Director of Government Relations

Long before there was a capital city on the Ottawa river, the Odawa were traders on this land. They carried goods, news, and understandings between Nations across enormous distances, and their standing rested on one thing: whether the people at both ends of the journey trusted them. We took the name because that is still the work.

Odawa Relations is a First Nations owned government and Indigenous relations firm with offices in Ottawa, Neyaashiinigmiing, Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay, and Winnipeg. We work for First Nations, Tribal Councils, and Indigenous organizations. Our clients set the direction. Our job is to help them be heard where decisions get made, and to keep pushing after the meeting ends, when the commitment has been made and the follow-through is the hard part.

We are a growing firm doing serious work, and we are looking for a Director of Government Relations to join us.

You would carry a portfolio of client files as their senior advisor. That means sitting with Chiefs and leadership to understand what they are trying to achieve, translating that into a strategy that can actually work in Ottawa, and then doing the work to make it happen: briefing notes, committee appearances, meeting requests, the follow-up, and the second and third and fourth follow-up.

You would represent Odawa in rooms and be trusted to do it. You would help us grow, shaping new offerings and building relationships with Nations we have not yet worked with. And as the practice grows, you would build and lead the team beneath you.

It is a builder's role. There is a lot of room here for someone who wants it.

What the work actually looks like

• Advising First Nations leadership on complex political, policy, and government relations priorities, often quickly and under pressure.
• Turning Nation priorities into advocacy strategies with objectives, timelines, and a way to tell whether they are working.
• Watching the Hill closely: Hansard, the Order Paper, bill progress, committee agendas and witness lists, the Estimates, who is moving and who is not.
• Finding witness opportunities for clients and preparing leadership to use them well.
• Writing. Briefing notes, committee briefs, submissions, speaking points, Ministerial correspondence. A lot of this job is writing clearly under a deadline.
• Preparing and running Hill days, delegations, and Ministerial meeting programs.
• Building coalitions where shared interests move a file further than one voice can.
• Travelling to Ottawa, to gatherings and assemblies, and to communities, including fly-in communities. Roughly a quarter to a third of your time.
• Leading and managing a growing multidisciplinary team of government relations and policy professionals, including Managers, Specialists, and Coordinators.

Who we are hoping to meet

We are less interested in a perfect match against a list than in someone whose judgment we would trust with a client on a hard day. That said, here is roughly what we picture:

• Around eight years or more in government relations, Indigenous relations, public policy, political affairs, advocacy, or strategic consulting.
• Real experience working alongside First Nations, Tribal Councils, Indigenous organizations, or Indigenous governments, with an understanding of this space.
• Grounding in First Nations rights, jurisdiction, and self-determination, in Treaties, UNDRIP, and FPIC, and in the history that brought us here.
• A working knowledge of how federal decisions actually get made, and ideally some relationships you have earned along the way.
• Strong political judgment and real discretion. Much of what crosses your desk will be sensitive.
• Clear writing.

A degree in political science, public administration, Indigenous studies, law, public policy, communications, business, or something related is helpful. So is a combination of education, professional experience, and lived experience. We read applications from people, not from templates.

One practical thing, up front

This work involves registering and acting as a consultant lobbyist federally and in some provinces. If you are a former designated public office holder, the Lobbying Act may restrict you from that work for five years after you left the position. Please tell us in your application if this applies to you. It is not automatically a barrier, there are options, but we would rather talk about it early than late.

What we offer

• Four weeks away from work each year: two weeks of paid vacation plus a two-week paid office closure over the winter holidays, on top of statutory holidays.
• Paid leave for ceremony, cultural obligations, and community responsibilities.
• Health and dental benefits.
• $200 a month toward mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical wellness, and $100 a month toward your phone.
• A professional development allowance and support to be at the gatherings and conferences that matter in this field.
• A seat at the table of a firm still being built, working directly with founders whose backgrounds span senior federal ministerial roles and national Indigenous political leadership.
• A flexible, trust-based environment. We care about the work and about each other, and we do not confuse hours with results.

The details

• Location: Ottawa strongly preferred. Remote is possible for the right person who can be in Ottawa regularly. This is relationship work, and relationships are built in person.
• Type: Full-time, permanent.
• Travel: Required, but flexible, with opportunities to engage directly with clients in remote and fly-in communities.
• Reports to: Managing Partners.

A note on preference

Odawa Relations is a First Nations owned firm. Preference in this competition will be given to qualified Indigenous candidates. This is a special program within the meaning of section 16 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. If you would like to be considered under this preference, please say so in your cover letter. Self-identifying is voluntary, and we will use the information only for that purpose.