Job Posting: Senior Government Relations & Policy Officer:
Location: Ottawa, ON (Hybrid – minimum two days per week in office):
Employment Type: Full-time Permanent:
Who We Are:
The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) is a non-profit organization established in 1960 to represent the nuclear industry in Canada. We promote a strong vibrant and expanding nuclear industry that benefits our members, stakeholders and all Canadians.
The CNA’s purpose is to lead and focus dialogue with and among key stakeholders concerning Canada’s nuclear future, namely, to be, and to be seen and heard to be, the voice of the industry. To this end, CNA offers a range of services: regulatory and government affairs; research and policy development; advocacy to advance member-relevant interests in the political and public spheres and, programs and external and member communications to support the association’s objectives.
The Opportunity:
Reporting to the Director, Government Relations & International Affairs, and working closely with the Director of Policy, the Senior Government Relations & Policy Officer plays a central role in advancing the CNA’s domestic and international advocacy agenda. This position integrates responsibilities from both government relations and policy functions, supporting strategic advocacy, policy development, issues management, and stakeholder engagement.
The position conducts policy research; analyzes federal and provincial legislation, government priorities, and emerging issues; develops policy positions; and prepares executive‑level briefings. The role also supports the planning and execution of government relations strategies, meeting programs, and outreach initiatives with federal, provincial, and international partners.
Success in this role requires strong political acuity, the ability to synthesize complex information, excellent relationship‑building skills, and the capacity to seamlessly integrate strategic communications, policy analysis, and government relations to advance the Association’s strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities:As the successful candidate you will be responsible for:
- Support the execution of CNA’s government relations and international affairs strategy, including issues management and advocacy planning.
- Build and maintain relationships with federal, provincial, and international government officials, parliamentarians, and industry partners.
- Coordinate legislative days, delegations, and targeted meeting programs across federal and provincial jurisdictions.
- Represent CNA in meetings and events with government, members, and industry stakeholders.
- Draft correspondence, briefing notes, presentations, and policy messaging for government audiences.
- Monitor government appointments, consultations, announcements, and parliamentary activity, providing timely updates to internal teams.
- Support government relations working groups and councils, offering strategic advice and coordinating activities.
- Collaborate with internal teams on files related to non‑proliferation, nuclear security, international trade, and energy security.
- Conduct research and analysis on federal and provincial legislation, government priorities, and emerging issues affecting the nuclear sector.
- Develop policy advice, options, and recommendations for CNA leadership, members, and committees.
- Prepare briefing materials for the Directors, CEO, Board, and CNA councils.
- Draft submissions, position papers, and updates on government policy initiatives.
- Identify emerging issues, trends, and risks impacting the nuclear sector and CNA members.
- Work with external experts and associations to align policy positions and advance shared priorities.
- Support research projects, including scoping, stakeholder engagement, and implementation planning.
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- An undergraduate degree in business, law, public administration, public policy, political science, government relations or other relevant discipline is required.
- Minimum of five years of relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong understanding of legislative processes, government decision making and issues management.
- Knowledge of the energy sector, including federal legislation and regulatory frameworks.
- Familiarity with the principles of project management, including planning, timelines, and stakeholder input, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
- Demonstrated experience drafting policy materials, submissions, briefing notes, and advocacy documents.
- Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Highly organized and adaptable, with the ability to work independently and manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and collaboration tools such as SharePoint and MS Teams.
- Professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in managing sensitive or complex issues.
The following attributes are considered an asset:
- Ability to speak, read and write in both official languages.
- Previous experience in a non-profit or trade association
Working Conditions:
- The successful candidate is expected to work/live in Ottawa and/or the surrounding area.
- Work is in a comfortable office and home office environment.
- The successful candidate is expected to work a minimum of two days per week in the CNA’s Ottawa office. This may change in the future to more than two days per week.
- May be expected to travel outside the Ottawa area on a regular basis to attend meetings with other institutions, conferences, or training venues.
- During travel, working conditions will be restricted to safe and comfortable offices and/or tradeshow/conference venues. Travel would be one week or less to attend conferences or trainings, or to support project deliverables.
- Some local, provincial, national, or international travel between the CNA’s client sites or stakeholders may be required.
To Apply::
If this opportunity intrigues you and relates to your experience, then we want to hear from you. Please take the time to tell us about yourself in a unique cover letter – we want to hear your story – your background, your accomplishments, and why this role is a good fit for you and your career currently. If you have questions in advance, please reach out to
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]) and we’ll set up a call as you may have questions that we would be glad to answer.
The CNA is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are seeking qualified applications from employment equity groups including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities such as queer, transgender, non-binary, and gender-variant individuals.
You must be legally allowed to work in Canada to be eligible for this position. Please note that all applications will be acknowledged. Those selected for an interview will be contacted directly. The posting will remain active on our website until our search process is complete.
