Senior Advisor, Government Relations

Highlights of the job

EPCOR’s Public and Government Affairs Group has a Full Time Permanent opportunity for a Senior Advisor, Government Relations working out of our Edmonton office. This opportunity is open to Internal and External candidates. Current EPCOR Employees, please ensure that you are using your “@epcor.com” email address. This position is eligible to participate in EPCOR’s Where We Work hybrid program depending on business needs and upon meeting the eligibility requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned professional with a robust understanding of government processes and a passion for public policy. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Government Relations, the Senior Advisor will be responsible for building relationships, gathering intelligence, advocating to governments, managing issues, and ensuring compliance for lobbying activities. Your expertise will be crucial in conducting research and analysis, communicating government-related developments that impact EPCOR's strategic goals, and supporting representing EPCOR’s interests to governments. You will have the chance to make a significant impact by supporting work that advances EPCOR’s strategic goals.

As a Senior Advisor, Government Relations, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing EPCOR's government relations strategy. In this role, you will work closely with stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure alignment between our business objectives and public policy initiatives. You will provide strategic advice and insights on legislative and regulatory developments, helping to navigate complex political landscapes. Your ability to communicate effectively on behalf of the organization will be essential in driving positive outcomes.

What you’d be responsible for

Stakeholder Relations & Engagement:

• Foster cohesive working relationships across functions and business units (BUs) at EPCOR to enhance two-way communication to support Government Relations (GR) to understanding BU priorities and issues that may require government relations activities.
• Establish GR as a trusted partner with bureaucrats, political staff, and, where appropriate, politicians, with the aim of having trusted relationships that can be utilized when needed to support intelligence gathering, profile raising, issues management, and advocacy activities.
• Maintain appropriate systems and records, including a client relationship management tool, and coordinate input to and prepare draft materials for regular reporting on GR activities and BU engagement to senior leadership.

Intelligence Gathering & Information Dissemination:

• Using formal and informal sources and channels to identify forthcoming government priorities and directions to enable EPCOR to proactively engage to influence decision-making.
• Monitoring government announcements and policy, regulatory, and legislative changes that have the potential to impact EPCOR and its operation.
• Leverage established relationships to triangulate and verify received intelligence and test EPCOR’s positions in advance of advocacy.

Research & Analysis; Advocacy & Issues Management:

• Conduct comprehensive research on legislation, policy, and jurisdictional best practices, and draft succinct summaries that include assessment of implications. This requires an ability to understand a broad scope of issues and the potential impact on EPCOR’s different business lines.
• Support the development of positions to take with government that further EPCOR’s interests, and draft related materials, including briefing notes, reports, correspondence, etc. to further these positions in alignment with government relations strategies. This may also include representing EPCOR’s position to government officials.

Operational Excellence & Compliance:

• Refine and execute processes to ensure corporate-wide compliance with lobbyist legislation and reporting requirements, and codes of conduct for government officials, including offering gifts and hosting, and tracking as required.
• Support grant scanning and applications in coordination with business units and finance, developing and implementing grant application and receipt tracking to ensure legislative compliance with lobbyist registries.

What’s required to be successful

• A Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, Communications, Business, Public Policy or Public Administration from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Experience that includes:
  • 5 years working experience in government establishments combined with hands-on practical knowledge of government relations or advocacy, public policy or public affairs.
  • Experience with political environments; recognizing and appreciating business complexities and public policy subtleties is considered an asset.
• Strong understanding of public policy development processes at all levels of government.
• Strong business and political acumen with the ability to make sound judgments quickly and make informed assessments about controversial public policy issues.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to quickly summarize and assess complex situations, determine key issues, and implement clearly defined solutions.
• Strong facilitation skills to help illicit information, reach common understanding, and identify solutions to issues.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including effectively communicating complex concepts clearly and with the ability to influence.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive, effective, and collaborative relationships, with internal and external partners, including with those with whom there are competing interests.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in cross functional teams in dynamic and agile environments while managing conflicting interests of diverse stakeholders (colleagues, government officials, partners, and special interest groups etc.).
• Applies initiative and creativity and can adapt to changing and emergent projects in complex and sometimes ambiguous environments.

Other important facts about this job

Jurisdiction: MGMT

Hours of work: 80 hours biweekly

Application deadline: April 20, 2025

EPCOR Employees: Please ensure that you are using your “@epcor.com” email address.

Learn more about Working at EPCOR!

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Glassdoor or Facebook!

#LI-TA2

Please note the following information:

• A requirement of working for EPCOR is that you are at least 18 years of age, successfully attained a high school diploma (GED, or equivalent level of secondary education) and legally entitled to work in Canada. (A copy of a valid work permit may be required.)
• If you are considered for the position, clearance on all applicable background checks (which may include criminal, identity, educational, and/or credit) and professional reference checks is required. Some EPCOR positions require an enhanced level of background assessment, which is dictated by law. These positions require advanced criminal record checks that must also be conducted from time to time after commencement of employment.
• A technical/practical assessment may be administered during the selection process and this exercise will be used as a part of the selection criterion.