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Opportunities

Director, Government Relations

Legal Aid Alberta

Status: Open Location: Edmonton, AB

The Organization

Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) is a not-for-profit, publicly funded organization committed to resolving legal problems for disadvantaged Albertans. In doing so, LAA upholds and protects the Rule of Law, which safeguards all individuals from abuses of power or persecution, ensuring equal footing in a democratic society.

LAA provides legal services in critical areas such as family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. Operating across nine locations—including Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Siksika Nation, and Wetaskiwin—LAA delivers high-quality legal representation and support to those facing legal challenges.

LAA’s mandate is to ensure that all individuals, especially the vulnerable, have equitable access to justice through legal representation. The organization plays a key role in fostering a justice system that serves all Albertans, ensuring that even those unable to afford legal counsel can secure representation in the face of legal challenges.

For more information about Legal Aid Alberta, please visit their website.

The Opportunity

Reports to:Vice President, People, Corporate Strategy & Engagement
Location:Edmonton, AB

Mandate

Reporting to the Vice President, People, Corporate Strategy & Engagement, the Director of Government Relations provides executive advice, leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s government relations  portfolio. They will be the organization’s most senior government relations professional, responsible for engaging key partners at all three levels of government, across the justice sector, and throughout the community, with a particular focus on maintaining strong relationships with the provincial Ministry of Justice.

A key strategic leader in the organization, the Director of Government Relations will lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of LAA’s Government Relations Strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, operational objectives, and key funding relationships. The Director will bring significant political acumen and strategic insight to anticipate emerging issues, drive organization-wide engagement plans, and position LAA effectively in a complex and evolving public policy environment. Ultimately, the Director will ensure that the organization advances its mission while maintaining strong, collaborative, and trusted relationships with government and justice system partners.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

  • Lead the development, execution, and evaluation of LAA’s Government Relations Strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational priorities.
  • Provide strategic counsel to the VP, executive team, and Board related to government priorities, political dynamics, legislative changes, and stakeholder impacts.
  • Drive organization-wide operational strategies related to government reporting, compliance requirements, and external accountability.
  • Anticipate and assess emerging political, legislative, or public policy issues with potential impact on LAA; advise executive leadership on risks, opportunities, and strategic responses.

Government Relations & Advocacy

  • Lead LAA’s interactions with the Government of Alberta, with a primary focus on the Ministry of Justice as LAA’s principal funder, ensuring coordinated, strategic, and consistent engagement.
  • Coordinate engagement with municipal and federal government officials to support GR strategy.
  • Oversee all government reporting requirements, collaborating with executive leadership to ensure accuracy, quality, and timeliness.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

  • Working closely with Communications and Governance teams, as well as Justice Services, lead the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement plans aligned with LAA’s strategic priorities.
  • Attend community, justice sector, and cross-government discussions and consultations as required.
  • Work collaboratively with the Communications and Governance units to support stakeholder outreach, community relations, and external engagement initiatives.

Operational Leadership & Implementation

  • Direct government relations operations, including intelligence gathering, strategic monitoring, risk identification, and trend analysis.
  • Manage high-profile or complex inquiries from government or community stakeholders; oversee coordinated, timely, and accurate organizational responses.
  • Ensure operational alignment between government relations priorities and organizational strategic plans, project plans, and performance indicators.
  • Lead the preparation of high-quality briefing notes, research, environmental scans, and strategic documents for the VP, CEO, executive, and Board.

Board Engagement

  • Present GR updates to the Board as required and support board-level discussions related to LAA’s policy, government relationships, and strategic positioning.
  • Ensure the Board is informed of emerging legislative, political, and public policy issues relevant to LAA’s mandate.

Leadership & Collaboration

  • Participate as a member of the leadership team, contributing to organization-wide planning, decision-making, and prioritization.
  • Build strong internal relationships and collaborate across divisions to ensure organization-wide alignment of messaging, reporting, and external commitments.

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

  • Foster strong relationships with key government stakeholders, creating a partnership where LAA is proactively contacted regarding decisions, policies and legislation that may impact it.
  • Develop a GR Strategy in alignment with LAA Strategic Plan, building the Government Relations portfolio  and establishing the GR function internally as a strategic partner
  • Elevate LAA’s profile and value proposition
  • Establish credibility and a strong reputation with key stakeholders as a responsive contact and practical problem solver.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

  • Post-secondary degree in public administration, business, political science, law, communications, or related discipline.

Experience:

  • Significant progressive leadership experience in government relations, public policy, or political environments.
  • Experience leading a team and leading as a subject matter expert.
  • Experience working with senior leadership teams and/or Boards of Directors is an asset.

Competencies and Attributes:

  • Deep understanding of provincial legislative and policy processes, especially those related to the Ministry of Justice, combined with working knowledge of municipal and federal legislative and policy processes.
  • Strong political acumen and the ability to interpret complex political environments.
  • Understanding of community and stakeholder groups relevant to LAA’s mandate.
  • Strong written and verbal communications skills, including briefing notes and executive report preparation.
  • Advanced relationship-building and advocacy abilities.
  • Able to adapt to changing priorities and solve problems creatively.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Legal Aid Alberta is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. LAA welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourages women, members of racialized communities, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to confidentially self-identify at the time of application.  In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Mullen and LAA throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send an application package, including your resume and cover letter, to connect@mullenleadership.com. In the subject line of your email, please include the organization’s name and the position title.

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