Director, Government Relations

at  Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan HOOPP

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. Director of the Government Relations team, in consultation with Vice President, SGA and other team members, works with government officials both political and bureaucratic to advance HOOPP’s priorities and ensure that the providicial 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 of translating 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 the optimum results. The Director will work collaboratively within other members of the team and lead and staff on their team, with an eye to supporting ongoing professional growth and development.
• Be responsible for the development, refinement and implementation of the 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 (eg. Throne Speeches, Budgets, Fall Economic Statements, Government appointments, Standing Committee proceedings) for 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 monitors 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 HOOOPP’s vision and core values.

What you bring:

• BA, MA in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Relations. MBA preferred.
• 8-10 experience with senior roles in government relations, public affairs, stakeholder relations and strategic communications with a minimum of five years 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 HOOPPs 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 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 health care 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.

• 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 the optimum results. The Director will work collaboratively within other members of the team and lead and staff on their team, with an eye to supporting ongoing professional growth and development.
• Be responsible for the development, refinement and implementation of the 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 (eg. Throne Speeches, Budgets, Fall Economic Statements, Government appointments, Standing Committee proceedings) for 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