Advisor, Public Affairs and Government Relations

Socodevi is one of the leading international cooperative development organizations in the world. Join a team driven by collaboration and solidarity in service of real impact.

The mandate

We are seeking an experienced professional to contribute to Socodevi’s institutional positioning and advance its priorities with governments, public institutions, networks and other influential actors in Canada and internationally.

Key responsibilities

Public affairs and government relations

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with governments, ministries, parliamentarians, senior officials, public institutions, international agencies, donors and other relevant influential actors for Socodevi.
• Contribute to the preparation and follow-up of the organization’s institutional and governmental meetings, and support leadership in its representation activities.
• Identify key interlocutors, networks and strategic spaces to strengthen Socodevi’s positioning and influence in Quebec, Canada and, where relevant, internationally.

Political monitoring and institutional intelligence

• Actively monitor public policies, government orientations, budgets, decisions, commitments, consultations and political dynamics that may have an impact on Socodevi and its areas of intervention.
• Analyze relevant political and institutional developments, anticipate their implications for the organization, and identify emerging risks, opportunities and issues.
• Translate this monitoring into strategic analyses and recommendations, enabling a rapid understanding of changes in the external environment and identifying appropriate actions or positions.

Institutional positioning and strategic advisory

• Advise the Director of Strategy and Development on political, governmental and institutional issues affecting Socodevi’s priorities and positioning.
• Identify and develop opportunities to raise awareness of Socodevi’s perspectives, expertise and priorities among decision-makers and other strategic stakeholders.
• Prepare briefing notes, analyses, key messages and position papers to support the organization’s representation efforts and policy positions.

Public policy and advocacy

• Contribute to the analysis of Canadian and international policies relevant to Socodevi, particularly regarding international cooperation, food systems, climate, biodiversity, inclusive economic development, gender equality and other institutional priorities.
• Develop or coordinate institutional positions, briefs, recommendations, position papers and contributions to public consultations.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of targeted advocacy and influence strategies to advance Socodevi’s institutional priorities.
• Identify relevant opportunities to contribute to policy processes and public consultations, and coordinate Socodevi’s response when required.

Alliances, networks and influence

• Develop and maintain relationships with networks, coalitions, associations and partner organizations that can contribute to Socodevi’s positioning and priorities.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and joint positioning on strategic issues.
• Represent Socodevi in relevant networks, events and consultation forums, and contribute to the organization’s visibility among its partners and institutional interlocutors.

Internal coordination and strategic collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Strategy and Development, business development teams, technical teams and communications to ensure consistency in Socodevi’s public affairs positions, messages and approaches.
• Mobilize the internal expertise needed to inform the organization’s analyses, positions, consultations and representation activities.
• Contribute to the tracking and documentation of Socodevi’s government relations and representation activities, including applicable lobbying obligations.

Profile and qualifications sought

Profile

• University degree in a relevant field, including political science, public policy, international relations, public administration, law, communications, international development or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in public affairs, government relations, public policy, institutional relations, advocacy or a combination of these fields.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining relationships with decision-makers, government representatives, senior officials or other institutional actors.
• Strong understanding of how governments and public decision-making processes work in Canada. Knowledge of the international cooperation sector and the issues related to Socodevi’s areas of intervention is a significant asset.

Competencies

• Excellent political and strategic analytical skills and ability to quickly understand complex and evolving institutional environments.
• Ability to translate complex information, trends and issues into clear, decision-useful recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build credible and lasting relationships with a diverse range of interlocutors.
• Excellent writing skills, particularly for the preparation of briefing notes, institutional positions, briefs, recommendations and position papers.
• Political and institutional judgment, diplomacy, discretion and the ability to represent the organization with credibility. Strong initiative, ability to anticipate issues and identify positioning and influence opportunities.
• Excellent command of both French and English, spoken and written. Proficiency in Spanish is an asset.

What we offer

Competitive compensation, group insurance and an RRSP program, flexible hours and personal leave days — all within a committed team driven by a mission with real impact in the lives of millions of people.

Working conditions and location

Permanent position (37.5 hours over 5 days). Based in Montreal, Quebec City or Ottawa, depending on the successful candidate’s place of residence. For those based in Montreal or Quebec City, a minimum presence of two days per week in Socodevi’s offices is required. Availability for occasional travel within Canada and internationally.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their application, including a CV and cover letter, by email to recrutement@socodevi.org. Given the high volume of applications typically received, please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are committed to employment equity principles. As with all our positions, we encourage women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. In accordance with our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and our Policy on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA Policy), we uphold a policy of zero tolerance with respect to harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

To learn more about our organization: www.socodevi.org