About the Role
Provide enterprise leadership for Canada Life’s public policy and government relations agenda, translating strategy into coordinated, high-quality execution across federal and provincial jurisdictions. This role builds a forward-looking policy insights engine, leads cross-enterprise advocacy and submissions, strengthens relationships with elected officials and senior public servants, and ensures tight alignment with corporate strategy, legal, risk, and brand.
Responsibilities
- Develop and operationalize a forward-looking public policy and industry affairs strategy into an annual workplan aligned to corporate strategy and business priorities.
- Lead an integrated research and insights program, including horizon scanning, impact assessments and decision briefs for executive decision makers.
- Coordinate national and regional policy intelligence to anticipate emerging trends and shape proactive responses.
- Advise the Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations on legislative, political and regulatory developments with strategic implications.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with federal, provincial and municipal officials and policymakers.
- Plan and deliver advocacy campaigns (meetings, roundtables, submissions, coalitions), with clear objectives and outcome tracking.
- Coordinate company positions across business units; ensure alignment and disciplined messaging.
- Represent Canada Life in industry associations and policy forums.
- Guide cross-industry initiatives and consultation responses, enhancing our reputation as an industry leader.
- Cultivate strategy relationships with external stakeholders and partners to advance shared policy objectives.
- Run a policy pipeline and escalation framework, collaborating with communications, legal, compliance, risk, strategy and business unit leaders to ensure policy engagement, proactive storytelling and risk mitigation.
- Ensure policy positions reflect enterprise risk appetite and legal/compliance guardrails.
- Provide regular briefings and policy education to senior leadership.
- Support executive participation in key external events and forums.
Requirements
- 8–12+ years in public policy, government relations or regulatory affairs, including experience briefing senior executives and coordinating multi-stakeholder submissions.
- Expertise in legislative and regulatory process.
- Proven ability to influence policy outcomes and build relationships.
- Excellent communication and advocacy skills, including written materials, and verbal briefing ability.
- Experience in financial services or adjacent sectors is an asset.
- Bilingualism (English/French) is considered a strong asset.
- Bilingualism is required for Quebec only as the position will regularly serve our clients with French and English-speaking needs.
Skills
- Public policy
- Government relations
- Regulatory affairs
- Briefing senior executives
- Coordinating multi-stakeholder submissions
- Legislative process
- Regulatory process
- Influencing policy outcomes
- Building relationships
- Communication
- Advocacy
- Written materials
- Verbal briefing
- Financial services
- Bilingualism (English/French)
Location
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Ottawa
Work Type
- Permanent
- Full Time
- Hybrid
Experience Level
- 8-12+ years
Salary/Compensations
- $114,200 - $164,200 annually
Benefits
- Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to $2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
- Health & Wellness: Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.
- Time Off: In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
- Financial Security: Company-matching pension plan, share ownership program and additional investment options.
- Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
- Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.
About the Company
- We’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians.
- Our company is trusted by 1 in 3 Canadians and contributes to the strength of communities across the country.
- We’re looking for people who live our values everyday: we step up, do the right thing, and deliver – for our customers, communities and each other.
- Are you someone who always strives to do the right thing, who steps up for themselves and others, and who delivers with impact? Then we want to hear from you!
Equal Opportunity
- We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment.
- Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com.
- All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.
- Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.
