Manager, Government Relations

**Manager, Government Relations**

**Waterloo Regional Police Service**

With more than 1000 sworn and civilian members, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) requires a **Manager, Government Relations. **The WRPS delivers exceptional police services to more than 575,000 residents. The Waterloo Region is a vital and prosperous community in Southern Ontario that offers the unique combination of a growing urban centre surrounded by four rural communities. You will work in a community proud of its diversity, and within an organization focused on its people.

As the **Manager, Government Relations**

**You Will**:

- Work with the Director, Corporate Affairs to collaboratively manage strategic and effective relations with other governments, public agencies, and partners. Support the Director, Corporate Affairs and Chief of Police in acting as the Service’s executive lead on intergovernmental and municipal-agency matters’
- In collaboration with Director, Corporate Affairs leads engagement and issues management with local elected officials in support of the Service’s organizational brand, reputation and strategic priorities;
- Provide a coordinated strategy for managing diverse issues with intergovernmental partners and public safety partners to maximize the Service’s and Waterloo Region’s success in achieving its shared objectives and advancing the objectives of the corporate strategic plan;
- Coordinate and support the organization’s participation in intergovernmental activities;
- Monitor and evaluate opportunities and risks to organizational objectives in relation to the evolving policy and legislative environment;
- Establish roles, responsibilities, and internal coordination mechanisms to facilitate achievement of the Service’s strategic goals and objectives and works closely with key divisions through municipal, provincial, and federal partnership channels;
- Monitor policy and related developments within the public safety sector, and at all levels of government, that may have implications for the operation and business continuity of the Service and the Region of Waterloo community;
- Conduct analysis and develop professional and objective strategic policy advice, reports, and briefings for the Director, Corporate Affairs and senior leaders;
- Facilitate coordination and integration across the organization to provide comprehensive advice to the Office of the Chief of Police and senior leadership team on emerging issues;
- Provide issue management and advisory support to Director and internal business units in the planning and delivery of inter-agency/governmental projects, and other provincial programs where there are interfaces with the organization;
- Support negotiation of sensitive multi-government/agency governance, funding, and operational agreements on a variety of matters.
- Identify emerging issues pertaining to government relations, public administration, operations, and accountability of the organization and the governance of agencies and corporations.
- Manage assigned projects and leads project teams, ensuring effective teamwork and communication, high standards of work quality, and organizational performance.
- Build and manage strategic relationships with external stakeholders, including provincial municipal and federal governments, community groups, and other public safety partners.
- Ensures a respectful and harassment-free working environment.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

**You Have**:

- Knowledge of administration, intergovernmental relations, governance, municipal finance, service delivery efficiency and effectiveness, and operations and services of major government organizations;
- A degree in a related field (e.g., public policy, planning, business administration, economics) plus progressively responsible related experience;
- A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in one or more of the following sectors: Public Policy, Corporate Communications and/or Public Affairs;
- Demonstrated experience in/exposure to the public safety related policy environment; experience building integrated and strategic stakeholder relations plans for a complex organization involving many stakeholders, and implementing successful issues management practices;
- Demonstrated experience in understanding the public sector environment, including a proven competence in communicating and collaborating with political stakeholder groups at the Federal, Provincial and Municipal level;
- Experience in policy research, analysis, and development practices.
- Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, legislation, and standards (e.g., freedom of information, privacy, accessibility), and collective agreements.
- Strategic, analytical, conceptual thinking, and continuous improvement skills to provide expertise to senior leaders; and plan activities/projects to meet organizational goals.
- Leadership, human relations, conflict resolution, and presentation skills to