Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy
About the role
Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy
Join Colleges Ontario, the advocacy association for Ontario’s 24 public colleges. We are hiring a Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy to help lead sector advocacy and engagement across all levels of government.
In this role, you will support Ontario’s public colleges in advancing advocacy with the provincial government while engaging municipal and federal decision-makers.
Reporting to the Vice-President, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy, the successful candidate brings experience working with the provincial government, the post-secondary sector and/or in political environments, along with a proven ability to influence legislative, regulatory or public policy outcomes.
What you’ll do
Government relations and advocacy
- Lead and execute government relations and stakeholder advocacy strategies that advance Colleges Ontario’s legislative and policy priorities.
- Advise senior leadership on government relations, stakeholder engagement and emerging policy and political issues.
- Work with college leaders to align advocacy initiatives with sector priorities and strategic objectives.
- Partner with marketing, public affairs and communications teams to advance sector initiatives.
Legislative outreach and relationship building
- Build and strengthen relationships with government officials, political staff and sector stakeholders.
- Lead the sector-wide government relations committee to align advocacy efforts across all 24 colleges.
- Advance policy positions through direct government engagement, coalition advocacy and strategic communications.
Coalition building and sector leadership
- Develop and deliver joint advocacy campaigns and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
- Mobilize member colleges and partners to support coordinated advocacy efforts.
- Provide guidance and support to colleges on advocacy activities.
Advocacy materials and engagement tools
- Work with policy and communications teams to develop advocacy materials, including briefs, fact sheets, submissions and position statements.
- Partner with policy and research teams to identify priority issues and evidence needs.
- Contribute government relations content to newsletters, social media and media engagement.
- Lead the planning and delivery of government and stakeholder engagement events.
- Collaborate across departments on stakeholder and public opinion research.
- Prepare briefing materials, presentations and leave-behinds for senior leadership advocacy efforts.
People and resource leadership
- Lead, coach and mentor staff while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
- Manage budgets and resources supporting government relations and advocacy activities.
- Perform related duties as required.
What you bring
- Post-secondary credential in a related field; master’s degree preferred.
- Experience working with the provincial government, post-secondary sector and/or in political environments.
- Demonstrated success influencing legislative, regulatory or public policy outcomes.
- Strong understanding of provincial government and legislative processes; federal and municipal experience is an asset.
- Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment.
- Ability to develop and execute complex advocacy and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to Colleges Ontario’s mission and passion for advancing Ontario’s public college system.
Salary and application process
The current salary range for this position is $127,656 - $159,570
Interested candidates are to submit their cover letter and resume as a single PDF document by February 20, 2026 to Luly Bello via email at bello@collegesontario.org.
Only those candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in working with Colleges Ontario.
Our commitment to diversity
We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We encourage all qualified applicants of all races, colors, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, national origins, and disability statuses to apply. If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodations, please let us know the nature of the required
accommodation.
Transparency:
Colleges Ontario uses AI to draft job descriptions, with final versions reviewed and approved by human professionals to ensure accuracy, fairness and inclusivity.
For more information about Colleges Ontario, visit www.collegesontario.org.
About Colleges Ontario
Colleges Ontario is the advocacy and outreach association of Ontario’s 21 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and three College Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning.
Colleges Ontario advocates for policy improvements and measures that will help produce the skilled workforce that is needed to strengthen Ontario’s competitive advantage.
Colleges Ontario provides strategic counsel and services to advance Ontario’s colleges as a learning resource of choice and a key gateway to both Ontario’s and Canada’s success.
Colleges Ontario’s services to colleges include:
•advocacy and communications •research and policy development •information co-ordination •professional development
Colleges Ontario’s current activities include: •co-ordinating advocacy and outreach campaigns for policy improvements that support colleges in their role as a major contributor to employability, economic development and technological innovation •publishing newsletters, reports, directories and briefing material to support planning and outreach •building the Ontario college leadership network through meetings, workshops, and conferences •providing research support for advocacy and policy development issues such as funding, governance, student access, transferability and retention
Colleges Ontario is financed by all member colleges on a voluntary basis, with dues assessed according to enrolment, and by OCAS.
Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy
About the role
Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy
Join Colleges Ontario, the advocacy association for Ontario’s 24 public colleges. We are hiring a Director, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy to help lead sector advocacy and engagement across all levels of government.
In this role, you will support Ontario’s public colleges in advancing advocacy with the provincial government while engaging municipal and federal decision-makers.
Reporting to the Vice-President, Government Relations and Stakeholder Advocacy, the successful candidate brings experience working with the provincial government, the post-secondary sector and/or in political environments, along with a proven ability to influence legislative, regulatory or public policy outcomes.
What you’ll do
Government relations and advocacy
- Lead and execute government relations and stakeholder advocacy strategies that advance Colleges Ontario’s legislative and policy priorities.
- Advise senior leadership on government relations, stakeholder engagement and emerging policy and political issues.
- Work with college leaders to align advocacy initiatives with sector priorities and strategic objectives.
- Partner with marketing, public affairs and communications teams to advance sector initiatives.
Legislative outreach and relationship building
- Build and strengthen relationships with government officials, political staff and sector stakeholders.
- Lead the sector-wide government relations committee to align advocacy efforts across all 24 colleges.
- Advance policy positions through direct government engagement, coalition advocacy and strategic communications.
Coalition building and sector leadership
- Develop and deliver joint advocacy campaigns and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
- Mobilize member colleges and partners to support coordinated advocacy efforts.
- Provide guidance and support to colleges on advocacy activities.
Advocacy materials and engagement tools
- Work with policy and communications teams to develop advocacy materials, including briefs, fact sheets, submissions and position statements.
- Partner with policy and research teams to identify priority issues and evidence needs.
- Contribute government relations content to newsletters, social media and media engagement.
- Lead the planning and delivery of government and stakeholder engagement events.
- Collaborate across departments on stakeholder and public opinion research.
- Prepare briefing materials, presentations and leave-behinds for senior leadership advocacy efforts.
People and resource leadership
- Lead, coach and mentor staff while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
- Manage budgets and resources supporting government relations and advocacy activities.
- Perform related duties as required.
What you bring
- Post-secondary credential in a related field; master’s degree preferred.
- Experience working with the provincial government, post-secondary sector and/or in political environments.
- Demonstrated success influencing legislative, regulatory or public policy outcomes.
- Strong understanding of provincial government and legislative processes; federal and municipal experience is an asset.
- Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment.
- Ability to develop and execute complex advocacy and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to Colleges Ontario’s mission and passion for advancing Ontario’s public college system.
Salary and application process
The current salary range for this position is $127,656 - $159,570
Interested candidates are to submit their cover letter and resume as a single PDF document by February 20, 2026 to Luly Bello via email at bello@collegesontario.org.
Only those candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in working with Colleges Ontario.
Our commitment to diversity
We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We encourage all qualified applicants of all races, colors, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, national origins, and disability statuses to apply. If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodations, please let us know the nature of the required
accommodation.
Transparency:
Colleges Ontario uses AI to draft job descriptions, with final versions reviewed and approved by human professionals to ensure accuracy, fairness and inclusivity.
For more information about Colleges Ontario, visit www.collegesontario.org.
About Colleges Ontario
Colleges Ontario is the advocacy and outreach association of Ontario’s 21 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and three College Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning.
Colleges Ontario advocates for policy improvements and measures that will help produce the skilled workforce that is needed to strengthen Ontario’s competitive advantage.
Colleges Ontario provides strategic counsel and services to advance Ontario’s colleges as a learning resource of choice and a key gateway to both Ontario’s and Canada’s success.
Colleges Ontario’s services to colleges include:
•advocacy and communications •research and policy development •information co-ordination •professional development
Colleges Ontario’s current activities include: •co-ordinating advocacy and outreach campaigns for policy improvements that support colleges in their role as a major contributor to employability, economic development and technological innovation •publishing newsletters, reports, directories and briefing material to support planning and outreach •building the Ontario college leadership network through meetings, workshops, and conferences •providing research support for advocacy and policy development issues such as funding, governance, student access, transferability and retention
Colleges Ontario is financed by all member colleges on a voluntary basis, with dues assessed according to enrolment, and by OCAS.