Position Overview

Organization: Kids Help Phone

Title: Director, Government Relations 

Position: Full Time Permanent

Reports to: Vice President, National Partnerships & Chief Community Officer

Location: Toronto, ON (temporarily remote due to Covid 19)

Financial Accountability: To be Established

Direct Reports: 1

Is this you?

Are you motivated by the opportunity to significantly change the landscape for the wellness of young people across Canada? Are you passionate about helping young people deal with the challenges of growing up in today’s complex, ever-changing world?

You always see the potential and can envision and do—meaning you enjoy exploring what is possible and have strong experience and abilities to manage projects and details. You have a deep understanding of government relations at the federal, provincial/territorial and municipal levels, and recognize the need for growing government funding to enable our mission and vision for youth mental health.

Kids Help Phone is on a transformational journey, one that will see us change the landscape of youth mental health in Canada with new technology and clinical service innovation. We need team members that are passionate about making a real difference in young people’s lives. It will take courage. It will take resilience. Sound like a journey you want to be a part of? Then keep reading…

The Position

The Director, Government Relations is responsible for planning, developing and implementing strategic government partnerships for Kids Help Phone. This role will be a critical position in the largest fundraising campaign of its kind for youth mental health in Canada’s history. It is essential to position Kids Help Phone as a trusted and essential service that is making a profound impact on child and youth mental health and wellbeing.

Reporting to the VP, National Partnerships & Chief Community Officer, this role works with executive leadership across the organization to plan and evaluate strategic directions, goals and metrics for the portfolio, informed by an organization-wide GR strategy (federal, provincial, municipal). The role identifies and develops funding opportunities to help advance provincial and local government priorities with Kids Help Phone, and continuously grows a strong base of champions and supporters for both elected and non-elected government officials to ensure 24/7 access to clinical service for youth in Canada. 

What You'll do

Planning and Implementation

• Develops, leads and evaluates the implementation of the Government Relations strategy in support of Kids Help Phone’s funding priorities.
• Designs, manages and executes strategic communications to government officials
• Develops a portfolio of relationships with government contacts, and supports relationship development with between Kids Help Phone C-suite and high-level government officials
• Ensures all outreach and follow up to government officials follows agreed timelines and requirements, in collaboration with key stakeholders across the organization.
• Monitors legislation and media, providing reporting and updates to influence and inform GR strategy and tactics.
• Manages and attends related meetings and event processes, producing briefing notes, Q&As, announcements, submissions etc.
• Works with members of the Executive and peers on the Operations Leadership Team to identify potential government funding opportunities.
• Ensures that Kids Help Phone’s GR strategy is aligned, compliant and reflective of our vision and mission.
• Strategically works and contributes as a member of the Operations Leadership Team and Senior Advancement Leadership Team – supporting projects and initiatives related to Advancement and Board deliverables

Financial and Systems Management

• Develops budgets for portfolio, projects and operational requirements
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure appropriate integration across fundraising portfolios and systems
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry and management in Raiser’s Edge

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manages government prospects and partners in various stages of the pipeline management cycle
• Identify and develop strategies to solicit & secure funding from new and/or expanded government sources
• Oversight of strategic vendor partnerships to incorporate subject matter expertise and business intelligence.
• Lead/relationship manager with our strategic counsel, federally and provincially.
• Makes recommendations to Executive and anticipates emerging issue, trends and risks
• Monitors the organization’s reputation and external presence, identifying opportunities and develops recommendations and draft responses as needed.
• Proactively develops and implements guidelines and procedures for the government relations portfolio, including crisis communications, based on industry best practices and consultation with stakeholders.
• Ensures that Kids Help Phone is actively championed by government stakeholders and decision makers.
• Leverages networking opportunities with professional and organizational affiliations and attends functions that serve to effectively identify and cultivate prospective government relationships
• Serve as a spokesperson and/or ensures appropriate spokesperson is in place and prepared for speaking engagements

Human Resources Management

• Provides oversight, direction and guidance to a direct report
• Conducts annual staff performance reviews, ensuring staff are achieving objectives in alignment with the annual operating and solicitation, revenue, cultivation and stewardship goals.
• Complies with policies, legislation, regulations and other legal requirements pertaining to employment.

What You'll Need

• Post-Secondary Degree or equivalent work experience in Public Relations, Government relations, Communications or related field.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or communication.
• Experience with government relations programs in Canada. Demonstrated interest in the political system with an understanding of how to approach levels of government to access funding.
• Strong networking and relationship building skills, including with executives, board members, media, government and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional writer and editor; proven ability to craft impactful, engaging and channel-specific content.
• Detail-oriented with a proven ability to manage and oversee multiple projects simultaneously, and to manage vendor relationships.
• Ability to influence internal partners and facilitate collaboration and alignment between divisions and corporate objectives.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, e.g., collaborative, open style, working in teams, strong written and oral communicator, strategic thinker with ability to execute plans, calm under pressure, go-to person for resources, understanding linkages with other related portfolios.
• Proven project management skills and experience
• Not-profit experience an asset
• Bilingual skills in French is an asset

The Organization

Kids Help Phone is a Canadian and world leader, known for our expertise and continuous innovation as Canada’s only 24/7 professional counselling and information service for young people in both English and French. We have been pioneers in virtual care and ehealth solutions for young people in Canada for almost 30 years.

Since 1989, we have offered kids, teens and young adults a critical lifeline of hope and support through our free, anonymous and confidential services, which research shows significantly improves youth mental health.

Young people reach out to Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors and trained volunteers from every corner of the country via phone, Live Chat and texting, and benefit from our database of local youth-serving programs. Kids Help Phone’s website is a widely recognized model of youth-focused design; offering therapeutic tools, games, information, and counselling.

As an organization that speaks with young people every day, we work to share their perspectives and improve their well-being on a societal level. We are a leader in e-mental health solutions for young people in Canada. Kids Help Phone raises the majority of our revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community fundraising; thanks to our generous donors, we can work to achieve our vision of a future where every young person in Canada will access the support they need in the way they need it most

And finally…

Are you are inspired by helping to meet the quickly evolving needs of young people in Canada today and are ready to contribute to a dynamic organization dedicated to improving their mental health and well-being?

History in the making!

Does this sound like a journey you want to be a part of?

Join us!

Visit https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=KIDSHELP&lang=en_CA

Open the posting and click the “Apply” button in the top right corner of the page. Please attach a single file with your resume and cover letter titled:* lastname_firstname_Director, Government Relations *

For more information about Kids Help Phone, please visit our website at http://kidshelpphone.ca

The position will be posted until midnight January 27, 2021.

Accredited member, Imagine Canada Standards Program.

Kids Help Phone is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. We welcome applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who respect and reflect the diversity of service users.