountability structure across departments.DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCEAn undergraduate degree in Political Science, Business, Public Administration, History, or a related field; Master’s degree an asset.7+ years of experience in government relations, advocacy, or stakeholder engagement role.Proven history gaining support from senior government officials at the Municipal, Provincial or Federal level.Natural leadership capability and a robust, multi-level government network within Ontario.In-depth understanding of broad economic and political factors influencing government and non-government stakeholders.Strong political acuity and the ability to navigate complex intergovernmental landscapes in an FDI context.Exceptional communication skills, with success nurturing relationships and expanding existing connections.Strategic consultation, persuasion, and negotiation skills to lead discussions and conceptualize strategies to engage government stakeholders.Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams); experience with CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce, PoliTraQ) an asset.Analytical prowess, a drive for innovation, and a proactive approach to collaborative problem-solving.Curiosity, agility, and a passion for current events and economic trends, especially those impacting business investment and growth.HOW TO APPLYCandidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter to careers@torontoglobal.ca by January 27, 2026. Please include your name and the job title in the subject line of your email. We sincerely thank all candidates for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.Toronto Global is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, because we believe it contributes to innovation, better decision-making, and a deeper understanding of the community we serve. We encourage women, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and other equity-seeking groups to apply. To ensure our recruitment practices are equitable and our work environment is barrier-free, accommodations are available at all stages of the talent acquisition process upon request.While we incorporate select AI tools responsibly in our search for talent, our goal is to use technology to support, not replace, thoughtful human-led decision making in recruitment and hiring. We look forward to hearing from youToronto Global’s values in action: We’re not just keeping up; we’re leading the way | Client first, always | Your search stops here | Our work makes a difference | Together we are better.Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Toronto Global by 2xGet notified about new Director of Government Relations jobs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Seniority levelSeniority levelDirectorEmployment typeEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionJob functionOtherIndustriesInternational Trade and Development #J-18808-Ljbffr