JOB DESCRIPTION 

 Associate Vice-President, Ontario Government Relations

Based out of Counsel’s Toronto office and reporting to Tim Hudak, Partner & Ontario Practice Lead, the Associate Vice-President, Ontario Government Relations (GR) will  lead both a team and client GR files - including day to day contact with clients and lobbying officials – and will be accountable for providing leadership among Counsel’s existing client base, while also growing our Ontario GR and broader public affairs business. 

The successful candidate will apply strategic thinking to develop, lead and execute GR strategies and action plans for a diverse client portfolio, including private, public, and non-profit sector organizations, and will have principal accountability for day-to-day client management and outcomes. The candidate will have a demonstrated track record of independent leadership and file management, as well as a reputation for constructive team-building and collaboration with members of a multi-disciplinary team. 

Effective writing and client management skills are essential. Other responsibilities include: developing and directing effective advocacy plans for clients; developing key relationships with Ontario government decision-makers (political and civil service); providing expert analysis and insight; and building and maintaining effective working relationships with various stakeholders.  

The Ontario AVP will be an integral part of the Ontario Practice and achieving results for our clients. Counsel prides itself on high ethical and compliance standards.  To succeed and thrive at Counsel, the candidate must demonstrate an ability to work within a team and adhere to our high ethical and compliance culture.   

Specifically, the Associate Vice-President shall be responsible for the following duties:  

Government Relations and Lobbying 

• Leading both a team and client GR files, including day to day contact with clients and lobbying officials; 

• Ongoing research, policy development, and writing as part of developing and executing government relations plans;  

• Stakeholder outreach and management; 

• Monitoring Ontario political and policy changes; 

• Updating the Ontario Practice on key areas affecting existing clients and identifying opportunities for new clients; 

• Intelligence gathering and monitoring events at Queen’s Park; 

• Coordinating and executing grassroots advocacy campaigns;  

• Supporting the research and preparation of proposals, briefs, letters, presentations and responses to RFPs; 

• Supporting and directing the preparation of bulletins to clients to update them on current issues or new developments in government, including major staff changes, Cabinet shuffles, summaries of Throne Speeches and Budgets, etc.; 

• Business development focused on Ontario clients and other jurisdictions (Ottawa, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia); 

• Continuing to build on an existing network at Queen’s Park; 

• Continuing to build your knowledge and understanding of the Ontario government, Ontario Legislature activities, and other relevant political and media monitoring; 

• Build and support Counsel’s brand among political and business networks in Ontario; and 

• Other duties as assigned.    

Broader Public Affairs Support 

• Supporting the planning, development and delivery of broadly based communications and Public Relations for Government Relations (PR4GR) campaigns; 

• Strategic advice and support to Communication clients as required; 

• Direct contact with, and providing strategic advice to, senior executives, clients and stakeholder groups; 

• Demonstrated project management skills; 

• Success managing workflow of complex files, projects; and 

• Delivering projects on time and on budget.  

Key Skills & Experience: 

• Strong writing skills are a fundamental requirement of this role.  

• Experience in policy development and execution.   

• Proven experience in building a network of relationships in multiple sectors and across partisan lines.   

• Advocacy skills.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. 

How to Apply: 

If you are interested in applying, please submit a cover letter and resume to: careers@counselpa.com.

Applications will be accepted until the deadline of Friday, September 5, 2025.    

We thank you for your interest in Counsel Public Affairs.  Only candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.  

About Counsel Public Affairs 

Counsel Public Affairs is Canada’s most effective, fully integrated public affairs agency. We are relentlessly committed to client success.  

Our dedicated teams of experienced, multipartisan consultants are on the ground, delivering results for clients in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.  

With expertise across a wide range of sectors of the Canadian economy, Counsel offers an extensive suite of fully integrated public affairs services, including government relations, strategic and corporate communications, crisis and reputation management, opinion research, and integrated campaigns. 

Our Ontario practice is one of the fastest-growing government relations teams in the province.  We are expanding once again, driven by our commitment to client excellence and delivering results. 

Counsel is seeking highly motivated candidates eager to advance their careers with us. Join our innovative team and be a part of our continued success and growth. 

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

As one of Canada’s leading public affairs agencies, we know that government and public relations is a field that often lacks diverse voices, and we are committed to changing that through internal education and changing our practices. We strongly encourage applications from historically, persistently, and/or systematically marginalized groups.