ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY RELATIONS

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Competition No. 25.09.248

CATEGORY

SALARY

CLOSING DATE

Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

About Us

MacEwan University is where caring faculty help people connect their passions to their future paths. Located in the heart of Edmonton’s diverse and dynamic downtown community, and on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 First Nations and homelands of the Métis people, MacEwan is known for exceptional undergraduate learning. With its dedication to teaching excellence, informed by scholarly research, innovation, and creative activity, MacEwan provides an exceptional collaborative and supportive learning environment with a commitment to human rights, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for community engagement. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all peoples, cultures, and identities.

Our comprehensive undergraduate university offers 55 programs to just under 20,000 full- and part-time students in business, communications, community and human services, design, fine and performing arts, health, humanities, natural science, nursing, public safety, and social science. Through a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, and strategic relationships in the community, we partner with others to produce graduates of stature. Along with a robust grounding in their chosen disciplines, MacEwan students are given durable life skills that prepare them to take on the world.

Opportunity

MacEwan is seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly engaged leader to serve as the Associate Vice President (AVP), Government and Community Relations. Reporting to the Vice-President, University Relations, the AVP will lead the university’s engagement with all orders of government, as well as key community partners.

This position is essential in supporting the achievement of MacEwan’s strategic plan, Teaching Greatness. It reflects the university’s commitment to enhancing its voice in the post-secondary business and community sectors while reinforcing its identity as a key downtown pillar. The AVP will serve as a trusted advisor and visible ambassador, advancing MacEwan’s priorities through non-partisan advocacy and community activation.

The AVP will frame and steward MacEwan’s relationships with elected officials, policy makers, business leaders, and community leaders while ensuring the university is integrated into Edmonton’s civic and cultural fabric. Through proactive advocacy, collaboration, and partnership-building, the AVP will help MacEwan achieve its strategic goals, broaden fundraising momentum, and enhance its presence in Edmonton’s downtown core.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Government Relations

• Develop and implement a comprehensive government relations strategy aligned with MacEwan’s strategic plan, Teaching Greatness.
• Build and maintain fruitful relationships with all orders of government, ensuring that MacEwan’s objectives are aligned with government priorities.
• Represent MacEwan in government consultations, sector meetings, and relevant external committees.
• Engage internally to build capacity and collaboration in positioning MacEwan externally with government and relevant agencies, boards, and commissions.
• Lead advocacy initiatives to secure institutional funding, policy support, and program approvals.
• Proactively identify public policy issues and opportunities for MacEwan and collaboratively engage with appropriate ministries and departments. Advise the Vice-President on emerging opportunities and risks.

Community Engagement

• Cultivate strong relationships with community organizations, business leaders, Indigenous communities, and non-profit partners to strengthen MacEwan’s role as a thought leader, city builder, and cultural hub in Edmonton.
• Strengthen MacEwan’s presence beyond the campus by fostering meaningful connections in the broader community, while also creating opportunities for the community to be welcomed into and engaged with the university.
• Champion initiatives that elevate MacEwan’s visibility and influence in shaping public policy and community development, in alignment with the university’s strategic vision.
  • Strengthen collaborations that address student needs such as affordability, food security, and mental health.
• Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to ensure consistent, strategic messaging on public policy issues and institutional priorities.
• Anticipate, assess, and advise on political, public, and community issues that may impact the university’s reputation or operations. Identify risks and opportunities for MacEwan to contribute to community development initiatives and civil discourse.
• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all government and community engagement activities, ensuring that MacEwan’s partnerships reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.
• Explore and implement innovative government and community engagement approaches, such as digital platforms, data-informed advocacy, and collaborative policy development.

Leadership & Administration

• Lead a small but high-impact government and community relations team, demonstrating professionalism, collaboration, and adaptability.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and proactive engagement. Demonstrate and promote the values of integrity, transparency, trust, respect, and accountability, cascading these principles throughout the team and broader organization.
• Build strong working relationships across academic and administrative units.
• Ensure efficient use of financial and human resources while maintaining flexibility to respond to evolving needs and priorities.

FIRST-YEAR DELIVERABLES / MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

• Engage with MacEwan’s priority stakeholders, ensuring high-impact partners feel welcomed and valued.
• Meet with key external organizations and inspire collaboration, not just maintain existing relationships.
• Deliver a visible initiative that strengthens MacEwan’s downtown presence (e.g., community day or partnership activation).
• Expand collaborations directly addressing student priorities, such as food security and housing support.
• Clarify and communicate the pathways for achieving MacEwan’s government relations strategy.
• Demonstrate resilience and collaboration by building bridges throughout the organization.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public administration, communications, business, or a related field.
• A master’s degree is preferred.

Experience:

• 8 to 10 years of progressive leadership experience in government relations, public affairs, policy, or a related field.
  • Experience within the public sector, post-secondary, or large non-profit environment would be considered an asset.
• Deep knowledge of Alberta’s political and policy environment, and familiarity with Canada’s post-secondary sector.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic advocacy, policy development, and navigating complex regulatory environments.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, high-output environments with a degree of political complexity.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues with discretion and strategic insight.
• Demonstrated excellence in team leadership.
• Familiarity with lobbying legislation, compliance frameworks, and institutional governance.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills, with the ability to represent the institution effectively across diverse audiences.

Competencies and Attributes:

• Strategic Thinking & Political Acumen – Anticipates policy trends; navigates sensitive issues with discretion.
• Relationship Builder – Approachable, collaborative, trusted by diverse interested parties.
• High Energy & Adaptive – Thrives in dynamic environments; embraces change and transformation.
• Community Orientation – Deeply invested in embedding MacEwan within Edmonton’s downtown and broader community.
• Communication Excellence – Clear, persuasive, and diplomatic communicator with government, faculty, and community audiences.
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Champions inclusive, respectful engagement with diverse communities.