Government Relations Lead

Government Relations Lead

Are you looking for a place where you can do meaningful work and grow as part of a positive, collaborative team? Are you creative, enthusiastic, and excellent at building meaningful relationships? Join Water First, a passionate and growing organization supporting sustainable access to safe, clean water in partnership with Indigenous communities in Canada. 

Water First is a registered charity whose values are rooted in trust- building, meaningful relationships and long- lasting results.  Our Engagement practices are guided by principles of responsibility and accountability. Water First centers Indigenous voices, experiences, worldviews, and inherent rights throughout all our work. 

To ensure Indigenous perspectives lead all conversations regarding proposed work with Indigenous communities, we integrate consultation with Indigenous staff, the Indigenous Advisory Council, community partners and Indigenous members of our Board of Directors into our processes. 

Water First embraces and values the cultural traditions and practices of Indigenous peoples in our workplaces, including the burning of medicines such as tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass. 

All employees are expected to maintain a high level of Indigenous historical and cultural awareness and commit to ongoing learning, which supports genuine and informed approaches across every aspect of our organization.

With significantly expanding operations and community partnerships, we are seeking a Government Relations Lead to report to the Executive Director. The Government Relations Lead will plan, execute, and measure government relations activities for a complex non-profit with a variety of programs delivered across Canada. This is a tremendous opportunity for an experienced government relations professional to strengthen and maximize government relationships on behalf of a well-respected, high-impact organization. 

Start Date: February 9th, 2026 (or earlier)

Work Location:  Remote, work-from-home; or hybrid work-from-home & Water First's Creemore office,
ideally living full-time in Ontario, Canada 

Job Type: Full-time, 5 days a week preferred; 4 days a week an option

Salary range: $110,000 - $130,000

Water First supports progressive labour policies, including:

• Defined benefit pension plan
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Generous paid vacation

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Commitment to adapting engagement approaches that reflect a high level of Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Consult with Program leads to maintain a working knowledge of community needs to support the research and development of recommendations for securing government funds that support Water First's programs; 
• Build, steward and strengthen relationships with government representatives at the provincial and federal levels;
• Identify critical internal and external relationships and create engagement plans; 
• Write and edit proposals & briefing materials to support the ongoing government relations activities of Water First, such as pre-budget submissions, grant applications, and backgrounders; 
• Develop and implement government relations activities to complement Water First's external communications strategy; 
• Monitor legislative, policy, and regulatory activity/changes; 
• Prepare briefing notes about relevant regulatory, policy and/or legislative changes for review by the Executive Director; 
• Required consultation with the Director of Indigenous Community Engagement ensuring rights holders are at the center of all facets of work
• Liaise with the Water First communications team to develop key messaging for various communications initiatives and events; 
• Support Water First's communications response initiatives; 
• Support associated internal and external communications needs; 

The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following:

• Post-secondary education (degree or equivalent) in journalism, communications, public relations or a related field;
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a government relations/advocacy role, preferably in relation to the non-profit sector;
• Familiarity with government engagement processes and a demonstrated ability to navigate complex political landscapes;
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict confidentiality requirements regarding sensitive information, and a track record of integrity, ethics, and professionalism;
• Understanding of lobbyist regulations and registries;
• In-depth knowledge of communications best practices;
• Thorough understanding of traditional, new, and emerging communications media;
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to repurpose content to suit a variety of audiences
• Ability to interact effectively and build relationships with multiple internal and external entities;
• Ability to create and develop innovative solutions that support organizational goals and strategies;

Please Note:

• This is a remote work-from-home position or a hybrid mix of working from home & at Water First's Creemore office (2 days a week), depending on the employee's location. Candidates must be available to travel, as needed, within Canada approximately 10-15% of the time, as well as to the Creemore, Ontario head office for critical meetings as required.
• Water First's standard operating hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm Eastern Time, with reasonable accommodations for flex-time
• All applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada and possess a valid Social Security Number (SIN)
• Candidates will be required to undergo a Vulnerable Sector security check as a condition of employment.
• Water First embraces and respects the use of traditional and sacred medicines in the workplace. Burning medicines such as tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass is a common practice for ceremony and cultural connection.

Please Note:

• This is a remote work-from-home position or a hybrid mix of working from home & at Water First's Creemore office
• Water First's standard operating hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm Eastern Time, with reasonable accommodations for flex-time
• All applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada and possess a valid Social Security Number (SIN)
• Candidates will be required to undergo a Vulnerable Sector security check as a condition of employment.
  

Excited to learn more about this opportunity? We'd love to hear from you. Water First is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourages Indigenous applicants. We are dedicated to a fair, equitable, and barrier-free hiring process in accordance with AODA and will provide accommodations upon request.

While we appreciate the interest of all candidates, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Interested candidates should please forward their cover letters and resumes to by February 19, 2026.