Engagement Advisor

About This Role

Who we are at FCM: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of local governments, representing their interests with the federal government. With over 2,000 members, including Canada’s largest cities, small urban areas, rural and remote communities, as well as 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, FCM represents more than 90% of the country’s population. Through its advocacy, funding offers and diverse programs, FCM’s work has a direct impact on Canadians’ quality of life. At FCM, we are committed to making the communities Canadians live in more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable. We aspire to be deeply respectful, collaborative, empowering and inclusive. All leaders in the organization embrace these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM’s mission.

The Engagement team works within an integrated unit of experts in government relations, communications, and public policy to represent and advance the interests of municipalities with the federal government. The Advisor is responsible for representing and advancing the interests of FCM’s members by providing strategic advice and recommendations. The Engagement Advisor plays a strategic role leading a tailored engagement plan with FCM’s membership in at least one geographic region. The Advisor contributes to the development and implementation of member and public outreach strategies and engagement tools, building the advocacy capacity of our members and engaging Canada’s municipal sector in building support for FCM’s national agenda. The Engagement Advisor works in close collaboration with FCM members to enhance FCM’s understanding of existing challenges and opportunities to members and ensure those members are meaningfully engaged in FCM’s advocacy and policy work. The Advisor collaborates with colleagues across FCM to identify champions, and coordinate their mobilization to advance the municipal sector’s federal priorities. The work includes FCM becoming an even more member-driven organization that balances the realization of its goals with a people-centered approach. The incumbent embodies FCM’s commitment to being a healthy, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organization. The Advisor maintains the highest level of confidentiality, professionalism and exercise good judgement including the ability to elevate to management when help is required and being able to meet deadlines as set out by their direct manager within a fast-paced corporate environment.

What you'll be doing

• Support and engage FCM members in FCM’s engagement and advocacy strategies.
• This includes leading outreach and engagement strategies for members in at least one geographic region, with tailored approaches for communities of different sizes.
• Provide leadership on work related to member-focused advocacy events including FCM Board related meeting.
• Leverage FCM and member events (e.g. FCM Annual Conference, regional municipal meetings) to support member recruitment and retention, expand FCM’s network of municipal champions, and provide staff support for FCM’s elected leaders and senior staff.
• Identify and create opportunities to increase member outreach and engagement activities that amplify municipalities’ voice to the federal government, partners and the public.
• Implement, monitor and evaluate outreach and engagement strategies, tools, and activities.
• Ensure timely follow-up and communication with FCM members.
• Continually monitor developing news, trends, issues, and best practices related to federal-municipal politics and contribute to recommending responses as needed.
• Provide timely, well-supported and expert advice and recommendations on municipal dynamics and political strategy.
• Support other key projects as identified by the Engagement Manager and Senior Director, Government Relations and Member Engagement.

Knowledge and Experience

• A combination of professional and lived experience and/or post-secondary education in politics, public administration, communications or a related discipline; equivalent advanced education or training may also be considered.
• Requires 3-5 years’ experience working on successful national advocacy, engagement, or electoral campaigns and/or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to effectively organize, process, and communicate information in a fast-moving work environment.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a quickly changing, fast paced environment.
• Capacity to work in a self-directed manner and demonstrated ability to work well within a team setting.
• Experience working directly with elected officials is considered an assetand/or a membership-based organization is considered a strong asset.
• Proven understanding of federal and politics, the functions of government, interest groups and public decision-making, as well as an understanding of the interests of municipal governments and intergovernmental issues is considered a strong asset.
• Strategic thinking skills combined with a proven capacity for hands‑on technical work.
• Excellent verbal and written professional communications skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to exercise tact, discretion and judgment at all times.
• Knowledge of FCM and current national priorities including infrastructure, housing, transit, etc. is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated cultural competency in working with a diversity of communities.
• Bilingualism is required, where candidates can demonstrate Exempt Level Proficiency in French (Oral, Written, Comprehension) and advanced level proficiency in English (Oral, Written, Comprehension).

Additional Information

This job posting is for an existing role

This job posting is a fixed term temporary contract

Salary Range: $75,577.00 - $85,413.00

What we offer

We offer a flexible work model grounded in accountability, collaboration, and delivering results. It is designed to support both performance and well‑being. While work is primarily virtual, occasional travel to our Head Office in Ottawa is expected. The majority of the team is based in the National Capital Region. Where applicable, you may also have opportunities to travel across Canada to engage with the communities we support and better understand the impact of our work.

Employee experience and supports

We are committed to creating an environment where people can do their best work while maintaining a healthy balance including:

• Flexible work arrangements that support productivity and collaboration
• Summer schedule (July 1 to Labour Day): 7-hour workdays Fridays off, aligned with team and operational needs
• Ongoing commitment to employee development
• Comprehensive range of employee benefits and services designed to support employee wellbeing and development.
• Modern office space in Ottawa’s ByWard Market and downtown core

Please note: details and eligibility may vary depending on the role

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We’re committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

Other Details

The future of work at FCM includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on‑site work.

The successful candidate is required live within 80kms of downtown Ottawa, unless otherwise specified, and be authorized to work in Canada.

As part of our recruitment process, we use automated artificial intelligence tools to screen applicants. All AI-generated assessments are reviewed and validated by our People and Culture team.