Client Director Government Relations in Arts & Culture

PAA Advisory Conseils is seeking a Client Director to join its Arts & Culture team in Ottawa and lead client files focused on federal government relations and lobbying.

Our Arts & Culture team works with clients across the arts culture cultural industries not-for-profit and charitable ecosystem including theatre orchestral music opera ballet music recording book publishing film and television festivals museums and virtual arts as well as media literacy social development and education.

This role is an excellent opportunity for candidates who:

• are passionate about Canadian politics cultural policy and public affairs;
• want to work on high-profile real-time issues in Ottawa;
• enjoy leading client relationships in a fast-paced service-oriented environment; and
• want to contribute to the management mentorship and growth of a values-driven firm.

Key Responsibilities

As Client Director Arts & Culture you will be based in Ottawa and will:

• Lead client files in the arts and culture sector acting as the primary point of contact and providing day-to-day strategic advice on federal public policy funding regulatory communications and reputation issues.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies focused on the Government of Canada including Parliament central agencies and key departments (e.g. Canadian Heritage Finance ISED ESDC) with a particular emphasis on lobbying Designated Public Office Holders and other federal decision-makers.
• Provide strategic counsel to CEOs Executive Directors board members and senior leaders of client organisations including real-time political insight and scenario analysis.
• Oversee high-quality written work including briefing notes presentation materials advocacy documents position papers submissions studies reports and policy or political analyses for internal and external audiences.
• Monitor analyze and interpret federal political developments including:
• activities and proceedings of the House of Commons and Senate (Question Period Committees reports studies);
• federal budget and fiscal frameworks; and
• relevant legislative regulatory and program changes affecting arts culture cultural industries and the not-for-profit sector.
• Engage directly in lobbying activities at the federal level including meetings with Ministers Parliamentary Secretaries MPs Senators staff in Ministers offices senior public servants and other stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with Arts Service Organisations industry associations coalitions and community partners in relevant sectors adding value and substance to their deliberations while maintaining a reputation for personal integrity and trustworthy conduct.
• Lead or support advocacy events such as Hill Days receptions roundtables consultations and training sessions including planning logistics and follow-up.
• Support business development by identifying emerging opportunities contributing to proposals participating in pitches and helping to grow the Arts & Culture practice.
• Provide leadership within the firm including mentoring Advisors and Senior Advisors contributing to team planning and participating in firm-wide management and culture-building activities.

Qualifications What You Bring

Below is a list of great-to-haves for this position; we welcome candidates who bring most but not necessarily all of the following:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in government a Ministers or Parliamentarians office the federal public service an arts or cultural organization an industry association a not-for-profit consulting or another setting relevant to public policy and the cultural ecosystem.
• Demonstrated experience with federal politics and policy including a high degree of familiarity with Government of Canada decision-making processes institutions and governance frameworks as well as the federal stakeholder ecosystem.
• Significant experience leading files in at least one of the following: arts administration cultural policy arts funding or grant programs regulatory and legislative processes (e.g. broadcasting copyright tax or labour measures) or broader not-for-profit policy.
• Proven experience in federal government relations and lobbying including preparing for and participating in meetings with elected officials and senior public servants.
• Strong policy and analytical skills including the ability to read interpret and synthesize complex policy budgetary and regulatory information into clear practical advice for clients.
• Demonstrated leadership in project and/or event management including the ability to design plan and deliver advocacy campaigns events and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Excellent writing and communications skills with a track record of preparing clear persuasive and strategic documents for senior decision-makers.
• An undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as political science public policy public administration arts administration Canadian studies or a related field; graduate studies are not required but would be an asset.
• Ability to work effectively in English is required; ability to operate in French and English is a strong asset.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who:

• is rigorous detail-oriented and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure;
• demonstrates sound judgment discretion and political acuity;
• works collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues clients and stakeholders;
• takes initiative and shows resourcefulness in solving problems and advancing files;
• brings a positive attitude strong work ethic and a commitment to service excellence; and
• is genuinely passionate about arts and culture in Canada.

Requirements

• This is a permanent full-time position based in Ottawa.
• You must have the ability to register to lobby at the federal level with the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada.
• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Employment Salary and Benefits

PAA Advisory Conseils offers its employees competitive overall compensation and a range of benefits including:

• competitive salary and performance-based progression;
• group medical and dental benefits;
• access to an employee assistance program;
• paid vacation and hybrid work environment;
• work-life balance measures; and
• training and professional development opportunities.

The current annual salary range for this position is between $90k and $110k CAD.

How to Apply

To express your interest in this position please submit your CV and cover letter to . In your cover letter we invite you to include a brief comment on your interest in the arts and culture ecosystem in Canadafor example a favourite performance show movie song exhibition or other artistic expression that inspires you.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Our Commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusion

At PAA Advisory Conseils we value and seek to actively involve the full range of what makes people unique in order to create a strong and innovative organization guided by the values of integrity industriousness empathy humility and initiative.

We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples people of colour people with disabilities people from all gender and sexually diverse communities and people with intersectional identities.

PAA Advisory Conseils is also committed to providing accommodations throughout the interview and employment process. If you require an accommodation we will work with you to meet your needs.

Thank you for your interest in PAA Advisory Conseils. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.