Your New Company
Our client is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical organization with an ambitious and growing presence in Canada. Its Canadian business has expanded significantly in both scale and ambition, creating an opportunity for Corporate Affairs to play an increasingly influential role in shaping healthcare policy, expanding patient access and strengthening Canada’s position as a destination for life sciences investment.
The organization offers a collaborative, innovation-driven environment where government affairs, policy, communications, market access and business leadership work together to address some of the most important healthcare challenges facing Canadians. Sustainability, access to healthcare and disease prevention are also central to the company’s broader purpose and culture.
Your New Role
As Director, Government Affairs & Industry, you will be a senior member of the Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and lead the development and delivery of Canada’s national government relations strategy. This is a high-profile leadership position requiring a sophisticated understanding of political priorities, the Canadian healthcare system and the commercial realities of operating within a large, complex organization.
Reporting to the Head of Government Affairs, you will lead a team of four experienced, regionally focused government affairs professionals covering Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the federal government. Your mandate will be to unite these subject matter experts behind a cohesive national strategy, connecting head office priorities with the political realities of each jurisdiction and creating clear accountability for results.
You will:
- Design and execute an integrated government relations strategy across federal, provincial and municipal governments.
- Align government affairs priorities with broader business, Corporate Affairs and Market Access objectives.
- Lead, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed team of experienced government affairs professionals.
- Provide timely, commercially informed advice and briefings to the CEO, Canadian leadership team and regional and global executives.
- Build trusted relationships with senior government decision-makers and healthcare stakeholders across Canada.
- Translate complex political and policy developments into clear recommendations, organizational priorities and measurable action.
- Advance policies that improve patient access, encourage innovation and strengthen the competitiveness of Canada’s healthcare and life sciences sectors.
- Develop strategies that communicate the economic and societal impact of ’s Canadian operations, partnerships, clinical investment and continued growth.
- Lead the company’s strategic and operational engagement with , including CEO briefings, industry coalitions, advocacy initiatives and support for ’s Board Chair responsibilities.
- Influence industry peers, associations and external partners to build broader support for policy and systemic change.
- Support government engagement connected to the continued growth and prominence of ’s Ontario operations.
This is not solely a relationship-management role. You will be expected to operate as both a strategic advisor and an accountable team leader, confidently briefing senior executives from the outset while ensuring that regional activity supports a unified national agenda.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
You will be a politically astute, strategically minded and commercially aware government affairs leader who can operate credibly with senior stakeholders both inside and outside the organization.
To succeed, you will bring:
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in government affairs, public policy, corporate affairs or a closely related field.
- Meaningful experience working at a senior decision-making level within government, ideally in a minister’s office, an Assistant Deputy Minister’s office or another environment directly involved in high-level policy decisions.
- Substantial corporate or institutional healthcare experience gained within pharmaceuticals, life sciences, a hospital system, an insurer, a pharmacy organization or another large Canadian healthcare delivery environment.
- A strong record of leading and developing high-performing teams, including experienced professionals working remotely or across different jurisdictions.
- Deep knowledge of the Canadian political and policy environment at the federal and provincial levels, with particular strength in Ontario and Quebec.
- The ability to connect public policy objectives with commercial strategy and broader organizational priorities.
- The gravitas, judgement and communication skills required to advise and brief CEOs, C-suite leaders and global executives.
- Demonstrated success building relationships from the ground up and influencing senior government, industry and healthcare stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex regional and political developments into a clear national perspective.
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. An advanced qualification in public policy, political science, economics, law or a related area would be advantageous.
Experience working with a national trade association, healthcare association or comparable industry body would be considered a strong asset. Bilingual proficiency in English and French would also be beneficial.
What You’ll Get in Return
This is a rare opportunity to take on a nationally influential leadership role at the intersection of healthcare, public policy, economic development and industry strategy.
You will have the platform to shape conversations with some of Canada’s most senior political, business and healthcare leaders while helping advance policies that support innovation and improve patient access. You will also join an organization that has significantly increased its Canadian scale and ambition, with government affairs positioned as an important strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
The annual base salary is $150,000 to $198,000 based on experience, skills, job-related knowledge and organizational requirements. Permanent employees may also be eligible for an annual variable-pay incentive, an equity-based long-term incentive program where applicable, flexible benefits, retirement savings, four weeks of paid vacation and annual personal days.
The position is based at ’s Canadian head office in Mississauga, where the CEO and leadership team are located. Employees are expected to work from the office approximately three days per week, and the role requires approximately 30% travel within Canada.
What You Need to Do Now
If you are a senior government affairs or public policy leader with the political insight, corporate healthcare experience and leadership presence required to influence at the highest levels, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
Please apply with an updated résumé or contact us directly to learn more about this exceptional opportunity.
We are using AI as part of the recruitment process.
This advertisement relates to a current vacancy.
