Sac-osla Branch

**SAC-OSLA Branch - Ontario Government and Community Relations Manager**
Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) is a national non-profit association that represents over 7,000 speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants. We have a fantastic opportunity for the right individual to join our organization. This is full time permanent position.

**SCOPE OF POSITION**
The SAC-OSLA Branch **Ontario Government and Community Relations Manager** is responsible for the overall management of SAC- OSLA Branch’s specific government relations and advocacy issues as defined by the SAC - OSLA Executive Director. The incumbent collaborates with the SAC-OSLA Branch ED towards the development, implementation and evaluation of the SAC-OSLA Branch’s government relations’ strategy that sets out clear public policy priorities, targets and strategies to optimize the interface with government officials at the Ontario provincial level. The manager works in collaboration with the SAC-OSLA Branch ED, the SAC-OSLA Committee and volunteers to develop and implement strategies and advocacy tools that profile the SAC-OSLA Branch’s position on public policy issues with members and associates, health and education stakeholders, government officials, elected and other relevant decision makers. The Manager also collaborates with the SAC Directors of Speech
- Language Pathology, Audiology and the Director of Communications and Marketing in the development of reports, communications and presentations to various stakeholders and supports the development, updating and implementation of SAC-OSLA Branch’s government relations resources such as briefs and technical briefings.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
Strategic Public Affairs and Government Relations
- Supports the SAC-OSLA Branch Executive Director (ED) in ensuring that speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants are well represented in the public policy arena.
- Supports the establishes, implementation and evaluation of specific advocacy portfolios within the SAC-OSLA Branch’s government relations strategy.
- Assesses and makes recommendations to address and advance the SAC-OSLA Branch government relations profile.
- Advises the SAC-OSLA ED, and the SAC-OSLA Committee on parliamentary, legislative and public policy priorities of relevance to the SAC-OSLA Branch.
- Coordinates annual advocacy activities for the SAC-OSLA Committee (as required).
- Participates in Ontario legislature and government relations events.
- Keeps abreast of Ontario legislature trends and research.
- Conducts daily, monthly and quarterly environmental scanning of political and government events and opportunities of relevance to the SAC-OSLA Branch’s advocacy goals by analyzing and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information from diverse sources and prepares regular reports on provincial and legislative initiatives accordingly.
- Supports the preparation of presentations, briefings and background material to support the SAC-OSLA
- Branch’s government relations profile.

**Public Policy**
- Collaborates with the SAC-OSLA Branch ED and the SAC-OSLA Branch Committee towards the development and implementation of relevant government relations and advocacy efforts related to public policy.
- Support the SAC-OSLA Branch’s response to provincial legislative and/or regulatory initiatives affecting the professions in Ontario.
- Prepare briefing material and environmental scans for the SAC-OSLA Committee and senior staff, including recommendations and positions on relevant health and education issues in Ontario.
- Provide advocacy and government relations support to the SAC-OSLA Committee and interest groups.
- Stakeholder Relations
- Represent the Association, internally and externally, at the provincial level on public policy issues.
- Build collaborative partnerships and relationships with relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, other health and education professions, funders, and the insurance industry.
- Keep abreast of trends and changes in relevant industries such as hearing aid and communication devices, and the insurance industry, and develop and implement strategies to enhance support for speech-language pathology and audiology services.

**Management**
- Participate in the development and evaluation of the SAC- OSLA Branch’s strategic and operational plans including supporting the SAC-OSLA ED in the development and implementation of the annual advocacy and government relations plans.
- Lead the coordination of SAC-OSLA Interest Group efforts for Ontario advocacy portfolios.
- Manage the relationship with SAC-OSLA volunteers dedicated to specific advocacy portfolios.

**Other**
- Other duties as assigned

**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE**
- Post-secondary degree in political science, public affairs and policy management, communications or a related field.
- Five years of practical experience in three or more key areas o